Similarly, one who reveres the proper role of law and the importance of truth and justice would not value any result accomplished through dishonorable, disrespectful or dishonest means. The distinction between gamesmanship and sportsmanship approaches to sports is equally applicable to the practice of law. In fact the willingness to do whatever it takes to win and the ability to get away with breaking and bending rules are admirable qualities. Lawyers who adhere to the gamesmanship model of law practice have no moral qualms about making honest witnesses look like liars, misleading others, or hammering an opponent into submission through intimidation, delay or unfounded claims. The higher model of law practice is akin to sportsmanship.
Process is critical to achieving an acceptable and honorable result.
Lawyers who adopt this philosophy see no conflict between being a good lawyer and being a good person. This high road is not the easier road but it is the only road for a person of character. For KNX 1070, this is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. A professor in an ethics class of 200 MBA students posed this question recently. Only two students raised their hands.