Civility

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

November 6, 2014: a new class of attorneys sworn in, licensed, and let loose in the state of Illinois. Most gratefully, I was present as one of these newly sworn in and licensed attorneys. To commemorate this event, there were many speeches from various justices and attorneys.  Most of the speakers quoted Abraham Lincoln at some point, being Illinois’ most famous  (and NOT infamous) attorney. The above quote was by far my favorite, because it is applicable to so many aspects of life.

I decided that I wanted to be an attorney when I was a sophomore in high school. That was 10 years ago. It was appealing to me because it was a way to help people, but in a way different then the traditional sense I had grown up with, as in becoming a doctor or a nurse. I’ll admit it, it was also appealing to me because I LOVE the movie Legally Blonde. It remains one of my favorite movies. Nevertheless, it was at that point I started to pursue this dream. I went to college with the idea of law school upon graduating. In college I was provided the opportunity to work at my uncle’s law firm. This gave me the perspective to see what the profession entailed, a far cry from anything seen on TV. I stayed the course, beginning law school straight out of undergrad. When I started law school, I had no idea what to expect, but it was without a doubt, at that point in my life, the most challenging thing I had ever encountered. Graduating this past May was exciting, but unfulfilling because I knew there was a BEAST to overcome yet. Aka, THE BAR. Studying for that became, without a doubt, the hardest thing I had ever encountered in my life. Waiting 2 months for the results was equally as challenging. However, it was worth it all because the moment I learned I passed the bar was the greatest feeling I have ever felt, EVER. An indescribable feeling, but the weight of 1 millions pounds, mixed with the anxiety, sweat, nightmares, stress, and just pure awful that the past 4 months had been, lifted off my shoulders, comes as close as words can, as to how it felt. Oh, that PLUS knowing what I’d worked for, what I’d dreamed of, was going to be able to come true.

  WE DID IT!

So that leads me to today. The culmination of lots of hard work, rests in a piece of paper which announces that I am now authorized to practice law in the state of Illinois. SCARY, I know! But here’s what else I know: it’s only the beginning.

Everything I’ve thought was challenging in life, WILL be blown away by something WAY more challenging and more difficult. I don’t know what form this challenge will come in, nor do I know when it will come. But this I do know; I know that when it comes, I WILL take it on, embrace it, and tackle it, keeping Ol’ Honest Abe’s words in mind and close to heart.

I also know that this isn’t about me anymore. As one of the speakers said today, “Check your ego at the door.” I went into this profession because I wanted to help people. That’s what being an attorney is, it is being an advocate. Being the BEST and GREATEST advocate for your client that you can be. No matter which side you’re on. If law school taught me nothing else, it taught me there are two sides to everything, and there are valid arguments that can be made on both sides. Valid arguments that must be respected and listened to. Part of being an advocate is not only fighting for the best interest of a client, but also doing the RIGHT thing on a whole. Acting with CIVILITY, towards the court, towards opposing counsel, towards co-counsel, to everyone. Being civil and acting civil. This is an old and honored profession, I’m here to keep it that way.

Finally, I know that no person is an island. There is absolutely no way I could have gotten to the point where I was raising my right hand and taking an oath today, had it not been for my family, my friends, and everyone else that I’ve encountered in life. Our experiences shape who we become and what we become, no matter however minuscule. Without the love and support I’ve been unconditionally provided with in my life, I would be nowhere. Others are in our lives for a reason, no one can do everything alone, and frankly, how boring would that be?!!? I know I am blessed to have an amazing support system in my life, through the greatest family God could give me, and the best friends a girl could ask for. It would be selfish to think a fulfillment of a dream was something I accomplished alone, because it belongs to those who helped and supported me along the way.

 proud parents

So with these things in mind, I am very excited to start the next chapter of my life, truly I have no idea what it has in store for me, but I know that it starts with an iron-clad will, a will to succeed, a will to fight, a will to help, and a will to advocate.

WISH ME LUCK!!!

xoxo,

Jackie