Phi Alpha Delta

2 The Reporter — Issue #1, 2019 Message from the International Justice As we approach the halfway point of the 2018–2020 biennium, o u r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Executive Board (IEB) continues its work on the three initiatives (Revitalization of Weak and Inactive Chapters; Restructuring of International and Regional Events; and International Expansion) that will move Phi Alpha Delta forward into the 2020s. As each initiative's committee—led by various IEB members—collect data, conduct research, and make recommendations, it is inevitable that there will be some change. As former U.S. President John F. Kennedy so eloquently stated 56 years ago, "time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And, those who look only to the past and present are certain to miss the future." This still holds true today. While it is easier to continue doing the same things over and over again, great things are not derived from comfort zones. You need to go beyond what you know to achieve success and be better, as success lies beyond what we are comfortable in. So, for Phi Alpha Delta and our members to move forward and remain on the cutting edge, changes are necessary because we cannot afford to miss the future. We know that change is tough, thus our IEB is open to, and encourages, the expression of constructive criticism of and opposition to any such changes (it is also encouraged that this be accompanied by research, as the IEB's initiative committees have put substantial time into collecting data and researching reasons for change). After all, we are dealing with quite a few aspiring and practicing lawyers here. However, this is only provided that such discourse remains professional and civil. As a fraternal organization, professionalism and civility are expected of our members in their interactions with others. These standards are applicable to our in-person meetings, telephone communications, and written correspondence, as well as our email messages, and social media posts. Accordingly, as members of Phi Alpha Delta, we should all be conscious and careful with what we send out or post. As International Executive Board Member-at-Large Michelle Isherwood reminded me this morning, "Words have power. Use them wisely." In a world where polarization and divisiveness seem to be more prevalent, Phi Alpha Delta has the opportunity to lead by example in showing others what professionalism and civility are all about. The state of professionalism and civility in the legal profession has been getting quite a bit of attention lately. In fact, many State Bar Associations have made this a priority. All states with Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (CLE) require at least some Ethics credits to be completed, however, Utah is actually one of the few states that requires both Ethics and Professionalism and Civility credits to be completed each cycle. Utah has recognized that the Rules of Professional Conduct lay out the legal framework for what's required of attorneys, but does not instill moral guiding principles, such as fairness, honesty, and integrity, in attorneys. Ethics rules merely explain what is required of attorneys, but do not elevate the profession to a higher standard of what we expect from attorneys. Being true to our core values, our goal is to improve the perception of those who are fortunate enough to be members of Phi Alpha Delta, by adhering to this higher standard requiring professionalism and civility from all of us. Essentially, let's keep working together to embrace the changes that will move Phi Alpha Delta forward to do great things, while being professional and civil to each other. Fraternally, Jay Ross Jason Michael Ross, International Justice

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