Historically, lawyers have played a pivotal role in leading their communities. The legal profession instills the skills and knowledge necessary to guide localities and influence positive change. High Point University School of Law recognizes the significance of lawyer-led leadership in small towns and aims to cultivate graduates who will become catalysts for progress, taking up the mantle of community stewardship.
Recently, Dean Mark Martin sat down with his esteemed colleague Hon. Samuel Ervin IV to discuss his unparalleled opportunity for doing good from the bench. In his conversation, Ervin shares insights about his family’s commitment to public service and the influence it had on his own career path. Hon. Samuel Ervin IV’s father served as the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, while his grandfather held positions on the Supreme Court of North Carolina and in the United States Senate. Public service was a natural calling for Ervin, with regular discussions of public issues taking place during family meals.
“We sentenced a good number of people over the dinner table.”
Dean Martin listens while Ervin reflects on his experience serving on the Utilities Commission and the Court of Appeals, highlighting the honor of working alongside others in the legal profession. He emphasize the importance of candidly understanding the challenges and rewards of the legal profession.
“It gives you an unparalleled opportunity to make a positive difference in the life of your community or in the life of individual citizens, particularly out in the small towns. The leadership of the community in many instances comes from the bar, and there’s a long tradition of such leadership from lawyers, and that’s something that needs to continue.”
While acknowledging the stress involved, Ervin also mentions the opportunity to make a positive difference in the community and the need to be prepared for differing viewpoints and goals.
“You have to be prepared to deal with a certain level of stress because what you’re doing is mitigating the conflict in society, and that, by definition, involves some ability to deal with the stresses that the profession puts on people. So don’t be surprised if you enter into the legal profession, that people don’t agree with each other.”