January 2020

Some months ago I mentioned that I was thinking about how to stop or reverse declining levels of trust in our institutions.

There are several types of institutions - civic, political, cultural, economic. Even the family is an institution.

Preserving our faith and trust in these institutions requires the people within them - each of us - to be more trustworthy and to behave in a manner that a member of that institution would be expected to behave.

For example, as a lawyer, in moments that require judgement and ethical reasoning, we should ask ourselves: "How should I behave here, given my role in the administration of justice?"

When we start using the law in a mercenary way or as a platform for self promotion, we risk others losing faith and trust in our legal institutions and systems.

The same can be said for MPs, doctors, CEOs, financial advisers, spiritual leaders, etc etc.