by Michael Orr
Treasurer, Young Lawyers Section of The Jacksonville Bar Association
I grew up with a brother and two sisters. My older sister was born with several indications of a syndrome called Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome, named after the medical researchers who described the condition for the first time just 13 years earlier. The condition was so new at the time of my sister’s birth that the underlying genetic origins of the condition were not recognized by doctors until 1993.
The most prevalent and dire defect at birth was her heart. She had what is called “Transposition of the Great Vessels.” In laymans terms this is the reversal of her major arteries; the pulmonary artery and the aorta. She was not expected to live through the night. With a blood oxygen level of 13 percent compared to a normal 97 percent the outcome seemed obvious. Apparently, to Angie, it was not.
By the end of her first year of life she had undergone several heart catheterizations, heart surgery and open heart surgery. Angie’s birthday is this month. It is a time that reminds me how lucky I am to have her as a sister.
Growing up with Angie was an unparalleled experience. I would argue that she is one of the sharpest and most intuitive people I know. She talks more than I do, which means she never stops talking. We used to have to hide all of the cordless telephones in the house, because she would pick up the phone, hide in a room, and dial a number. The numbers did not matter. Angie could hit any numbers and talk to anyone, for as long as you can imagine. One time, we found her in the home office talking to a random lady in Wisconsin who she had never met. They had been talking for 45 minutes. I will not go into the 911 calls she made…
Angie taught me that nothing is more important than family, faith and love. The last lesson included showing love to everyone by being there for people, regardless of their beliefs, opinions or conditions. I believe that Angie was a large factor steering me to my career choice.
Understanding my upbringing and career choice may lend most to believe I am an attorney because I want to help people. Unfortunately, we live in a world today where the majority of society believes that lawyers are present only to make money and breed dishonesty. Although I know of the great community service that many lawyers provide, I rarely see the service advertised or publicized.
In response to this ever-growing problem, the Florida Bar through its Young Lawyers Division and Law Student Division are organizing a day that, each year, will celebrate and showcase the goodwill of lawyers in Florida. “Raising the Bar: Florida’s Legal Community Service Day” sponsored by Lexis-Nexis, will be held this year on Saturday, February 27.
Each local Bar affiliate and law school are joining together to plan their own respective community service event around Florida. In Jacksonville, we are close to selecting the event and should be advertising and publicizing more in the next two weeks. The events throughout Florida will be covered by various forms of media.
Many of you participate in your church, dedicate time to a local nonprofit, or simply volunteer time at special events. “Lawyer Snapshots,” like the one below are starting to highlight some of the great efforts that are made by attorneys in our community. This trend should continue and expand.
In addition to the Raising the Bar event, many other opportunities exist. One week earlier on Saturday, Feb. 20, Special Olympics of Duval County will host its largest annual event at the Bolles School. This event serves as the qualifying rounds for the Special Olympics’ Summer Games. Special Olympics encourages all who want to attend or get involved to contact its Executive Director, Donica Hayes, at [email protected].
On top of what I have learned from her, Angie also tried her best to teach me patience and understanding. I am still working on being a more patient person and trying to understand everyone, regardless of their position. The more I become involved in the community and meet people with different backgrounds, the more I learn and grow. I hope that many of you continue to strive in the same regard.
In the meantime, I trust that you all will join our profession in the effort toward realization that attorneys are integral participants in the lifeblood of our communities. We serve people, business, and interests other than our own on a daily basis. I ask that you all continue the wonderful work you do. Be proud to mention that you are a lawyer and that lawyers are heavily invested in the health of our society through service.