Good Counselor Project Impact Story: Lawyers as Conduits of G-d's Justice

By Naomi Singer

Maimonides wrote in the Mishneh Torah, one of the most influential works of Jewish law, that  “[w]hen a judge adjudicates a case in a genuinely true manner for even one moment, it is as if he has corrected the entire world and he causes the Divine Presence to rest within Israel, as implied by the verse: ‘G-d stands among the congregation of the Almighty.’” This phrase represents to me the importance of good counsel and the value of the Good Counselor Project Fellowship.  

As an Orthodox Jew, my conception of formation and vocation differs in some ways from the conceptions of my GCP peers. What I would consider to be my formation as an observant member of the laity is the daily practice of textual study and living according to Jewish law. I believe that we were all created with the purpose of partnering with G-d in the ongoing process of creation, and that holding this mission as the primary directive for our actions is everyone’s vocation to holiness. The GCP mission resonated strongly with me from the very beginning because it is by pursuing justice that we reach beyond ourselves to bring the Divine Presence into our communities and endeavor to achieve holiness.  

When we represent our clients and work on our cases in a genuinely true manner and provide accurate legal guidance to those who need it, we are the conduits to bring G-d’s attribute of justice into the world. Being a good counselor means emulating G-d’s justice and righteousness in our vocation as attorneys. GCP strengthens our understanding of justice through its great books curriculum and gives us the opportunity to act on that understanding as good counselors through service projects such as researching and writing resources for faith-based nonprofit leaders.  

To me, the most special aspect of GCP is the community. Law school is rarely the environment for deep discussions about faith and the great books, so it is spiritually energizing to discuss these works and our thoughts about law and justice from the perspective of faith. As the only Jewish student in my cohort, not only do I get to add a unique perspective to these conversations, but I get to learn from a variety of Christian perspectives from my peers. We share many core values, such as a strong emphasis on faith-based moral action and the importance of doing what is right rather than what is easy or profitable. Because of these commonalities, we are able to have much deeper and more meaningful conversations about how to interpret the ideas in our assigned readings. Those conversations often springboard into meditations on faith and virtue, and I always leave those conversations feeling spiritually renewed.  

Even when I disagree with some of the religious premises my peers present in a discussion, I learn so much from my colleagues’ wisdom and thoughtfulness. Whether in the monthly cohort discussions or among the full group of fellows, I feel so strongly that this is a congregation of the Almighty and that G-d is dwelling there too.  

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If you are interested in joining the 2025 Cohort of the Good Counselor Project Fellowship, click here to apply. To refer a candidate to the Fellowship, click here.