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Arthur Gross-Schaefer, the Rabbi-attorney [by Teresa Talerico] A lawyer, rabbi and ethics professor, Arthur Gross-Schaefer is using his JD for higher purposes. That includes challenging his students to develop a strong sense of their core values and to apply those values in the workplace.
Dr. Gross-Schaefer teaches ethics, spiritual-
an employee as an example. I want to know
are and they have a sense of their own values.
ity and other classes as co-chair of the De-
what the legal avenues are, the legal rules. I
And then they (examine) what the values are
partment of Marketing and Business Law at
want to know what the ethical considerations
of where they are working. Because wherever
Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
are and the spiritual dimension. My goal is to
you’re working, those values of the work en-
(consider) all three together. of Law, Dr. Gross-Schaefer has had various
vironment will tend to, over time, erode your own values if there’s a conflict.
A 1976 graduate of Boston University School Q: Do most law schools have ethics classes?
irons in the fire. After graduation, he briefly
I want them to have their own mission state-
worked for a CPA, practiced as a litigation
A: The answer is yes and no. On the bar
ment, their own core values and a very good
attorney, ran his brother’s congressional
exam, to become a lawyer, you have to pass
sense of the real values - not the articulated
campaign and worked for a member of the
an ethics test. That’s a very different type of
values - the real values of where they’ll be
Israeli Parliament. In 1984, he was ordained
ethics than what I’m talking about. The ethics
working and see if there’s a connection.
as a rabbi after completing his studies at
they do is how not to be sued for malpractice.
Hebrew Union College.
What I’m talking about is bringing your core
Law is an amazing background. And that
values of honesty and integrity, or whatever
background gives you entry points into all
your core values are, into how you practice
sorts of personal endeavors, all sorts of pos-
Q: What inspired you to become a rabbi?
law. What I focus on is a very different type
sibilities. I have even used it in my work as a
A: My goal at a very young age was to make
than your typical ethics classes in law school.
rabbi, in my work with school boards and with
the world a better place. I was about 8 years
In many schools, it’s more philosophical
public education.
old and saw John F. Kennedy and saw politi-
ethics. In other words, they teach you about
cians and politics as the best way to make
Hume or teach you about Mill. Very beautiful
the world a better place. There were three
theories, but you have no idea how to bring
skills I needed to master: one was money, so
that into your day-to-day life.
therefore accounting; one was law; and one
Q: Who inspired you to go into law? A: The people who inspired me the most were the lawyers who were able to take unpopular
was how to work with people, and that was
Q: When you were in law school, what did you
kinds of situations and defend those people
social work. I did all three of those things.
envision doing with your law degree?
or at least give voice to those people who did
The problem is when I started to practice law, my goal was to make sure I won. When I ran
not have others speaking for them. Brandeis A: Probably it was to go into politics.
my brother’s campaign…again, you started
believe that the law needs to mirror our val-
to get where you wanted to win. I started to
Q: What’s your advice for those looking to do
find myself losing my moral compass. Rab-
something different or unconventional with
binic school was a way for me to retool who I
their JDs? How can they avoid simply follow-
wanted to be.
ing their peers who are applying to big firms?
Q: How does your JD continue to help you
A: You know how corporations have mission
today?
statements? I want them to have their own personal mission statement, who they want to
A: What I often do with my articles and so
be. So when the demands come howling down
forth is to have a situation - take terminating
on them, they have a foundation of who they
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is one who comes to mind very, very quickly…I ues, not the other way around.