Joseph Shenker, the renowned senior chair of Sullivan & Cromwell, has spoken out on the critical thinking skills of future lawyers in a recent address. This response was incited by law students receiving rescinded job offers from Winston & Strawn and Davis Polk & Wardwell, following the signing or creation of controversial statements on a Hamas terror attack in Israel. Above the Law relays Shenker’s perspective on the issue.
Notably, Shenker condemned any inference of blaming the victims of the terror attack for the incident itself. Acknowledging the sensitive nature of the situation, he emphasized the importance of a respectful and tolerant work environment. However, he critiqued law students whose ‘critical thinking skills’ led them to conjure or endorse controversial stances regarding the incident. He stated, “If their critical thinking skills land them in that place [blaming the victims of the terror for the terror], then they have no place here.”
Shenker, who has spoken in reference to the American Lawyer, is speaking from a personal viewpoint, as he was in Israel celebrating Simchat Torah when the terror attack occurred. He sought refuge in a Jerusalem synagogue’s bomb shelter during the ordeal.
On the path forward, Shenker insists on empathy rather than revenge. He advocated not only for understanding the pain of the victims but also emphasized the wider human connection that transcends cultural or religious divides. “You have to feel their pain,” he shared, “But never take revenge. Feel empathy, protect others and feel part of the human whole.”
The incident puts into the spotlight the crucial role of critical thinking in the legal profession, which can directly influence professional opportunities for law students. ToStringly a part of the discourse, Shenker and alike senior figures in the law industry are reinforcing the weight that responsibility and tolerance carry in forging a successful legal career.