The Dickinson press., 1891-07-11
LAWYERS AND LAW FIRMS.
Some Recent Developments in the La
Practice of the Metropolis


Practice of the Metropolis.
The practice of law in New York is
not only a profession but business
Many small factories occupy less room
and employ fewer people than some of
the great law firms of this city. Law
partnerships have always existed here,
but the large law firm with half dozen
partners, a host of clerks and a corps of
Office boys, all occupying large suite of
apartments in u tall Office building, is a
thing of comparatively recent growth.
The office rent alone of such firm would
have been Il handsome income for any
but the most successful lawyers of fifty
years ago.
The law firm that acts as counsel for
great local corporation employs forty
clerks, all of them lawyers, graduates in
law or law students, eight or ten tex
a1niners" to collect evidence, four or five
stenographers, from six to ten type
waters, four or five proofreaders, a
cashier, man in charge of documents
and half a dozen Office boys. The pay
roll of such firm must foot up $500 a
week. Law clerks are paid from $500 to
5000 year; stenographers from $3.50
to s., 600; typewriters from $500 to $500,
and Office boys from 5000 to $400. The
Office rent of such firm is not likely to
be less than a 900 year. Many smaller
firms pay out S., 900 year in salaries.
One effect of this development in the
practice of law is the lessening Of bust.
ness for beginners. When law firm
has half a dozen salaried lawyers at its
call, even small cases are not despised.
Many Il suit involving less than 800 is
placed in the hands of law firms whose
annual transactions may involve mil
lions. The clerk that is set at such
minor tasks may be graduate of the
best law school in the land or lawyer
ten years at the bar. Many well edu-
Gated and capable lawyer is unable to
build up practice in New York, and if
nothing else presents itself such a man
gladly accepts one of the better paid
clerkships in a large Office. He may
know vastly more law than some men,
bers Of the employing firm, for great
law firms are not composed exclusively
OF great lawyers.
Tho important thing is that man
may be able to attract clients, and this
he may do in a dozen ways not involving
a knowledge of law, One man was ad-
mitted to partnership in an important
New York law firm because it was
known that he could bring a single $15,-
600 fee to the Office. Such case, how
ever, is rare.
The great law firms of New York do
not attempt to maintain large private
libraries. The libraries of the Law In
stitute in the postofice building and of
the Bar association in Twenty-ninth
street, near Fifth avenue, furnish facil-
tiles that make large Office libraries no
longer necessity. When an important
question involving an examination of
authorities is to be looked up, clerk is
dispatched to the Law Institute, where
he has ample opportunities to consult
| whatever book he may need.
Some of the most famous lawyers in
town pass whole days in the library of
the Bar association, Attendants are
ready at a signal of an electric bell to
bring whatever book may be needed.
The place is absolutely free from noise
and from the intrusion of clients. Some
of the most famous cases of recent times
have been prepared in this library. 1t
is a favorite workshop at night and on
Sunday. No liquors or cigars are sold
upon the premises, but smoking is per
mitted in the parlor. In fact, the Bar
association affords many of the comforts
but few of the privileges of a club
New York Recorder.