Can a Religious Person be a Big Firm Litigator?

This Essay takes on the challenge of describing some of the ways in which values often defined as "personal" or "religious" can be integrated into the practice of law at a large firm. Part I describes some of the aspects of big firm practice that make it particularly difficult to integrate religious and personal values which may give meaning to one's work. Part II suggests that such meaning can be found through a religious vision of what it means to be a person, which includes a sense of obligation to serve the common good. Part III explores how this concept might interface with the ideals, duties and culture of the legal profession.

Part IV extends this analysis to the context of a practice that serves big business. Finally, Part V ponders how such a notion may be applied in the specific context of a big firm litigation practice. The Essay concludes with hope that the profession will make room for the substantive contribution that lawyers with religious vision of the human person and of the common good can bring to the public discourse and the practice of law, even in the context of a big firm practice.