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Dec. 1, 2006
From the Editor
By PETER ALLEN
Many of us went to law school because we wanted to do good and do well, though not necessarily in that order. True, some of us have done neither, but that shouldn't prevent us from celebrating those who have managed to do a great deal of good while maintaining busy practices. Our first annual Angel Awards acknowledges those idealistic attorneys who have made substantial pro bono contributions ("The Angel Awards," page 20). Our efforts to identify them were spearheaded by Senior Editor Chuleenan Svetvilas, who contacted nonprofit organizations around the state to find attorneys who seemed to consistently carry a heavy pro bono workload?and meet it effectively.
One idealistic attorney who has done a fair share of pro bono work in his career is not on the list: He's in federal prison for failing to pay his taxes. Although charismatic trial lawyer Tony Serra is now 71 and has several months left on his sentence, his epistle this month to the readers of California Lawyer shows he has surrendered none of his idealism or, for that matter, the antiestablishment impulses that helped fuel his law career ("Letter From Lompoc," page 30).
Finally, we showcase another group of idealists?those California attorneys who work as prosecutors, defenders, and judges in the war-crimes tribunal at The Hague ("Californians at The Hague," page 26). While leading a group of students on a tour of the international court in the Netherlands last year, University of Santa Clara law school professor Gerald Uelmen noticed that a large contingent of California attorneys was serving in the court. He introduces them to us and describes as well the fascinating hybrid court these Californians have helped fashion. Why are so many California lawyers involved? "A lot of California lawyers have global experience, and they are more likely to look for international opportunities," Uelmen says. "I also think the state itself is innovative, and attorneys who have trained and worked here seem to be open to new ideas."
And, maybe, to new ideals.
Many of us went to law school because we wanted to do good and do well, though not necessarily in that order. True, some of us have done neither, but that shouldn't prevent us from celebrating those who have managed to do a great deal of good while maintaining busy practices. Our first annual Angel Awards acknowledges those idealistic attorneys who have made substantial pro bono contributions ("The Angel Awards," page 20). Our efforts to identify them were spearheaded by Senior Editor Chuleenan Svetvilas, who contacted nonprofit organizations around the state to find attorneys who seemed to consistently carry a heavy pro bono workload?and meet it effectively.
One idealistic attorney who has done a fair share of pro bono work in his career is not on the list: He's in federal prison for failing to pay his taxes. Although charismatic trial lawyer Tony Serra is now 71 and has several months left on his sentence, his epistle this month to the readers of California Lawyer shows he has surrendered none of his idealism or, for that matter, the antiestablishment impulses that helped fuel his law career ("Letter From Lompoc," page 30).
Finally, we showcase another group of idealists?those California attorneys who work as prosecutors, defenders, and judges in the war-crimes tribunal at The Hague ("Californians at The Hague," page 26). While leading a group of students on a tour of the international court in the Netherlands last year, University of Santa Clara law school professor Gerald Uelmen noticed that a large contingent of California attorneys was serving in the court. He introduces them to us and describes as well the fascinating hybrid court these Californians have helped fashion. Why are so many California lawyers involved? "A lot of California lawyers have global experience, and they are more likely to look for international opportunities," Uelmen says. "I also think the state itself is innovative, and attorneys who have trained and worked here seem to be open to new ideas."
And, maybe, to new ideals.
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Megan Kinneyn
Daily Journal Staff Writer
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