The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-11
LAWYERS IN NEW YORK CITY.
Their Varying Fees and Methods of
Practice, Regular and Irregular.

earn less than the wages OF porter, other
hundreds, possibly thousands, earn enough
10 maintain them in deoency, some scores
earn from s., 900 to $25, 900 a year. and a
few earn enough for luxurious living and
die rich. The law pays better and worse
here than anything else in the United
States. In no other city are there so many
educated lawyers who get pittance from
practice and maintain themselves by
other means. In no other city are
the fees of the most successful lawyers
so high. Lawyers ten years at the bar are
glad TO be employed as clerks at SO week,
while others no longer In practice live at
ease with the prospect OF riches, There ia "a
current story going to illustrate the differ
ence in fees here and in Massachusetts: An
electrical company, so goes the story
sought an expert legal opinion upon an i'm
portRnt point, and laid the matter before
Senator Hoar and William M. Evarts. Each
wrote an opinion and each sent a bill. Mr..
Hoar's bill wes $50; Mr.. EvArts' $4,000.
Most lawyers believe it would be nearer the
truth were the amount assigned to Mr.. Hoar
multiplied by ten.
A famous lawyer and leading republican
tried a case for a client on appeal and won
in the higher court. His argument occu-
pied two hours, though his preparation
occupied probably good deal longer He
was for the argument on appeal, and that,
should the case have a new trial, there
would be no further charge for what had
been done thus far; but that, should the
case be settled without a new trial, be would
expect some further slight remuneration.
The case was thus settled, aud the counsel
demanded an additional fee Of 5000. 1t
was paid, though the client complained of
the charge. 1t amounted to S15, 600 for a
in A kklw 4, In
good lawyer of some reputation will try
cases at from 800 to 500 day, aud many
men charge as low as $50 for trying a case.
Part of the etiquette Of the bar In earlier
times discountenanced the use of signs by
lawyers. The young lawyer WHO pigeon
holes himself in a great downtown Office
building, and proolaims bis presence TO the
world solely by means OF gilt sign on the
door, scarcely violates the spirit Of this
ancient convention, for he Is almost as
effectuallY hidden as il he had wal led him
self in and given no outward indication of
his existence. Legal etiquette recognizes
no method of directly SEEKING bust
ness as reputable, and the most rigidly
diguified lawyers eschew many methods
that to most lawyers and nearly all laymen
would seem entirely without blame. Such
men expect either to rise TO partnerships,
from clerkships in great offices, or to obtain
made in the course of business done for
their employing firms. Finally influence
and family practice count for a good deal,
though young lawyer usually finds that
he has more consideration with his relatives
after his name has appeared in other peo-
pies cases than before His uncles and
cousins are then willing 10 pay him good
fees.
College acquaintance are helpful 10 the
l.,
athletics sometimes fine that mis- reputation
won at school aids hun as a lawyer. Young
lawyers find it profitable to belong to clubs,
and especially to the Manhattan Club to
which nearly all the judges belong. The
value of politics to the lawyer Is proverbial.
A lawyer who kept up two domestic estab-
lishments, one publicly acknowledged. the
other not, gravely advised a young friend
to join some church with view to further
ing his professional prosperity. The
devices of lawyers that pick up practice
about the prisons and police courts are no.
torious. Somewhat less conspicuous are
the lawyers who watch for accident cases.
One injured man lying in the hospital not
long since was approached on the day after
his accident by the agents Of more than fifty
lawyers. Laborers are the victims Of most
accidents, and they are easily cajoled by the
lawyers. 1t came out in one case against
get out of an award of $15, 900 damages,
with costs and interest, half the amount, all
the costs and allowances, and all the inter
est, while all expenses were TO come out of
the clients portion. 1t gave the lawyer
nearly 900 and the client $1,000.
No other city In the world has such a
mine Of wealth for lawyers, reputable and
otherwise, as the elevated railways afford.
Many lawyers live and get rich out of suits
49, L. To-. A.
work in conjunction with real estate agents.
The latter sell property abutting on the line
Of the road, and at once suggest that there
is wealth in a damage suit. The purchaser
inquiries for good lawyer, and the agent
promptly recommends the firm with which
he deals. In one notorious instance it was
proved that the agent acted as an expert
witness for the plaintiffs lawyers in such
cases at $3.50 per day.
1t is common enough for great lawyers in
New York to figure IN cases solely as bar
risters, but there are few younger men in
town who affect such a practice, and have
few II any clients of their own. Clever at
torneys, very moderately learned in the
law. but good at hunting clients, bring
cases to such lawyers. The latter charge
moderate fees for trying cases, and the at
torneys get a great deal more out the client
This business is often entirely reputable upon
DDbu blucot anu uouhLJ 81 upOu LQS BlO0 OF
him that acts as barrisrer.
It happens often that lawyer owes sue
cess In large part to accident, or to siuge
successful suit. One OF the most successful Of
the younger men at the New York bar owes
a highly profitable part Of his practice to a
single case. He was employed by literary
man to prosecute publisher for violation
Of copyright, and not only made the pub
Usher desist, but yield up the pirated plates
ard damages. The literary man was so
pleased that he recommended his lawyer to
all his friends, and the publisher on his part
was 30 much impressed by the lawyers
cleverness that he engaged him as
counsel, recommended him TO other
publishers, and laid the ground for
large practice with men of that business.
OCe Of the most envied men in the LEGAL
profession is the family lawyer. the man
who is attorney 10 great estate. 1t is es-
teemed more highly than the possession Of
government bonds, for they in time are
called in, while the business Of a family
lawyer may last from generation to genera
ton and increase with gathering years.
The firm that acted as attorney for the first
Aston is still in existence and prosperous,
\ Cough, Cold or sore Throat should not be
neglected. BRowN's BRONCHIAL TRocHEs are a
els Nd civ ne