Pope & John Lecture Series on Professionalism

In 1991 the Chicago firm of Pope & John Ltd. established a lecture series at Northwestern Law. Each year the Pope & John Lecture on Professionalism focuses on the many dimensions of a lawyer's professional responsibility, including legal ethics, public service, professional civility, pro bono representation, and standards of conduct. The series is part of the Law School's Program on Advocacy and Professionalism, directed by professor Steven Lubet.

The inaugural lecture was given in 1992 by Hon. Harry A. Blackmun, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Speakers and lectures include, among others:

2007 Richard Marcus, Horace O. Coil Chair in Litigation, University of California Hastings College of the Law, "The Impact of Computers on the Legal Profession: Evolution or Revolution?"

2006 Honorable Abner Mikva (LLM '91), Senior Director and Visiting Professor at the Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic of the University of Chicago, "Legal Ethics: A coincidence, a command, or an oxymoron"

2005 (Fall) Ken Feinberg, Special Master for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and partner in the Feinberg Group, LLP, "The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund: Private Pain and Public Compensation"

2005 (Spring) Robert A. DuPuy, President and Chief Operating Officer, Major League Baseball, "Good Sports Make Bad Law"

2004 David Wilkins, Kirkland and Ellis Professor of Law and Director of the Program on the Legal Profession, Harvard University, "Black Chicago Lawyers: The Social Structure of the Black Corporate Bar"

2003 Milton Regan, Professor of Law, Georgetown University, "Bankrupt in Milwaukee: The Story of a Wall Street Lawyer's Fall"

2002 Hon. Charles T. Wells, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Florida, "The 2000 Presidential Election: November 8 to December 12--Inside the Florida Supreme Court"

2001 Philip S. Beck, Founding Partner, Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott, "A Trial Lawyer's Perspective on Professionalism"

2000 Christine Lagarde, Chairman, Baker & McKenzie, "The Multidisciplinary Lawyer: European Perspective"

1998 Hon. Albert Louis Sachs, Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, "From Racist State to Constitutional Democracy; the South African Experience"

1996 Mary Brigid Kenney, Assistant Public Guardian, Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, "What Do You Mean, 'Do the Right Thing?'"

1994 Deborah L. Rhode, Professor, Stanford Law School, "Professionalism in a 'Different Voice'? Gender and Lawyers' Roles"