The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-08-04
THE DUTIES OF A LAWYER.
iio VIII" Delays Justice is Guilty Of HreaK
ing HIS Official Oath.

|
| ing His Official Oath.
There is i French 70 erd that "a
! good lawyer IS always bad neigh
| Dor" because, presumably, he Is
considered as boding i'll to the
harmony of the settlement This
| view is not however, often taken
seriously in the present day. A bad
lawyer is still, 10 doubt, always
bad neighDor; but to be a great
lawyer one must be great and
good man. His moral standpoint
Cannot be too high for his duty calls
him into all the shifting scenes OF
lite, where honor is most needed,
and where dishonesty can most
easily be concealed. 1t is said that
a man will give something 10 save
his sorl, will give much to save his
life, but will give anything TO save
his property, and by SO much as this
is true does the lawyer, more than
the clergyman or the physician,
keep the conscience of his client.
The lawyer hears his secrets and
reads his inmost thought, and the
law its elf forbids him to betray the
Knowledge thus obtained. He is
sought by the widow and the orphan
he stands between the helpless or
the timid and those who would
oppreSs them. When the culprit
stands before the bar of earthly
ustlce, the lawyer steadies the hand
that holds the scales. Not only in
the active scenes Of lite is the lawyer
participant, but when the sands
run low he is called, with confidence
to commit TO legal form the last
mortal wish OF the departing-to
preserve his earthly possessions to
the objects of his affection And if
the sojourner go beyond, leaving no
written expression of his will, he
leaves to the law and lawyers the
disposition of his estate. More
solemn responsibilities than these
are not, and truly the law "employs
in its theory, the noblest faculties of
the soul, in its practice, the cardinal
virtues of the heart.
In his capacity as counsellor, the
lawyers moral obligation is very
prominent. Litigation is all evil.
To prevent litigation is often the
lawyers highest duty. and most use
full junction. A client often seeks
lawyer with feelings reused to a
pitch OF Indignation that blinds his
eyes to justice, and precludes discrim
mating judgment. Tritling wrongs
are magnifed TO mountains of
oppression, until not Justice, but
revenge, must satisfy resentment.
Let the lawyer then be calm and
temper indus zeal; both parties may
be hoEe5t and offensive operations
must be delayed. The lawyers
domain is reason not the passions;
let him be "a light to eyes blinded
by hatred to their own interests"
The prospective client is entitled TO
candid opinion as to the merits OF
his case, and as to the best .Jurse
TO be pursued, and such opinion he
should receive even though it does
not suit his fancy. Equity favors
the compromise Of doubtful claims
The laws sharp weapons should not
be needlessly resorted to, and
should be seldom directed against
those who are more unfortunate
than culpable.
In every life, questions Of moral
duty arise for daily settlement; paths
constantly diverge, and the safe one
must hourly and anew be chosen.
There is no universal standard; each
conscience must settle some things
for itself, unaided but by an enlieht
ened understanding. One thing
positively, however-a lawyer may
never do for his client what the
common conscience of mankind
would forbid that client to do for
himself. He may not espouse the
cause of one who seeks toperpetrate
wrong through some chance
advantage the law may happen to
afford him. But not often, if ever,
need a lawyer decline TO undertake
the defense of the accused. To
secure to him those advantages
and safeguards which the law, in
mercy, offers him, is permissible and |
and just. Ifmore than this be ex-
pected or required, but one honest |
course is open; to decline peremp.
torily the proffered employment ard
torego the longed for fee
I