In his discourse on Thomas More’s continued significance in modern law, Blake T. Morant examines the impact of the personal beliefs of lawyers and their cognitive influence on decision making.

            Morant reveals the difficulty for professional attorneys in resolving professional expectations and personal beliefs (968). To resolve this dilemma, Morant offers two alternatives: one can, like More, suffer the consequences of refusing to accommodate or can be more “pragmatic,” using cognitive dissonance to appear to acquiesce, but privately disagreeing, an alternative that More could not tolerate. In the end, attorneys strive to diminish dissonance through contextual solutions. Ultimately, in today’s more morally vapid world that seeks instant gratification, the attempt at reconciliation of these conflicted beliefs is more likely because of the fundamental dearth of moral clarity and resolve.

            In short, contemporary lawyers struggle with many ethical questions that lack universal clarity. Because of this, it has become increasingly important to appreciate the impact of these decisions and the necessity of solution (994). The author notes a parallel between the ethical issue surrounding More’s refusal to obey Henry and his own experience attempting to compromise with his superior officers while serving in the military, with the important exception that More’s dilemma resulted in his death as the consequence (996). In the end, it is most important for lawyers to understand the “basis for conflicting beliefs and the subsequent duty to incorporate that understanding into a search for solution” (1009). Through increased awareness, Morant hopes, lawyers can discover more effective solutions to their moral conflicts.