Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan says the happiest lawyers are those who find a way to make a difference in other people's lives.
The high court's youngest justice says the feeling of making a difference in the world is what makes people enjoy going to work every day.
Kagan spoke Monday to graduating students at Georgetown University Law Center.
Kagan said she was inspired by working as a law clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall, who convinced her that a meaningful career for lawyers meant making a difference "in something bigger than themselves." She said she loved being a lawyer because of the intellectual puzzles it presents and the fact that people can use the law to help others.
Kagan was appointed in 2010 by President Barack Obama.
© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.