WHAT LAW STUDENTS AND LAWYERS CAN LEARN FROM MARIANO RIVERA

Mariano Rivera has pitched for the New York Yankees since 1995. He has had an amazing career, compiling the highest number of “saves” (holding the lead for his team in the last innings of a game) in the history of the game. Year after year, he has done his job in workmanlike fashion. Never did you see his name in the papers in a negative light. Moreover, you never saw Mariano speaking derogatorily about a fellow player, sportswriter, or anyone else in particular. He just went to work, competed hard, but --win or lose -- always had a glad hand and a smile with those opponents he was trying to defeat.

Mariano is a humble man of faith who reached the pinnacle of his trade last night in his last All-Star game (he is retiring at the end of this season), when he stood out on the mound to a thunderous ovation from fans and players of both teams.

. . . What does this have to do with law school and/or lawyer-ring in general? The same grace and class in one’s profession applies to law students who are working their way to becoming lawyers. One of the things that I convey to my law student “charges” are that habits are formed early in a career. Mariano River never took shortcuts, worked hard and carried himself in a manner that all his peers could be proud of – many even used him as a role-model, mentor and example.

Do the same in your legal career. . If you are a “narcissistic jerk” in law school, you’ll probably be the same person as a lawyer. If you are “cutting corners” and telling half-truths to professors in law school, you’ll probably do the same with judges when you are a lawyer (if you make it that far!).

Finally, walk with class and don’t bad-mouth others (professors, classmates, other lawyers, staff, and your so-called friends). We live in a rumor filled, innuendo laced culture where no one bats an eye at using obscenity-laced tirades as we all “put down” individuals with whom we do not agree. . . Don’t . . Don’t!!

In the end, walk off your professional (and the one that encompasses your life's work as well) field with your head held high as the crowd cheers you on.  Make the legal profession as proud of your work as Major League Baseball is proud of all that Mariano Rivera has done for the game.