The Better Chancery Practice Blog

I participated yesterday in the James O. Dukes Professionalism Program at the Ole Miss Law School.  The program is part of the orientation for new law school students and is offered at both Ole Miss and Mississippi College.

Lawyers and judges volunteer to serve as facilitators for discussions involving situations that commonly confront legal practitioners with ethical questions.  The facilitators this year included Supreme Court Justices, Court of Appeals Justices, Chancery Judges, Circuit Judges, County Judges and lawyers.  Judge Bailey, Bill Hammack and I were there from Meridian.  

This was my first year to participate.  In years past, it seems I always had a conflict with trial settings that took precedence. 

The program opened in the Ford Center with an introduction by the new Law School Dean, Richard Gershon, followed with remarks by Nina Stubblefield Tollison, President of the Mississippi Bar, who introduced the keynote speaker, Chief Justice William Waller, Jr. 

Justice Waller’s address focused on three lawyers, L.Q.C. Lamar, Thurgood Marshall, and Evelyn Gandy, and their contributions to society in their day.

Following the opening program, the 200 or so entering freshmen and facilitators crossed the bridge over the Hilgard Cut and went to the Law School, where we participated in breakout sessions in which facilitators were assigned to different groups of students. Each freshman law student receives a set of hypotheticals; the facilitators receive the hypos and some guidance material such as the applicable professional rules.  

Going in, I wondered whether incoming law students would “get it” when trying to tackle legal ethics questions.  After all, what do these young people with no legal training know about legal ethics?  I shouldn’t have been concerned.

Our group

Our group of eleven students were from Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and maybe some other places I don’t recall now.  At least one had a master’s degree.  All were sharp and articulate, and without exception showed a quick grasp of the rights and wrongs and do’s and don’ts, even when thrown curveball questions to test their understanding.

David Mockbee holds forth

David Mockbee of Jackson and Stacie Zorn of Pascagoula were my fellow facilitators, and they did a super job of leading their parts of the discussion and keeping things interesting and interactive.

Lunch followed the breakout session, and I was fortunate to sit with some of the new students who had been in our group.  I enjoyed my visit with them, and I have the feeling they will all be successful.

I came away feeling refreshed, like I had gotten back in touch with something basic.  I was encouraged at the intelligence and energy of these young people.  In a few years they will be the next infusion of fresh blood that invigorates our profession every year.  I am looking forward to see them step onto the legal stage.

I encourage you to consider volunteering for this worthwhile program in the future, either at Ole Miss or Mississippi College.  It will give you a break in your routine, and it may just be the boost you need.