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Michael Greco, President, American Bar Association [by Nikki LaCrosse] As the current president of the American Bar Association (ABA), Michael Greco has set an ambitious and far-reaching agenda for himself and the Association. A longtime advocate for pro bono work, Greco’s first task as ABA president was to appoint a commission called the Renaissance of Idealism, which focuses on finding ways for more attorneys to be able to perform pro bono work. It’s a project that he is passionate about. “I’ve learned from my travels in the last
work that lawyers do and the funding from the
seven years of his life in war-ravaged Europe.
couple of years that the one lament that
government.” He goes on to add, “The state
After his family moved to the U.S., it became
lawyers younger and older have is that
of affairs is that we are not doing right by
clear to Greco that lawyers held an important
it is becoming harder—there are more
the poor of our country. We even have above
place in molding society and providing stability
obstacles—to their doing the public service
the Supreme Court entrance in Washington,
to governments and countries.
and pro bono work that they expected to do
‘Equal Justice for All.’ That’s what we stand
when they became lawyers,” Greco says. “So
for. But when you look at the reality of it…the
In private practice, Greco has been a
the Renaissance initiative is addressing that
needs of the poor aren’t being met.”
successful trial lawyer for more than 30
lament; and more than that, we are finding
years, specializing in the areas of business,
ways to persuade the decision makers in law
Despite the issues he sees in the current
employment, and real estate law. He has been
offices across the country about the need to
U.S. legal system, Greco indicates that it is
a partner in the Boston firm of Kirkpatrick &
free up more time so lawyers can develop
applauded overseas. “I’ve been doing a lot of
Lockhart Nicholson Graham, LLP, since 2003
more public service and pro bono work.”
traveling as president of the ABA. In country
and was a partner at Hill & Barlow, where he
after country where I go, the respect for
practiced for 30 years before the firm closed
The commission is chaired by Washington,
what the American lawyers and judges do is
in 2002.
DC, attorney Mark Agrast and has Supreme
immense,” Greco says. “There is a great deal
Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and
of admiration for American lawyers and judges
Another topic that Greco is dedicated to is
former special counsel to President Kennedy,
and our legal system. And the ABA is the voice
the separation of powers in the government.
Theodore Sorenson, as active honorary co-
that speaks to lawyers all over the world.”
An ABA poll and the Terri Schiavo case
chairs. Greco feels that pro bono work offers
in 2005 reaffirmed his decision to form
immense benefits to all the parties involved.
Greco has been active in the ABA for
the Commission on Civic Education and
“It’s a wonderful development thing for young
most of his legal career. He earned a B.A.
the Separation of Powers. The poll, which
lawyers to represent people in need. They
from Princeton and a J.D. from Boston
concluded about two weeks after he became
develop their skills, develop a very strong
College. After a federal clerkship in D.C.
president, stunned him when it revealed that
sense of community involvement and helping
and a fellowship in Italy, he returned to
40 percent of people polled did not know
other human beings.” Greco continues,
Massachusetts to begin private practice and
there were three branches of government;
“So, it’s good for the individual lawyer. It’s
joined both the Massachusetts Bar Association
22 percent thought that the three branches
good for the law office to make the morale
(MBA) and the ABA. In 10 years, he was the
were Republican, Democrat, and Independent;
higher. The lawyers in the firm are serving
president of the MBA and began to get very
and 40 percent misunderstood judicial
their community. It’s good for the profession
involved in the ABA. He has been on several
responsibilities, thinking, for example, that
because we all feel better when we know we
important ABA committees, including the
judges can declare war.
are doing things to enhance society’s needs.
ABA Task Force on Terrorism and the Law
Certainly, it’s in the interest of the public that
and the ABA Standing Committee on Law and
“That was after the Terry Schiavo debacle, in
will be receiving that pro bono help.”
National Security, and he even chaired the
which members of Congress were criticizing
Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary
state court judges and enacting law to take
Greco has also appointed a taskforce called
and the Section of Individual Rights and
the case from the state courts to the federal
Access to Civil Justice. “Seventy to eighty
Responsibilities.
courts. And when the federal courts decided
percent of the legal needs of the poor on the
it the same way as the state court, then the
civil side go unaddressed year after year,”
Greco knew early on that he wanted to be a
federal judges were attacked by Congress and
Greco notes. “And that’s after all the pro bono
lawyer. Born in Italy in 1950, he spent the first
others across the country.” Greco remembers.
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LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW STAR
www.lawcrossing.com
1. 800.973.1177
“And I thought, ‘Holy smokes!’ There is such
collapse if we say, ‘That judge decided that
or resources. It’s irresponsible because it
a lack of knowledge and understanding about
case on that hot-button issue wrongly, so let’s
cuts right to the heart of our government and
how our system of government works that the
get rid of him or her.’ That creates disrespect
our democracy. And I’m hoping that those
ABA has a role here to educate people, and
for the judiciary, creates instability in our
members of the legislature will think twice
that’s the purpose of our commission on Civic
most important branch of government of the
about continuing those efforts and instead
Education and the Separation of Powers.”
three.”
look at how judges can be protected to do
How to keep judges and courts safe from
Greco hopes that his Commission’s findings
have to toe any ideological lines that people
attacks by special interest groups or
will sound a note of warning to those
want them to toe.”
individuals is one answer that Greco hopes
who want to influence the courts. “It is
the Commission will come up with. “In a
irresponsible for members of one elected
democracy, we all have the right to speak
branch to attack the judiciary and threaten
out,” Greco says, “But the whole system will
impeachment or the withholding of salaries
justice and to be fair and impartial and not
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