Law Schools

Elizabeth Warren Urges Harvard Law Grads To 'Think About Doing Something Scary'

Like staying out of Biglaw and helping society instead.

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(Photo by Tim Pierce via Wikimedia)

The students of whom I have been the proudest are those who have had the courage to take risks and try something that is truly consequential. The reason is simple—what you do matters…I urge you to consider a life that is open to public service, open to taking on the troubles that are bearing down on us, open to tackling the crises that are still in the making and we don’t even see yet. It takes courage—real courage—to step off the path that you have laid out for yourself. There are so many paths out of law school that are steady, dependable, and not scary. Law firms will pave the road from here to a fancy office in a fancy building in a fancy city. Businesses will line up for your talents. Judges will offer clerkships that will let you delay real life for another year or two. But think about doing something scary. Think about striking off on your own. Think about not following the expected path. Think about government service or non-profits or NGOS. Think about taking a chance. Trying something different. Trying something big. Have courage. Take a risk because our nation and our world needs you.

— Senator Elizabeth Warren, in her address given as the 2021 Class Day speaker at Harvard Law School, where she used to teach. Warren, a former Democratic presidential candidate, emphasized that a degree from Harvard Law can be “a powerful tool.” She went on to note that one the 2021 graduates used their degrees would be up to them, but urged them to do something out of the ordinary. “You may choose to use it quite profitably helping clients who are already rich and powerful get richer and more powerful,” she said. “But my own advice is to respectfully ask you to consider other paths where the need is great.”

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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