NLA update - FALL 1996


Christian Legal Society Participates in the Formation of the
Law and Faith Section of the National Lawyers Association

Editor's Preface: NLA is a secular, professional trade association for the legal community: The creation of a Law & Faith section was designed to accommodate the needs of certain members of NLA and no endorsement of any particular faith is intended. NLA welcomes persons of different faiths to establish legal sections subject to the rules and regulations of the NLA By-laws. NLA does not necessarily agree or disagree with any of the opinions expressed herein. Since the date of first publication of the following article, a Jewish Legal Sub-section has been added to the Law & Faith Section.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to live together in unity.
Psalm 133:1

As Executive Director of the Christian Legal Society, I am pleased to announce that Christian Legal Society has accepted NLA's kind invitation to participate in the formation of a Law & Faith Section of the National Lawyers Association. NLA members who wish to confess their faith in Jesus Christ can join the CLS Sub-section, then work through NLA towards those public services, professional relationships and legal reforms such as our common faith ought to inspire in the follower of Christ who is a member of the legal profession. All good standing members of the CLS Sub-section of the Law & Faith Section may also become members of the Christian Legal Society at a substantial reduction of CLS membership dues being offered to all NLA members.

Cutting against the public perception of lawyers, this Sub-section believes that a confession is good for the soul. That is why we were so encouraged to learn that CLS is welcome in NLA. Such was not the case when CLS asked for organizational delegate status from the American Bar Association in 1992 or the right to interview law students on the Yale Law School campus in 1995 and 1996. In these cases, CLS was curtly barred because a confession of faith in Jesus Christ is required to be a CLS member. We are glad that NLA does not so equate a confessed belief in God with religious discrimination.

CLS is also pleased to be welcomed by an organization that affirms the sanctity of human life in its founding principles.

CLS Sub-section members will be equipped and supported through section activities, local CLS attorney and/or law student chapters and fellowship groups, a national Directory, national and regional conferences, the award-winning Quarterly magazine, CLSNet - your on-line access to a broad range of forums, services and helpful information of particular interest to the Christian lawyer. The Sub-section will focus on serving its NLA members through continuing education courses on legal ethics, alternative dispute resolution, legal aid, religious freedom defense and the legal protection of the sanctity of human life. The Sub-section will focus on serving the community by offering its members volunteer opportunities to mentor law students, advocate for religious freedom and/or the sanctity of human life, or provide legal services to the truly needy. The Sub-section will also seek to promote reconciliation of disputes using biblical principles of conflict resolution.

You are cordially invited to confess your faith and join the CLS Sub-section of NLA as we seek to obey Jesus' most serious injunction to lawyers: "Do Justice with the Love of God."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Samuel B. Casey, NLA Member and Executive Director of the Christian Legal Society. Mr. Casey previously served as President of Simon Greenleaf University, dean of its School of Law (now Trinity Interanational University), and counsel for the Western Center for Law & Religious Freedom. Prior to that he was a litigation and labor law partner with the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliff.


Christian Legal Society

Visit CLS online at http://www.clsnet.com/
Call 703/642-1070 or e-mail cls@interramp.com for membership information today.

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