The New Jersey State Bar Association went back to school last week.
President Robert B. Hille welcomed the hundreds of students who make up this year’s class of incoming students at the law schools of Rutgers University and Seton Hall University.
Though it has been many years since he showed up to his first day of law school, Hille said he vividly remembered the feeling of nervous anticipation and excitement about starting a legal career.
“Today you are commencing the same journey that all lawyers, including those giants in the law, also made. For some of you it may have been the result of a recent decision, for others it is the culmination of a desire that began much earlier in life…You seek to apply your talents and skills for service to others and to preserve a system that is ruled by law, equally applied through reason, not passion or political motivation. This is a most noble purpose.”
Hille spoke in Newark and Camden as the universities held orientation events for new students.
While the start of law school may be intimidating, Hille told the students that they had support among the over 18,000 attorneys and legal professionals who belong to the NJSBA.
“They know the pressures you will feel from your family and those close to you who provide support during your studies. They understand the pressure you will put on yourself to succeed,” said Hille.
Jonathan Nixdorf is starting a legal career after serving as a Marine Corp officer. He most recently worked as a government contractor in Afghanistan and saw good opportunities available to someone with a legal degree. After the orientation, he said, things were starting to feel real.
"I feel good. I feel better about it now," Nixdorf said.
Melissa Walker said she was also excited to start in a career that will allow her to help people and possibly become a judge or a politician.
"I'm very excited," Walker said.
The orientation ceremonies were also an opportunity to remind the future lawyers that a career in the law comes with significant responsibilities, including following a path to honesty, fairness, integrity, courage and independence at all times.
To emphasize those ideals, Hille administered an oath to the students. The Lawyer’s Pledge focuses on the ideals of the profession and was created by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law.
The students swore to strive to “always work with care and with a whole heart and with good faith…and to be, at all times, even at personal sacrifice, a champion of fairness and due process for all.”