These Four Lawyers Embody the Legal Profession’s ‘Work-Until-Death Ethic’
Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau got lots of press when he retired from public service at age 90—and soon announced he was joining Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
But Morgenthau isn’t the only lawyer who continues to work long into his or her golden years. An estimated 10 percent of the New York State Bar Association’s 77,000 members are older than 65, the New York Times reports.
According to the newspaper, “the legal profession, more than many other fields, seems to carry a work-until-death ethic.”
The Times profiles four lawyers who continue to work, all of them at least 90 years old. They are:
• Bentley Kassal, counsel for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. He works out in the firm’s gym and often acts as a judge for practice court sessions.
• S. Hazard Gillespie, senior counsel at Davis Polk & Wardwell. He gave up his law license, but still goes to the office and does volunteer work.
• Herbert Rubin, a member of Herzfeld & Rubin. He is in court arguing civil cases once a week.
• Milton Mollen, of counsel to Herrick, Feinstein. He mainly does arbitration and mediation.
Also see:
ABA Journal: “7 Over 70: Lions of the Trial Bar”
