Greco has always encouraged young lawyers to do pro bono work—and he has found them willing, but disappointed not to have the time to take such cases because of the huge number of billable hours demanded of them.  Because of his concern, he instituted the Renaissance Mission—its work is to persuade firms to free up time for all attorneys, including young lawyers, to do some pro bono work.

Greco has asked United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and author Theodore Sorenson to act as honorary co-chairs of the Commission on the Renaissance of Idealism. The chair is Mark D. Agrast, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC and a member of the ABA’s Board of Governors.  Programs have been developed for firms to implement in their efforts to provide legal services to the poor.  These programs may be accessed at www.abanet.org/renaissance.

Greco has also convened a task force on civil justice to consider whether the ABA should advocate for an entitlement for civil litigants to have access to legal advice in at least three crucial areas: family matters, shelter, and health.

NHBA President Richard Uchida, in introductory remarks, expressed similar themes. He pointed out that in recent years, improvements have been made to improve satisfaction with the profession (although much work remains to be done) and to improve relations between the bench and bar, and between the legal system and the legislature.

Core Values of Practice and Professionalism

“The emphasis on professionalism, the recognition of healthy work/life balances, and our rededication to service in our communities have had a dramatic impact on professional satisfaction.  Adherence, by lawyers like each of you, to the core values of New Hampshire practice and professionalism—the values of honesty, integrity, civility, nobility, respect and character—have also stemmed the tide of dissatisfaction.  And while we will continue to strive for a profession that provides a deep sense of personal satisfaction, our internal health has improved,” Uchida said.

“With this improvement, it is time to turn our energy outward.  Each of us must demonstrate to others what we already know—that in an increasingly complex, turbulent and tension-filled society, our profession is the most valuable profession in the world.

“It is valuable because we understand and appreciate the rule of law and its importance to a thriving national and global community.  We understand that as lawyers, we have been granted special talents and skills.  We understand that as trusted counselors, advisors and mediators, and as judges, arbitrators and advocates, we are society’s best hope to resolve the tensions and disagreements that arise in this complex world.

“Let us contradict the pundits and skeptics who say lawyers are part of the problem.  On the contrary, we are part of the solution.

“Our profession must play a substantial role to ensure that the justice system reaches those who need its help.  Think about this.  If 75-80 percent of those who need help are not getting it, how relevant and valuable will our justice system be?  And worse yet, if our justice system fails those in the gap, where (and equally important, to whom) will they turn to solve their problems?  The alternatives are frightening.”

The Preservation of Legal Services

In his remarks, Greco also recalled how he came to forge important personal connections to New Hampshire lawyers L. Jonathan Ross and Stephen Tober.

Greco was president of the Massachusetts Bar Association at the same time as Ross headed the New Hampshire Bar Association, and Tober was also in the leadership ranks. At that time, the Reagan administration-appointed Legal Services Corporation board of directors was convening to meet in Gilford, NH, and Greco traveled to the meeting to advocate for continued support for federal funding of legal services.

Greco and Ross discovered that the board, in Greco’s words, was actively “hostile” to the concept of legal services and he came away from the meeting convinced that more support needed to be mustered.

Shortly thereafter, Greco, Ross and William Whitehurst, then-president of the Texas State Bar, formed an ad hoc group, Bar Leaders for the Preservation of Legal Services, to coalesce support by local and state bars to focus the ABA on fighting in defense of federal legal services funding.

Ross’s leadership in this area led to the naming of the NHBA’s award for “Outstanding Commitment to Legal Services for the Poor” in Ross’s name.

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