★ Law Day ★

Conversation, connection may be antidotes for incivility in law

Shielded behind computer screens, some people behave in ways that are downright rude — or worse. As the practice of law moved online with the COVID-19 pandemic, those familiar hazards to civility arose in the legal profession as well.

By Grace Barbic

The incivility monster: Why being bad feels good

Practicing attorneys are acutely aware of the potential consequences of incivility. And yet, incivility persists. Could it be that attorneys are hard-wired to lose their cool? Does it pay to be belligerent? And how do the pandemic and other stressors contribute?

By Emma Oxnevad

Zealous advocacy and beyond: Leaders share views on civility

Terry A. Fox of the Illinois Defense Counsel, Patrick A. Salvi II of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and Stephanie Villinski of the Illinois Commission on Professionalism contemplated our questions on what’s going right — and wrong — with how attorneys act.

By Chicago Daily Law Bulletin staff

Collaborative conversations require a mindful approach

Contributors Dan Cotter and Pat Eckler reflected on how they behave as media partners — and why civility is the necessary foundation of the conversations about the law they want to convene.

By Pat Eckler and Dan Cotter

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The 2023 Law Day magazine is available for browsing or to download.

Law Day Letters

Good for us, good for the profession

It doesn’t take a keen cultural observer to note that our society and the public discourse are becoming increasingly less civil. Lawyers, who are often comfortable with confrontation and public speaking, often find themselves prominently reflecting this zeitgeist rather than resisting it. This is understandable. Being a lawyer doesn’t automatically confer on us some immunity to the forces and trends happening around us. We are as prone as anyone to feel the frustrations of our times, the isolating effects of technology and the instant gratification of expressing off-the-cuff reactions. But while we may not always act better, we do know better.

By Jonathan B. Amarilio

Lawyers, judges play key role in restoring trust

The pandemic blew a hole in the fabric of our society. We see it in the rise of crime and mental illness. We lost time and some of our civility. But we can make things better.

By Eileen O’Neill Burke

Civility is necessary to protect rule of law

Law Day is a national day to celebrate the rule of law. For lawyers to protect the rule of law, they must demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, which includes civility and integrity. At Southern Illinois University School of Law, we are committed to transforming our students into the lawyers and community leaders of tomorrow, empowered with the knowledge and skills to improve their communities. A lawyer’s professional reputation begins in law school — it is never too early to practice exemplary professionalism.

By Camille M. Davidson