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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana’s newest lawyers were admitted to practice Wednesday at an Indianapolis ceremony where they were advised to “think like a lawyer” and remember the oath they have taken to support and defend the Constitution.
At the Indiana Supreme Court admission ceremony, 137 lawyers took oaths to be admitted to practice in Indiana, as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts.
Chief Judge Nancy Vaidik talked about thinking like a lawyer — being analytical, rejecting quick thoughts, seeing the world in shades of gray instead of black and white.
“I realized I had fundamentally changed in law school and so have you,” she told the new lawyers, joking the process was like the Vulcan mind meld from “Star Trek.”
She noted in today’s political climate, more people need to think like lawyers. Indiana Supreme Court Justice Mark Massa in his remarks also talked about how today’s times are challenging — both for the legal profession and in general. He urged lawyers to be the first to come to the defense of free-speech challenges.
Natural-born U.S. citizens do not have to take an oath to defend and uphold the Constitution — only those in the military, public service and lawyers, he pointed out.
“Remember the oath always as you report to duty tomorrow,” he said. On behalf of the Indiana Supreme Court, “welcome to the bar, and welcome to the fight.”
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