I've seen many 2020 bar examinees slam this letter today.

If you know me, you know I have been VERY vocal here in my support for you.

If you don't know me, I hope we can get to know one another. YOU ARE THE FUTURE and I want to do all I can to help you.

Why?

1/ https://twitter.com/MISupremeCourt/status/1288832306925285377

Because law is the OS of human society. Law holds it all together, friends.

And, in the US, only licensed lawyers can provide legal services.

If you haven't fully taken in the magnitude of this privilege and obligation, I will give you a few moments.

2/

There are 1.38 million lawyers who have the sole privilege and obligation to intermediate the law for 328.2 million people in the US.

Did you know this? Did you fully understand that your privilege is accompanied by an obligation?

Because WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN HELP.
3/

And have you taken the time to understand the many challenges our profession faces?

Have you read the ABA 2019 Profile of the Profession?

Have you read the ABA 2020 Profile of the Profession?

If you haven't, please do so. Now.

4/

And, this won't be revealed in either of these documents because if you read these you would think that the ABA exists to shine a light on our challenges so that we can come together and solve them.

This is not true.

What is true?

5/

Anyone who's paid a lick of attention has known about these challenges for years.

I'm 22 years into the practice and they've been known to me the entire time.

Also known to me? No serious effort has been made to address them.

6/

It's easy for those new to the profession and suffering grave consequences for the most recent leadership failure to point fingers of blame.

Let me say this. I am your biggest advocate. I will fight for you and I will lift you up and I will mentor you and I will support you.
7/

So, please listen to me.

The words of @BridgetMaryMc in this letter are words of courage and support and a commitment to #makelawbetter that you are not seeing from any other leader in this profession.

Before you criticize and condemn, understand.

8/

You are asking for our empathy for your situation.

And, in return, I ask for your empathy.

I've been trying for 22 years to make the change you are demanding happen overnight.

You've studied the law for 3 years. You KNOW that it is a discipline that is slow to change.

9/

It looks back for precedent. It is reactive. Not proactive.

You want proactive, creative change in this moment?

Find your allies. Build connections.

You have an ally in @BridgetMaryMc.

I know her. And, she will remain your ally.

10/

Even as you criticize her.

And, I will, too. As I'm sure I will get criticism for this thread.

And, I know that CJ McCormack, and I, and many more of your allies, will do the work to empathize with you so we can do our best to help you.

Please do the same.

11/

I don't know exactly how to solve this really f*cked up situation, but I can tell you that it will only happen when those of us already in the profession collaborate with those of you who deserve to be here with us.

Demands won't work. (Trust me. I've tried.)

12/

And, this is all I've got.

Life sucks for most of us right now. For many of you, it sucks even more.

And, you have an army of people who are trying to help.

We are PEOPLE. Even when our title is Chief Justice, we are still people. Trying to help.

13/13