The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-13
MANAGING ABIG LAW OFFICE
RENTS IND CLkRKS SAkARTES HELP
TO EAT THE PROFITS.
The Systems In U.s. In Several Large Cnicr.
To Conduc, some New York Lawyers
Oni,ca Costs $4,000 Yenr-Bu, Their

Most New Workers who lriitcd into this city
from small towns in their early days have
some recollection OF the village lawyers ofllcc.
Tho recollection does not bring up picture
OF restless activity and pressing business; on
the contrary. 1t is n scene Of restful quictulc.
In Northern towns tho Offices OF the lawyers
were and still are in the upper floors of the
building that Is distinguished by tho name Of
the brick blocks" and In Southern country
towns each LAWYER has n fancy for building
to himself II he can manage IL tho "oilico
building SO familiar In Dixie. n struc.
turo as modest in Appearance as IL is iney-
with perhaps n row OF wooden columns in
front. aud either one or two small rooms in
side. In small Southern country seats whole
streets are often filled with such buildings.
built in the days when business Of any kind
was beneath the notice Of anybody who was
anybody" and when the only desirable open
ings for young men were the church. tho law.
and medicine. But whether in North or South.
the interior Of the country lawyers Office
was and Is much the same. There are arm
chairs for the lawyer and his visitors. few
books and papers scattered on the table,
a wooden cuspldor filled with snwdust.
and rusty stove. The purchase OF these
items is sufliclont to prepare young lawyer
for business In u small village. for 1t may be
taken for granted that no il already provided
with Il few pipes and a canister of tobacco. not
only for hls own use but also for the comfort
OF the friends who drop in to discuss the viii
lage news There may not he much profit. but
there is n deal OF comfort In II law business Of
this Kind both for tho lawyer himself and tho
friends who ind his Office n haven OF rsst on
quiet afternoons: AMI there is no interruption
to the hospitality. for when by any accident
the lawyer Is absent for business or pleasure
the door is left invitingly open.
In the great law Offices OF this city. however.
these bucolic pleasures arc sacrificed to tho
demands OF business and the hope Of profit.
In visiting n number OF offices occupied by
prominent LAWYERS to inquire into tho methods
used in big metropolitan law business. a Sun
reporter did not find n comfortable rocking
chair in any OF Thorn. or even lounge for the
use OF fatGued office boys: nor was lie invited
in a single instance to compose himself with
the Office 7ipo while discussing the news OF
the day. But what was lacking In this form OF
hospitality was more than made up by a bust
ness-like mir and the constant coming and
going OF many people. There are still many
law Offices in this city. usually in the
top stories OF dusty buildings in sidc streets.
where tho sole occupant is the lawyer himself.
and where visit from stranger is an event
to be remembered; but those arc not tho
Rbodes OF the great lawyers Of New York.
They abide in suites OF handsome rooms. and
are served sometimes by scores OF assistants.
Into some Of the Offices Of this class it is diff
cult for n stranger to make his way at all In
stead Of being welcomed for tho sake Of what
he may be worth to the firm. he is abruptly
halted by the Office boy in attendance. who
scouts tho idea OF his being permitted to SEQ
any member Of the firm. but after some parley
"a AS Al 2 INA Fls M ~ ~ - N
ter long delay sees him for a moment and re-
lers him to the clerk in charge OF the matter
idly as possible. ana in an incredibly short
time tn" clerk is ready for the next customer.
hensc OF SoO."oO may he taken rs an example.
This is not one OF tho largest OF the bis: Offices.
nor ono OF the handsomcst. but it belongs to ~
firm that does as large erin mai business as
any law lirn in th" city. In the nature OF
things tho number Of visitors must DO much
smaller in midsummer than when all the
courts arc in session. but hardly n moment
passes without some one entering or leaving.
of the partners is readily seen. for the Junior
partner j. his own managing clerk. with sal
ariel managing clerk t. assist hin. The en-
several clerks are ut work. These clerks are
all lawyers. competent 10 prepare case and
bows are VISIBLE. but they may AL have been
sent ont, The Iunior partner kindly takes tho
rSn"rsr IN hnnI nnI 1 ,I him MYSTERIES
Here are thr tire. connecting rooms, he
says. in which most of q. work i, d",e-thnt
clerks prrpnr" their cases and Keep their
papers in order. 4 l,wc"rk. You must under"
stand is u lawyer. not a mere clerk and he
must he So good "A lawI or that we are satisfied
to put almost any Of our clients IN his hands.
and give him entire charge Of the rn1e .,. ne
to ourselves. but there Is no case comes INTO
the office but. would be entirely safe IN tho
1t along ut al! unless thnt were the case.
:. hon it comes TO making an argument in
court that Is our province
II want You to look ut tho appearance Of
some OF thesn rlerkS"f ours: NJ Continued.
lowering hi. voice. ! was reading para
pipe hats in London. how hats of n style
year old are called city hats and are worn
their employers would not like them 10 he
dressed ~ faShionab.y as the employers
fhtmsrvrs are. hat amused mo worry, much,
tor almost any of our clerks here are dresseI
in better clothes than ever think nf buying.
:, These thrrt rooms, Won see. III ne went on.
Is the library OF about 1000 volumes. here are
the tyeprnot safe land you can Imagine how
"ugnly trnstwesthy set OF safes to keep his
papers in and here ar" tho stenugrapners and
"sEWr o nryao once III rS S"w y" 9 haTn
seen the whole establishment except tha con
sultation rooms. ot which there ar" five ra"r
continuing tnbl" and Two or three chairs and
The system employed? The system is the
way the best. when rev client comes in |
hear hi, story myself. so that | understand II
from the beginning. and then tura him over
to tn" rl'rl best suited to the "asr. Tho clerk
also hears The story takes the names and al
Dresses OF witn"-sr-, and prepares all tho
papers. if any ~" to 10 prepared. by having
so many clerks. each ono can keep his cases
thoroughly IN hand, an, ] give what .yer di-
rccliui.s or advIr" may be nc,'ded. When thore
arc moe clients than can hear the mana.-
IN. clrr,; insists me. zach clerk takes cnnrs"
oi n the par~rS in his cases. sends Tor tho
Witnesses ana examines them invariably be.
fore thuy 60 into court, and makes everything
ready for trial. by this system W" arc COM
PEELED to keep very lew books, ana everything
IL SimIli!ci We mlkcn speciality OF drawing
theatrical contracts. and MS these are ,re-
lu"ntlY TO he used ahronI; We have TO DO
familiar with foreign FORMS
In tn" Offices Of another celebrated firm OF
criminal lawyers wVr" found Il managing
clerk. live clerks. n sttnogral,her,. an iftr'-
prefer. and several Office boys. Hero seven
rooms are, occupied. including the waiting
and consultation rooms. all large md hanI-
somcy furnished apartments. Tho library
contains o,ouo voluiAe,. an,l the visitors of all
kinds average about 100 u day. la this office
two briefs NJ" prepared in each case. ono GOV.
erug the law and the other III" facts.
One OF tho hi;: corporation LAWYERS offices
would PERHAPS ~" M great Il surprise as any
q n lriSuruy out TOWN luWyer. Tina ana