PRESIDENT ' S MESSAGE
GRATITUDE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Margaret Hughes Vath Georgia State University School of Law
What an honor to be inducted as the Atlanta Bar Association ’ s 110th President . I am well aware that this role comes with privileges as well as obligations .
As , to whom much is given much is required . out of the stack . Not because of my grades , which were good . And not because I had Cobb County connections , which I did not . But because the last line on my résumé showed my commitment to service , as a volunteer at Ronald McDonald house . Thank you Sara .
My first conscious recollection of hearing this expression was at law school orientation where the dean reminded us that yes , much has been given to us ; we were privileged . And he admonished us to not be complacent , not to rest on our laurels .
Because , to whom much is given much is required .
And we were privileged . But , we were also fresh , bright faces yearning to make a difference ; to seek justice ; to right wrongs . As law students , and then as lawyers , we swore an oath and we recognized and accepted that our obligations extend above and beyond .
And all through law school I continued to volunteer and to give back , and all through my years in private practice , I continued to volunteer and to give back .
Remembering that , to whom much is given much is required .
And my career path led me to academia . And boy , do I love it . Not only do I not miss living my life in six-minute increments , but I feel like I ’ m helping people every day . I ' m molding new lawyers . Their fresh , bright faces yearning to make a difference ; to seek justice ; to right wrongs .
Judge Bodiford , who is the judge that performed the swearing-in of the new Atlanta Bar Board of Directors at the annual meeting , is the very same judge that swore me in as a new lawyer nearly nineteen years ago . He also gave me my first legal job ; I was honored to serve as a clerk for him the summer after my 1L year . His public service was — and is — an inspiration . Thank you Judge .
And I probably wouldn ' t have even gotten that interview if it wasn ' t for Sara Clay who pulled my résumé
And I am quick to remind them : To whom much is given much is required .
And as much as that mantra has driven me , that is not why I first joined the Atlanta Bar . I didn ’ t know — at first — about the variety of programs , networking , and pro bono opportunities . Rather , I joined because of a boisterous band of singing and dancing lawyers led by the spectacular Cathy O ’ Neil . Thank you Cathy .
And from there I met Atlanta Bar leader David
6 June / July 2017