Home ›
About ›
Communications ›
NCBA News ›
2006 News Articles › Public Service is the Right Career for Me:
Public Service is the Right Career for Me:
Article Date: Friday, March 03, 2006
Written By: Russell Rawlings
Acceptance address of Dan McLawhorn upon receiving the
Outstanding Government and Public Sector Attorney Award,
Friday, March 3, 2006, N.C. Bar Center
Public Service is the Right Career for Me:
How About You?
Dan McLawhorn |
Shortly after the Council made its decision on this year’s award, Jeff Gray called to discuss the presentation. He suggested, perhaps to your disadvantage, that I should be prepared to make remarks. I have given much consideration to his request, especially my position between you and the buffet. For that reason, I developed a short list of reasons about why public service is my career choice. My remarks are intended to foster similar thoughts in others here today.
I’ll start with the number one reason that did not make the list, even though recent headlines suggest it motivates many to attend law school: “Show me the money!” The recent news article showing that the new hiring rate for the state’s largest law firms is $115,000 clearly demonstrates that other reasons must lead to the career choice of public service. For me the list starts with:
Great Mentors: My mentor list starts with Andy Vanore followed closely by Eddie Speas. Thanks, Andy and Eddie for both your example and the time you gave when I wanted advice.
Inspiring Examples: Judge Lacy Thornburg, especially as Attorney General, Wayne McDevitt and Bill Holman as DENR Secretaries, and Tom McCormick as Raleigh City Attorney are all included on mine list.
Great Cases: No other practice area provides so much responsibility so soon to newly minted attorneys. While I handled numerous cases with important Constitutional issues, I expect that the most important lasting impacts will come from the series of cases which shaped the public trust rights in navigable waters.
Listen to Your Inner Voice: I spent my formative years in the small Carteret County community of Harlowe. Environmental law didn’t exist when I left for college. Its emergence as a practice area showed me that I could combine my coastal heritage with my steering principle that my legal education should be used to serve the public. I am grateful to my friend Attorney General Rufus Edmisten for providing me just that opportunity when he selected me as counsel to the Coastal Resources Commission in 1980.
Shaping the Future: As a child of the ‘60’s, I felt that I should help shape the future. I cannot imagine better opportunities to do so than I have had as a lawyer in public service. I had the chance to help write environmental law both by legislation and court decision for over 25 years. It was a role I never dreamt could be mine until I joined the Attorney General’s environmental section.
Quality of Life: I increasingly encounter brilliant young attorneys who leave private practice for the quality of life a public service career provides. We have 3 outstanding such examples in the Raleigh City Attorney’s Office. Important to my quality of life has been the feeling of camaraderie and the striving for the common good--consistent characteristics in each office where I have had the privilege to serve.
Remember Your Roots: My father’s career as the quiet public servant we describe in our award criteria was an important example that guided me. Many at his funeral knew that he had retired from federal service, but until the minister gave his eulogy, very few knew he was awarded the Navy Cross in 1942 for heroism. He and my mother taught me by example that your reputation is a direct reflection of your character and reputations are earned rather than bought.
Give to the Future: I have another attorney in pubic service, Secretary Bill Ross, to thank for the introducing me to NCBA service and its opportunities to serve my profession for more than 20 years. I encourage public sector attorneys to join the Association and make a difference by giving back to your profession.
Finally, I would like to thank you my peers for this honor. I accept knowing that many others are equally deserving and could be here with me if the Section recognized more than one attorney a year. I appreciate the confidence that you have expressed in me as I am certain there can be no higher honor than one accorded by other lawyers who chose a career of public service. Unlike last year’s award recipient, I am regularly reminded that I have surpassed the mid-point of my career. For that reason, I close with a bit of wisdom from President Thomas Jefferson, one of my American heroes: “Too old to plant trees for my own gratification, I shall do it for my posterity.” Through mentoring as so many have done for me, I hope that my posterity can include others who find a public service career allows them to respond to the Jerry Maguires: “It’s not about the money!”
Daniel F. McLawhorn