The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in the Legal Profession
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and in commemoration of the holiday and Dr. King’s life and legacy, NCBA asked members to share the most meaningful lesson they’ve taken from him and how it has shaped them in their roles as legal professionals, as well as a time in their legal careers when they witnessed Dr. King’s principles come to life.
Rashad Morgan of Crowell & Moring LLP said the following:
Dr. King’s enduring legacy has influenced my perspective and approach as a legal professional. One of the most powerful lessons I learned from Dr. King is the “fierce urgency of now” in the pursuit of equal rights and justice. As heard in his “I Have a Dream” speech, the fight for justice should not be gradual but instead requires immediate and vigorous action. This principle shapes my commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in our legal profession. Dr. King called us to act according to our highest values, and my daily aim is to meet this standard in my professional and personal life.
During my time as a member of NCBA, I have been privileged to witness Dr. King’s principles in action through the establishment of the Diversity and Inclusion Symposium by the Minorities in the Profession Committee. This biannual event exemplifies our commitment to advancing Dr. King’s legacy by addressing critical issues impacting attorneys from underrepresented groups. The symposium is inclusive, and it invites all who are dedicated to making the legal profession a space where all can be their authentic selves. The last symposium was planned by the Minorities in the Profession Committee, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee and the Young Lawyers Division, and as one of the current co-chairs, I look forward to providing this important program. I am also proud of the commitment of law firms, including my own, to uphold the importance of diversity and inclusion, even amidst increasing challenges. Dr. King’s principles not only motivate us but also empower us to continue on this path toward a legal profession for everyone.
Mark Holt of Mark Holt, Attorney, shared:
Dr. King preached nonviolence as the “guiding light” of the civil rights movement and a courageous and powerful means to defeat injustice, not people. During my career, I’ve admired and tried to follow the example of lawyers who, like King, passionately and effectively advocate for their cause without seeking to humiliate or destroy their opponent. King believed the “universe is on the side of justice,” leaving a legacy of hope as we seek a better world and King’s dream of the “beloved community.”
Alison Ashe-Card, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at Duke University School of Law, said:
The most meaningful lesson I take away from Dr. King is that justice isn’t self-executing. It requires moral clarity and disciplined action. As a legal professional, that shapes how I lead: I treat dignity as nonnegotiable, and I focus on building systems that make fairness real, not just aspirational. Dr. King’s legacy pushes me to ask, in every policy and decision, who might be left out, what barriers are invisible and what it would look like to create genuine access and belonging.
I witnessed Dr. King’s principles come to life early in my career as a legal services attorney through dignity-centered advocacy. I worked with clients of limited means who often came into the office overwhelmed with paperwork, looming deadlines and fear of losing housing. My job wasn’t just to provide legal help; it was translating a system that wasn’t built for them, restoring agency and making sure their story was heard in places that often reduced them to a file or case number. Watching firsthand how prepared, respectful advocacy could change the tone, and sometimes the outcome, made King’s legacy real. Justice must be accessible, and it must honor people’s humanity.
Visit our Diversity & Inclusion page to learn more about how NCBA recognizes, promotes and celebrates diversity. You can also check out our Minorities in the Profession Committee page if you’re interested in joining or want to learn more about its efforts.