Mark Crosswhite, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Alabama Power Company, challenged The University of Alabama School of Law’s graduates to work in Alabama, take advantage of opportunities and enjoy the legal profession.
“Develop yourself for the service of Alabama,” he said, borrowing words from Riverboat Captain and Alabama Power Company Founder William Patrick Lay. “Regardless of where you go to work – or what you do – or where you live, you can serve our state. You can work to make our state a better place. You’ve already shown your leadership qualities. People expect you to do great things, and I know that you will. Consider doing those things right here in Alabama because we need you here – to help Alabama grow and flourish.”
Crosswhite, ’87, said the graduates shouldn’t be afraid to take a “left-hand turn.” He said he didn’t think he would be a “power company” lawyer but instead thought he would have a general practice in his hometown of Decatur.
After his first year at Alabama, he spent the summer clerking at Balch and Bingham in Birmingham and was assigned to work in the utility section. He clerked at the firm a second summer and asked to work in the utility section. By the time he was invited to join the firm, he made it a condition of his employment to work in the utility section.
“My point is that it was absolutely not what I had envisioned. It was a left-hand turn, an unforeseen opportunity. And left hand turns have happened time and time again in my career,” he said.
Crosswhite’s final piece of advice: “Wherever you go, whatever you do, enjoy it. You’ll have days when you don’t win, and when you put in lots of hours, and when you’re exhausted. We all do. But if you enjoy what you do, it won’t seem like work.”
After Crosswhite’s address, the Law School conferred 152 law degrees. Fifteen students received the Public Interest Certificate for completing the program’s academic and externship requirements, while 34 students received the Order of the Samaritan honor for performing 50 hours of pro bono legal service and 40 hours of community service during Law School.
Degree candidates were hooded by Kimberly Boone, Director of Legal Writing Program; Bryan Fair, Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law; and Susan Lyons, Ira Drayton Pruitt, Sr. Professor of Law.
A reception honoring graduating students was held immediately following the ceremony on the Camille Wright Cook Plaza in front of the Law School.