National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-07-29
TOO MANY LAWYERS.

BROOKLYN PRACTITIONERS VINO APPEAR
IN COURT on AN AVERAGE ONCE A
YEAR.
"That lawyer hasn't been in this court
for nearly year past" said Clerk
Charles Farrell, of the city court, few
days ago rs he pointed out thin, con.
sumptiyo looking young man standing
before the bar and arguing q motion for
alimony and counsel fees in n divorce
case. "And he may not be here again
in another year." Clerk Farrell added.
"lIe is only an illustration of the line
that one.half of the world doesn't know
how the other half lives
"Whcre does he practce?' asked the
reporter.
ain Brooklyn
"Are there many more like him2"
al should say so. The practice Of the
law is a great lottery"
GLOW many lawyers are there who do
business in Brooklyn" queried the re-
porter.
Mr.. Farrell went into an adjacent roc ON
and, bringing in lawyers directory,
counted the names.
There were Just 1890.
"Out of oil these continued Mr..
Farrell, "not over City do good paying
business. A class of lawyers we don't
often hear of in court are men who do
what is known as real estate business.
Again, there are those hired by corpo.
rations, with good salaries, easy places,
and o comfortable private practice.
There is firm on Court street, com.
posed Of three brothers, and all of them
are wealthy, their money having come
| from real estate"
GLOW about the pleaders? ?"
"The pleaders at the bar work hard.
A great many people who 60 to law beat
around for cheap man, and generally
get young one. He pockets his re.
taner right away, getting all he can.
When the case comes to trial he can't
try it himself lie gets u pretty good
counsel to assist him, and the ellen has
to pay for him.
."Who work the hardest ~
"rhe counsel gets the cream Of the
work, and the attorney does all the pre-.
pairing of the case for trial. One Of the
leading counsel in the suit Of De Wolf Il
Swan against Henry Day got $4,000
for one months services
"What do these young lawyers earn ?'
"a good many of them around the
city hall make on an average about $40
q week. The general term, every three
months, turns out forty or fifty young
lawyers, some ofthem totally to,prac,
tice. Very often good many Of them
abondon the law altogether and go out
into the business world. Many of them
leave Brooklyn and 90 to New York;
SIS not the law business of Brooklyn
increasing in proportion rs the city
grows? 2"
ayes. The June judgments in the
city court number fifty or sixty more
than those for the corresponding time
last year. But the business is monopo.
lized by the few, | may say by less than
twenty-five firms"
"WhaL remedy have the young men
goLY"
"Why, emigration"
"What do you mean H''
81, et them follow Horace Greeley
advice and go west. Let them squat
down and grow up with the country. A
young man of my acquaintance went out
to Lawrence, Kan. The first case h,
got was very important, one against tn,
state. lie is now doing splendid bust
ness and is constantly sending to me Il
send on law books. But when younl
man does so out west lethim take wife
with him to keep him steady" and Mr.
Farrell took up his pen and began agar
to take notes of the court proceedings. -
BrootiyR Times.