Graduation at Pepperdine University, as you might suspect, comes complete with a gorgeous setting. Even though I only felt like I knew about 10 of the 200+ graduates from the School of Law today, I really wanted to be there to see them become Doctors of Law (maybe in part because I’d like to see myself become one someday, too). I’m glad I went.

The featured speaker was Dr. Gary Haugen, founder/president of International Justice Mission. He had a simple message for the graduates: Enjoy your life. He said this mostly because many lawyers do not.

Within his message, he had a path to finding joy in the practice of law: Practice with a purpose. Dr. Haugen, of course, has found his joy/purpose in pursuing justice on behalf of the millions of poor around the world, and he thinks that just might be the secret of happiness for many disillusioned lawyers in the world. His is a simple mathematical equation: Scads of powerful-yet-disillusioned American attorneys + millions of poor people around the globe in desperate need of legal help = both sides getting what they desperately need.

It was a good speech, and a compelling solution to two very real problems. Not bad work for a commencement speaker.