The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-07-19
Barristers' Clerks

In these days, when the struggle for
existence grows keener every year, q
barrister's clerk is in many ways an ex-
ceptionally fortunate individual. It is
probably due to general ignorance of
its advantages that this line of life does
not attract more candidates; for, be-
sides being lucrative and easy, it affords
good deal of leisure. This is often
very well employed. The clerk of
well-known @. G. is, or was, an accom-
plished musician. The clerk of an
other, lately raised to the bench, has
for many years exhibited his pictures in
the Royal Academy. The bench, too,
offers promotion to clerk as well as to
counsel. If a barrister accepts Judge
ship, his head clerk follows him to the
bench, and receives E400 year from
a grateful country for sitting below the
Judgment seat and handing his lordship
papers. ~ S~<*
The whole connection of counsel and
clerk is peculiar in many ways. The
very terms of engagement are unusual.
Instead of paying a fixed salary the
ordinary plan is for the barrister 10
guarantee his clerk certain amount of
clerks fees per annum. If they fall
short of the guaranteed sum the bar
rister makes up the deficiency; if they
exceed it the surplus is usually handed
over to the clerk. This is convenient
arrangement, as it gives the clerk an
interest in looking after his masters
practice. A clerk generally entertains
strong sentiment of loyalty toward
his master, with whom he is aceus-
toned to identity himself professionally.
'Our arguments is good, but our man
ners is awful was the observation once
made by the clerk of distinguished
barrister
A clerk usually begins his career as
''boy'' in chambers Tor, as he prefers
to describe himself, s'junior clerk at
perhaps ten shillings a week. From
this he will probably rise to do duty as
sole clerk to some one or more young
barristers, TO whom highly paid clerk
would be a wanton extravaganza. Here
his duties may be of varied and not
always professional character. He will
probably have to post a great MANY
letters, bring in divers luncheons, and
perhaps lay the table for sundrv tea
parties, wherewith the budding barrister
delights to honor his sisters, and his
cousins and his aunts. He must be en-
dowed with a good deal of shrewdness
and tolerably lively Imagination
There are occasions in the life of a
young barrister when, by the irony of
fate, the death of respected relative
will coincide with the date of-say,
Ascot. He will be bound, of course, to
attend the funeral; and on his clerk viii
devolve the duty of breaking the news
to some stray client in whom previous
experience may have engendered an
unworthy seepticism If it is clear that
the client is in hurry and cannot wait,
it is sometimes better to brag valiantly
and offer to fetch the truant in, but the
particular device must be left in all
cases to the clerk.
There is. of course, an element OF
chance in a clerks career; for his
emolument closely depends upon the
success of his master. But if he learns
his business heneed never want place,
| for the market value of a good clerk in
legal circles is far above rnbies. ST.
James Gazette.