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Partners in Leadership

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Partners in Leadership I " r []J::; year::; UJ enjamin Civiletti was bone tired. At thirty-eight years of age, he was heading up the litigation department at one of Baltimore's most presti- gious law firms. The hours were long and the work challenging, yet Civiletti yearned for a change of pace. "I had been at Venable for thirteen years and I was starting to repeat myself," Civiletti says. "I had always appreciated public service, and I thought it was a good time to go in a different direction." That direction led Civiletti to the nation's capital, where President Jimmy Carter appointed him assistant attorney general of the United States. Civiletti earned this coveted Justice Department appointment as a result of experience trying cases with colleagues of Attorney General Griffin B. Bell. It was 1977, and Civiletti embarked on a four-year journey of public service to the country that saw him rise to deputy attorney general and ultimately to the top job of attorney general of the United States in 1979. He argued before the Supreme Court for the right of the government to denaturalize Nazi war criminals, and was the first attorney general to appear before the International Court of Justice at The Hague. "I thought it would be fun," Civiletti recalls of his decision to leave his practice and join the ranks of public servants. Looking back on his time in the Justice Department, he notes that the thrill of having access to the White House was tempered by the enormous responsibility of making decisions that affected the entire country. "You have to be extremely careful, because your decisions could affect every citizen," he explains. Each day, in spite of careful planning and attention to major issues, Civiletti remembers facing half a dozen crises that would usurp his time. "Your judgment is honed in that type of environment," he says. "But it is pretty heady dealing with cabinet officers and the president and to be in the White House on a daily basis." Civiletti confronted major events such as the Mariel boatlift and the hostage crisis in Iran. It was during the Iranian crisis that Civiletti became the first attorney general to appear before the World Court. "It was a remarkable experience," he says, "and I thoroughly enjoyed it." Fall 2004 JD Magazine 25 UPTHROUGH THE RANKS Benjamin Civiletti was born and raised in the Hudson River Valley, and journeyed to Balti- The Civiletti scholar is a student with A s a self-described more at the age of seventeen to enter Johns l1..bleeding heart with high academic achievement, financial need, Hopkins on a scholarship to study psychology. and a commitment to leadership in public a passion for public He cites the dual appeal of helping people and service. While the financial support of a full service, Reena Shah is a the challenge of a contest as reasons for going natural choice as the scholarship is an obvious bonus, Shah to law school. first Benjamin Civiletti admits that she is most excited at the "I wanted to be a trial lawyer from a disposi- prospect of having a professional like Ben- scholar. She describes tion toward disputes," he says. He graduated the award, announced jamin Civiletti serve as a mentor. from the School of Law in 1961, and clerked "I would certainly like to develop a rela- last May, as especially for Maryland U.S. District Judge W. Calvin tionship with him," she says, "to give me a thrilling because it's a Chesnut for a year before serving as an assis- new scholarship and broader view of the law degree and the tant U.S. attorney in Maryland. Civiletti power of that position." Civiletti, too, is one associated with such joined the firm of Venable, Baetjer, and eager to share his wealth of experiences with a dedicated public ser- Howard in 1964, made partner in 1969, and is vant as Benjamin Civiletti. the next generation oflawyers. "My impres- currently the firm's chairman. Through the sion is that Reena is bright, articulate, "He's a Maryland graduate and a former years, his practice has focused on commercial charming, and eager to learn the law and attorney general of the United States," she litigation, banking, white-collar crime, govern- says with enthusiasm. "It's an amazing apply it for the public good," he says. ment regulation, and corporate governance. Shah's interest in serving and learning opportunity and I'm very excited. This He serves as both a trial and appellate advocate about others began early in life. Born in solidified my decision to go to Maryland." and, as such, has successfully prosecuted and India, Shah came to this country at age Shah arrived at the steps of the law school defended a variety of common law, statutory, after a worldwide journey that has included nine, and traveled extensively after that. She and constitutional claims. has