Government

Lawyers Who Provided Pro-Bono Assistance At Airports Across The Country Are My Inspirational Attorneys Of The Year

The work of these lawyers will remain ingrained in our country’s conscience for quite some time.

By  
on

(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

“Then you would have never hit the airport and followed your dreams.” — Kanye West

Earlier this year, in response to Trump’s executive order reflecting his demand for a “total and complete shutdown” of Syrian and Muslim refugees from seven countries, I wrote, “For the first time in my life, I don’t recognize this country.”

But then something amazing happened. After the ban went into effect, lawyers came to the aid of the surprised legal permanent residents who were being detained, threatened, or removed at airports across the country.

Although no notice was given to the stunned arrivals, shining examples in the legal profession put the nation on notice that there were numerous lawyers ready to defend green card holders’ rights and freedoms.

I believe the prompt pro-bono actions by these attorneys and the subsequent stay issued by Judge Ann M. Donnelly of federal district court in Brooklyn will remain ingrained in our country’s conscience for quite some time.

This year’s legal efforts might not have been as life-altering as a typical weekend’s Doctor Without Borders itinerary; nevertheless, I was left awe-inspired. I feel like this year’s dumpster fires have left soot on our soil, but at the same time, I strongly believe that engaged and involved attorneys at airports across the country projected an image of the best of us.

Sponsored

After witnessing the massive pro-bono effort that was followed by the national stay, I am so proud to be a member of this noble profession. I continue to enjoy meeting those who were on the front lines at airports across the country representing the best of what our profession can be.

In his book The Start-Up of You (affiliate link), LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman writes:

Berkshire Hathaway was founded in America because there’s greater business opportunity in a country with effective institutions, rule of law, trust, and a culture that accepts risk-taking, among other intangible qualities. And, when Warren Buffet has the opportunity to flourish, everyone in society benefits. The soil gains nutrients to nourish the seeds of other people’s creativity….

The health of a society shapes the outcomes for individual professionals in a similar fashion. It’s difficult to build a remarkable career if the society you live in features extreme, poor services and infrastructure, or low levels of trust…. Think carefully about where you choose to live and work. Then commit to improving whatever community you do live in. You don’t have to be Mother Teresa. Investing in society can be as simple as doing something once a year that’s not directly for you.

I thought about this passage when I witnessed armies of attorneys heading to airports, not because they had a destination to fly to, but to help those who had just arrived remain where they were. So much energy was invested into this stay.

This year, these types of moments happened all across the country, from sea to shining sea.

Sponsored

I would be remiss if I did not reshine a spotlight on the pro-bono efforts of so many outstanding lawyers in our profession and give a special thank you on behalf of all the people whose lives you touched.

Renwei Chung is the Diversity Columnist at Above the Law. You can contact Renwei by email at projectrenwei@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter (@renweichung), or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Topics

, , , , , , , ,