Introduction: Can the Ordinary Practice of Law be a Religious Calling?

Abstract

In February, 2004, Pepperdine University's Institute on Law, Religion, and Ethics held its inaugural conference to consider the question whether religious faith, particularly the faith of Christians and Jews, can be a source of meaning for the practice of law. It was a remarkable gathering. Two hundred lawyers and law students came to hear 20 lawyers from a broad range of practice areas. We were blessed to also have the wisdom of three rabbis, a philosopher, and an economist. The conference focused on the religious concept of vocation or calling as a means of understanding the ordinary, day-to-day work of ordinary lawyers. Many of the speakers argued that work, even what is normally considered secular work, is an area of life that can and should be redeemed by God. Lawyers discussed how the theory of vocation or calling might apply to lawyers - to the problems (and opportunities) created by the adversary system, billing pressures, stress, and lack of collegiality within the profession. Individual panels of lawyers focused on specialty areas-corporate, family, civil litigation, and criminal prosecution and defense-and the ways in which they try to reflect their religious faith in their work.