New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-13
THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN NETWORK

THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN NETWORK
To the Editor OF TIE Tribune:
Sir: IN q article In The New-York Law
Journal the chief leSA publication In this city.
attention was drawn TO the extremely Low rates
OF remuneration for which asprarts 70 the legal
profession and even admitted attorneys and ccun-
sellers. willing 20 give their services 70 New
York CITY LAWYERS and the writer Of the article
in question wound up by advising young men
about "a select vocation In ~. 20 avoid the law
Vas this advice warrAntec oy the actual state
Of things, There are 800 lawyers within the
limits OF New-Ycrk City. but OF ,his large number
only about 1000 practise their account,
The remainder either lawyers who act a.
clerks and assistants to other lawyers or 10 Gus
tom House brokers' 20 the large corporations.
or who must be lawyers tor the purpose OF diling
certain public Offices. or who study law with 4
view 10 Congressional honors as in the case
Of many wealthy people. FOR the more efficient
management OF their Affairs.
In the Offices Of the 1000 lawyers who practise
there are probably l,No law clerks proper. OF
whom % about 1000 ara admitted lawyers, and the
remaining 5000 composed Of CT men who are
more or less well versed IN law. and practise
under the code. but are not admitted lawyers
% Of lawyers from other Jurisdictions who are
not yet admitted to the New-York bar. OF "a
Junior clerks and 90 Office boys. Besides these
Is the great army OF typewritrrs Now many OF
the men cassed % above receive high salaries.
a tsw as high a $4,000 = year. and good many
5000 G.J00 and G0J year, anu the average
OF salaries OF OF Class save Law students) ls
about Il 600 a year The clerks OF Glasses 4 and
receive salaries Of say 500 $500 a year and
$50 and s10 a year respectively
The only 10 whom the remarks OF the writer
in The Law Journal" might be said 10 apply
young lawyers OF Class |. who have been only
Gently admitted OF that portion OF Class consisting
OF law students and some OF the men composing
Class J. Now. young lawyers and law stu
dents a great hardship Is scarcely inflicted on
them by the payment Of small salaries. In England
law students not allowed 10 receive any salary
during five years apprenticeship. Here law
students consisting mostly Of the OF wel-to-do
people. receive salaries OF from 81 TO 81 per week
during three years cierkshp. When a young
man Is admitted - the bar. II he has wealth and
friends. he simply opens an ONCE and waits for
business. IL he has not superiority OF money or
hackers he looks for q position As clerk In . busy
ONCE. with a view 70 starting on his account
later. with the intention Of eventually attaining
the highest position In Class l. above mentioned.
As he has not much practical experience his value
as clerk 10 not appraised 50 highly that OF
experienced clerk Of Class and hence he will be
satisfied Tor while with salary D. from n ID 81
per week II Is to the clerks Class that the re-
marks Of the writer Of the article in question MIGHT
be said to apply with peculiar hardship These
consist Of good lawyers from the other stsfsa
from Canada. ne British Isles the European and
Australian conu7cnes and South America rnsy
cannot % admtso1d TO- the New-York bar tn thsY
ATTAIN saossnshln and - nag are foe ths ttne