Michael O’Brien
Class of 2002
About Me
What has changed in your legal practice?
Whether a client is an individual, a small business or publicly traded company, the circumstances which lead to a client’s interaction with legal counsel are often very stressful. In some cases those circumstances may be a complex commercial dispute or a governmental investigation, while others may be bankruptcy or business/corporate restructuring. Each of these cases and circumstances is unique regardless of any external crisis, and attorneys should be mindful of the additional personal and professional stress that this virus has caused in the lives of individual and institutional clients.
How are Pennsylvania’s vulnerable populations impacted?
All of us should recognize the disproportionate impact this outbreak has had on poor and minority communities. The Coronavirus outbreak, and other recent developments in our national life, should cause us to refocus our efforts both personally and professionally to work toward realizing the principles set forth in the Constitution. All of our fellow citizens are entitled to equality under the law and should have ample opportunity to work toward happiness and prosperity in their own lives.
What gives you hope and joy in this difficult time?
Winston Churchill once said “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Whether it be the Jesuit education I received at Prep and Georgetown, or the training I received during my time in the Army, I’ve always tended to be optimistic as to the future of our country and the world. Our country and our communities are facing challenging times, but if we work together to identify specific challenges and opportunities, and focus on implementing an effective strategy to achieve a defined objective, we will emerge from this crisis stronger. It’s a good outlook in the practice of law, and a good way to approach life.