The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-10-26
LAW AND LAWYERS.
A PROFESSION IN WHICH MANY ARE
CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.


Not Necessarily BE Rascal.
Mr. Richard Devereux Doyle, prom
inent member of the Norfolk bar,
contributes to The Southern Maya
zine an article entitled "My Impress
sions of Law and Lawyers, which will
prove very interesting to laymen as
well as to members of the legal pro-
fession. Mr.. Doyle discusses his theme
instructively, entertainingly and with
judicial impartiality and candor. He
refers to the Confessions of Junior
Barrister," by the. brilliant Richard
Labor Shiel, as embodying the early ex-
periences of many hopeful and talented
young lawyers.
"How many" says Mr.. Doyle, shave
passed through similar course of study
and preparation, perhaps graduating
In the humanities as we'll as the law,
bearing away the prize for elocution
and oratory at some of our great insti-
buttons of learning! How many have
thought that such talents as theirs were
sure to command early if not immedi-
ate success, and alas how many have
been disappointed" differing, it may
be added, i'll this respect from Shiel,
who passed safely through the depress-
ing period of waiting and probation
which tries the soul of the ordinary
legal neophyte and who won the dis
tinotioh Of which he had dreamed at
the outset of his career.
Many of this grand army Of the dis
appointed fail, Mr. Doyle thinks, not
because they are lacking in genuine
talent" which is frequently of high
order" but because there are SO many
other elements that should but do not
enter into the calculation" of the youth
full aspirant. Youth, for one thing, sis
too sanguine and expects too much
Some fail because of their bad personal
habits; some by infirm health and too
hard study and confinement are stricken
down, like poor Kirk White, when life
is in its spring. some are not polite
enough to woo the world, but hold
proudly aloof, trusting to their talents
and knowledge, while the busy world
goes bustling by without stopping to
look at their credentials. " Some stray
into the pleasant and fowery paths of
literature and some into the seductive
field Of politics.
"a literary reputation" Mr.. Doyle |
declares, is perhaps more dangerous
than political one, especially if one is
given, like Mr.. Wegg, to dropping into
poetry. The age is too practical for a
c31o f71,o 20
allure. A lawyer may and should be
cultivated, but he must not be known
as litterateur or a poet. Nor will it
do for the young lawyer to seek to make
himself known by going into politics.
To do so ''is a risky venture for one
who intends to make law the profession
Of a lifetime, and even reputation for
political oratory is of little if any bene-
fit to lawyer. The public soon come
to regard him as politician and may
be willing to vote with him or for him,
but not to give him business. "
Turning from the causes of failure to
the qualities important to what is orGi-
narily deemed success, Mr.. Doyle sum-
them as follows: Love of the
profession and evident desire to get
business and attention to it when in
hand; industry and the appearance OF
industry and good native sense, with an
and partisan temperament
Fluency of speech, eloquence of diction
and genuine oratorical talent are use
full, but not essential. This partisan
and aggressive spirit, which is akin to
what Lord Bacon calls Goodness, " Mr..
Doyle considers a particularly impor
tant element of success. MEN hire
lawyers, as the expression is among the
people, to attend to their business and
to fight their battles, right or wrong,
and the lawyer who goes into case
i1nbued with the clients
feelings, believing or making believe
that he is certainly right and the other
party an unmitigated rascal, is sure to
please -
AS to the ethical side of the law, Mr.
Doyle admits that much may be said
pro and con. One of the demoralizing
features of the profession is that "a
lawyer cannot choose his cases. - He
Is sometimes ON the wrong side, the
tide of falsehood and injustice. and
when ON the wrong side "there is al
most irresistible temptation to express
belief in the justice of his cause, and
lawyers too often yield to it, thus Civ
ng some ground for the popular accu
ation that lawyers lie for their clients. -
After all, whether "the law is noble
md elevating profession" depends
Upon the man. =" There is nothing in the
nature of his profession which compels a :
awyer to be rascal. l. has its temp :
ations, but so has every other business.
Many hard things have been said of
awyers, but the account is nearly bal |.
need by the complimentary things that 5
hey have said of themselves and of b
heir profession. Sir Edward Coke :
peaks of "the gladstone light of juris :
prudence, A." and lack of self apprecia-
ion is not in general one of the defects
f the disciples of the law. They have,
however, the consolation of knowing
hat in spite of all the abuse to which
hey have been subjected by satirical o
writer's and poets they are not only use I