At Loyola Law School
QUOTED:
"You are joining a profession that plays a vital role in maintaining our most basic democratic institutions. President William Howard Taft, the only person to have been both President and Chief Justice of the United States, once said: 'It is the law and the lawyer that make popular government under a written constitution possible.'
How right he was. We, the lawyers, are the defenders, the soldiers, the keepers, the protectors of the Constitution. The Constitution is truly an eternal light on the seashore, and you are the lighthouse keeper. It flickers at times, perhaps now more than ever, but it still burns bright. And you now join a small group of lighthouse keepers who work to keep it lit brightly.
There is a popular Shakespeare quote, from Henry the Sixth, that is often used to make fun of lawyers: 'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.' The quote is accurate, but few know the context. In fact, the speaker, Dick the Butcher, is plotting with the rebel John Cade to overthrow the king.
Dick and John understood that the way to create chaos in a civil society is to get rid of all the lawyers. Shakespeare knew that lawyers bring stability and consistency to society. Lawyers help avert the chaos that would result if individuals were permitted to resolve disputes however they see fit.
...Today is the day where you get a special, almost magical piece of paper that allows you to help people, to give power to the powerless, to give voice to the voiceless, and to defend our most cherished institutions. You are the next generation of lighthouse keepers. So, Class of 2019, my wish for you is that you use these powers wisely, in good health, and to help others."
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