It’s finals time at law schools across the country, which means no time, no sleep, and a lot of stress.
Indeed, law school can bring out the bad and the ugly. But it can also bring out the interesting, the unique, and the things that pull at the heart. As I started my second year this past August, I had the opportunity to reflect on why I decided to come to law school in the first place. What guided me to this place? What guided my classmates, and now friends, to study the law? What I realized is that what brought us all into the legal profession wasn’t learning all of the cases and the rules, or getting that perfect job. What brought us here was our desire to contribute to our community, to be leaders in that community. As Temple law students living in Philadelphia, we have the privilege and ability to understand complex legal and social issues from a unique perspective. As lawyers, we get to use our skills to make a contribution to Philadelphia and the world in a distinct and special way that no other profession can.
The thing about lawyers is that we fight for real human beings. By being advocates, we can alleviate someone’s worries, relieve someone’s stress, we can give. Every lawyer does it in a different way – whether through public interest work, through well-informed advice to a client, or through competence in litigation. We all give.
It’s important to recognize that this is a major part of this field. It is why so many lawyers do pro-bono work – not because they are encouraged or obligated to, but because it is rewarding to give back to the community that we live in.
This holiday season, it’s important to remember this. Through the stress of finals, we have to think about what is outside the doors of Klein Hall. Philadelphia has the highest poverty rate of the ten largest cities in the United States. With 185,000 people living in poverty in Philadelphia, 60,000 of which are children, many people in Philadelphia live a life of constant worry.
“The thing about lawyers is that we fight for real human beings. By being advocates, we can alleviate someone’s worries, relieve someone’s stress, we can give.”
So take a moment to give, in whatever way you can. During this holiday season, one way to give is through our annual Holiday Gift Drive. This year, Temple Law’s Student Public Interest Network (SPIN) has once again partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Frankford to give toys and clothing to children ages 1 to 12. By giving to our annual Holiday Gift Drive, we hope that the worry of some of our fellow community members will be alleviated this holiday season. It might not be much to you to give a toy or a scarf, but to a child or that child’s mother, it may mean a holiday season where a law student took a moment outside of their individuality and shared something for the enjoyment of someone else.
And if you want to do more, come celebrate with us on December 18th at the Boys and Girls Club and watch the smiles stretch across the face of children as they make holiday crafts, hang out with Santa Claus, and receive their gifts, donated by Temple Law students.
If you are interested in donating a toy (for kids ages 1 to 12) or clothing (gloves, hat or scarf) to the Holiday Gift Drive, drop off your item to boxes in the Breezeway (1st floor of Klein Hall) by December 14th. To sign up to attend and volunteer at our Holiday Event, sign up here. For questions, contact spin@temple.edu.
