By Kim Cordova
Utah State Bar President
Every community depends on the rule of law, whether it is ensuring a teacher is treated fairly in the workplace, a family navigating a custody dispute, or a small business owner working to resolve a financial disagreement. Behind every legal right stands a lawyer sworn by an oath to protect it. This oath, administered by the Clerk of the Court at the Utah Supreme Court, is not simply a formality or procedural step. It is a public promise to uphold the standards and values that maintain trust in our legal system and ensure fairness for everyone.
The Utah State Bar’s decision to record a video of the attorney oath serves as a public reaffirmation that the Bar is not a private membership organization but an arm of the court whose purpose is to support and strengthen the judiciary.
By capturing legal professionals repeating the oath on camera, the Bar demonstrates its collective commitment to the rule of law, the integrity of the justice system, and the duty to act in service to the public rather than personal or political interests. The oath is not simply a requirement of licensure but a continuing promise to uphold honesty, professionalism, civility, and constitutional principles in every legal matter that reaches Utah’s courts.
In the words of the Bar’s oath-video script, “Every right we hold to speak, to vote, to be treated fairly depends on one thing: the law being upheld by those sworn to protect it,” and the closing reminder, “The oath we take is a promise we keep,” captures why recording and sharing the oath publicly strengthens trust between the legal profession, the courts, and the people of Utah.
The official wording of the oath makes the responsibilities clear. It reads,
“I do solemnly swear that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Utah; that I will discharge the duties of attorney and counselor at law as an officer of the courts with honesty, fidelity, professionalism, and civility; and that I will faithfully observe the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Standards of Professionalism and Civility promulgated by the Supreme Court of the State of Utah.” This single paragraph contains several promises that define the professional identity of every Utah legal practitioner.
The first commitment, “support, obey and defend the Constitution,” places a legal professional’s loyalty not with a particular client, agency, or judge, but with constitutional principles. This means that attorneys are bound to protect individual rights, due process, and the foundational structure of our democracy. They act as guardians of fairness, even in cases that are difficult, controversial, or not publicly popular.
The second promise, to discharge their duties with honesty, fidelity, professionalism, and civility, establishes the ethical tone of the profession. Attorneys are expected to be truthful in their communications with clients and the courts, remain loyal to their professional commitments, and conduct themselves with respect toward opposing counsel and all other participants in the legal process. Although the public sometimes views legal disputes as personal battles, the oath reinforces that professionalism and civility are required at all times.
The third promise, to faithfully observe the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Standards of Professionalism and Civility, emphasizes accountability. These rules are not suggestions, and they apply even when no one is watching. Practitioners are obligated to protect clients from conflicts of interest, maintain confidentiality, provide competent legal work, and avoid actions that erode confidence in the justice system. When legal professionals choose to follow both the letter and spirit of these rules, they reinforce public trust in the legal system as a place where people can be heard and treated fairly.
The oath also represents a commitment that continues throughout a legal professional’s career rather than ending the day it is spoken. Lawyers uphold their oath when they advocate for clients with honesty, when they seek solutions rather than conflict for its own sake, when they show dignity toward others even during heated disputes, and when they support legal access for those who might otherwise be unheard. The closing message in the Utah Bar oath-video script captures this idea by stating, “The oath we take is a promise we keep.”
Ultimately, the oath matters to every Utahn because when legal professionals honor it, families, children, workers, and businesses receive fair treatment. Due process is respected, the innocent are protected, those facing accusations receive a fair opportunity to be heard, and individual freedoms remain secure. The law protects the people, and legal professionals protect the law through their oath.