been eager to experience other cultures both formal learning and practical experi- "I enjoy civil jury trials and corporate inves- and says that one of the lessons she learned ence. She received a bachelor's degree from tigations the most," he says. "They're challeng- is that most cultures don't come close to the George Washington University in environ- ing, and they represent a combination of close sense of fairness and justice Americans often mental studies, then began a three-year stint evidentiary work and creative intellectual in the Peace Corps, working in Nepal to take for granted. work." He has more recently developed a prac- "Our justice system may be flawed, but promote environmental awareness, educa- tice in alternative dispute resolution, and tion, and community development. Back in we are so much better off than everyone works as a mediator, facilitator, and arbitrator else," she says. "In most countries, people the States, Shah continued her formal edu- to achieve faster and more cost-efficient justice. walk around with no sense of their rights or cation at the Woodrow Wilson School at "Arbitration involves an aspect of judging, whom to go to for help. I want to work on Princeton University, earning a master's though I never had a desire to be a judge," behalf of people who don't have this." degree in public affairs. Her studies focused Civiletri admits. "That's a bit too confining for Although Shah has a strong interest in on international development and interna- me, but to do three or four arbitration cases a international law, women's rights, and envi- tional relations, which she put into practice year is interesting." ronmentallaw, she plans to keep an open working in Sen. Barbara Mikulski's office Building a successful practice takes years of mind going into law school. last year. Additionally, Shah has been the dedication, yet Benjamin Civiletti always "I am open to a lot of opportunities," she recipient of many academic honors and found time and energy to serve the public. In says. "But for the future and in the long- accolades, She served as a Congressional Fel- addition to his years at the Justice Department, term, I will definitely work in the public low, a Presidential Academic Scholar, as well Civiletti also served as chair or member on a interest. That's my passion." -ELL. as a member of honor societies Alpha number of task forces under several Maryland Epsilon Delta and Theta Alpha Kappa. governors, including Funding of Public Educa- tion, Drug Abuse, and Funding of the Arts. He served as a member of the National Research Council Committee to Study National Cryp- tography Policy, and as chair of the Maryland Governor's Commission on Welfare Policy. Further, Civiletri was chair of the litigation section of the ABA in 1987-88. With his extensive knowledge and experience in the law, coupled with a keen enthusiasm and commit- ment to serve, Civiletti moves in and out of government positions with ease. "He is a very fine lawyer who has contributed Reena's childhood in India, experience in the Peace Corps in Nepal, and extensive travel significantly to the public good," says James L. inspired her to work for public justice. Shea, managing partner at Venable. "He not only left private practice to become attorney general, but he's been on countless task forces 26 JD Magazine Fall 2004 and committees in the pro bono service arena." jamin Civiletti leaves a lasting legacy ro the Shea has been instrumental in working with the School of Law. School of Law to recognize and honor Civiletti's "Ben Civilerti represents everything this law comriburions. He is spearheading the fundrais- school stands for," says Dean Karen Rothen- ing campaign for the Benjamin Civilerti Schol- berg. "He remains committed to public serv- arship. Students demonstrating leadership ice, maintains the highest level of potential and a strong desire to enter public professionalism, serves as a mentor to the next service will receive scholarship support. generation, and is investing in the future of the "Fundraising has never been so gratifying," law school. I can't think of a better way to Shea says. "It's very rewarding to see so many of honor him." his friends and colleagues who are very eager to The overwhelming response to the scholar- step up and honor him." A program on Octo- ship humbles Civiletti, who says he is terribly ber 12 will celebrate the establishment of the appreciative of all those who have contribured scholarship program and honor both Civiletri and especially of the generosity reflected in and Reena Shah, the first Civiletti scholar. their giving. (See sidebar.) "There's an expression 'You're known by "I hope it's a support for those young people your enemies,' and if you pick the right ene- who not only have outstanding ability, but who mies, your status is assured," he says.
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