Planting Seeds of Service

(Aug. 9, 2022)

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) celebrated 30 years of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship Program on July 27, 2022 at the Hilton Harrisburg. This summer, LASP's Doylestown Office hosted Salem Amare, a 2023 J.D. candidate at William and Mary Law School. At the recognition reception, Salem shared an excerpt from her essay, "Planting Seeds of Service," published in The Drum Major - Class of 2022 Essay Collection. The full essay is reprinted with PLAN’s permission.

"I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry.  

“And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity."

– Martin Luther King, Jr., The Drum Major Instinct

by Salem Amare

Dr. King so fervently delivered in his sermon, the Drum Major Instinct, that there is a deep ambition within all of us “to be important, to surpass others, to achieve distinction, to lead the parade.” This ambition is especially prevalent in the legal community, where there is an instinct to be the very best, at the very front, receiving all the accolades and all the praise. Yet one must ponder, what is the point of such instinct, if not to be used for the betterment of society? My drive and pursuit to become an attorney has always stemmed from a deep desire to serve the underserved. Like Dr. King, I wish to be remembered for my acts of services rather than any distinctions or honors. For me, a life well-lived is a life filled with serving others. 

This summer, I had the privilege of working with the Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP) in Doylestown. I split my time between their dependency office and domestic violence office. LASP aims to provide quality legal representation to low-income and vulnerable people in Bucks County and surrounding areas. My experience working for LASP was nothing short of amazing. Coming from Virginia, I was nervous about moving to a new state for the summer and getting acclimated to a new environment. My nerves were calmed after meeting my new colleagues, most of whom have dedicated their careers to being public servants.

Because my time was split between the two offices, I obtained a dynamic and immersive experience in two different areas of the law which sometimes overlapped. Some of my work involved conducting legal research, writing memoranda, interviewing clients, and observing legal proceedings. My experience came full circle when I began representing clients in court who were seeking Protection from Abuse (PFA) Orders or in dependency proceedings, pursuant to my certification under PA Rule 321.

I have worked in various public service capacities but my time with LASP certainly stood out. Not only did I have the responsibility of listening to the struggles of parents who so desperately wanted their children back and to the survivors of abuse seeking PFAs, but I was also entrusted with representing their voice in the court of law. Perhaps my personal experience of receiving quality pro bono legal representation made me understand the importance of the work done by legal aid. Perhaps it is the awareness I hold that attaining legal knowledge is privilege and power in this country. What a waste it would be for me to harbor such immense knowledge without using it to empower those who are indigent and marginalized.

I look around our legal community and see so many attorneys with untamed and unchecked drum major instincts, upholding elitism and a better-than-thou mentality. While they possess knowledge of the law and are adorned with recognitions, they fail to use even a mustard seed of that knowledge in service of those who need it most. On the other hand, throughout my time in law school and working for LASP, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most dedicated attorneys who use their drum major instinct for good in service of others and in the pursuit of justice.

It has been my privilege to work as an MLK, Jr. Legal Intern. There is no better experience that I could have envisioned for myself. Recognitions fade away. Honors fade away. Distinctions fade away. In the end, we all ought to be remembered for how we served others as those acts of service will always live on in the lives of the people we encounter. 

About the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship Program

Initiated in 1991 by the Pennsylvania Legal Services Black Caucus, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Internship Program has provided mentorship and support to 402 law students since its inception.

Further reading + video

Reflections on Legal AidMarion Fraley