The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-08-05
STANDARDS OF THE LEARNED
PROFESSIONS.


ANY business occupation for which
| the state issues license is regarded
more as Il matter of revenue than
protection to the people from the prac-
| tice of quacks and charatans. The
state has concerned itself almost ell
tirely about the collection of revenue
| from licensed professions. But the two
| learned professions of law and medicine
! have found it necessary for the protec-
ton of the lives and property of the
people to require an exhibition of some
efficiency and experiences in the prac-
tice of these two professions and proof
of character for integrity.
Hence laws have been passed requir-
ing the candidates for the practice of
either of these professions to be sub
jected to an examination by some board
learned in the special profession as to
qualifications. both in moral character
and attachments. From this fact there
has grown up an esprit de corps in
both professions that in some of the
states makes the requirements of quail
iications of n high order before the ad-
mission into either is granted. In some
Of the states the examinations for the
bar are very rigid and thorough, and
the license to practice law in those
states in its effects is like the commits
sons given to army and navy officers.
In hn OF a
tons have adopted high professional
standard it is presumed that the lawyer
is not only qualified to practice his pro-
fession, but that his honor and integrity
are above question. The esprit de
corps" in the legal profession in those
states is protected with II jealousy
that ensures the best ability and high
est integrity.
Unfortunately for the profession of
law in other states, the object of the
license to practice law is regarded only
in revenue light and neither the
thorough and rigid examinations, nor
the inquiry into character are so nee
essary for the admission to the bar. In
this way the bars of such states are
cursed with ignorant pettifoggers and
shysters who lower the standard of
the profession. 1t is said that this
makes no difference, that the people
soon ascertain the character and abili-
ty of a legal practitioner, and
the professional man that lacks
either qualification is forced to abandon
the practice, else the practice will abandon
him. Unfortunately this is not always
true, and even if it was true, the expert
ence obtained by the employment of either
incompetent or dishonest lawyers is rather
too expensive to be gained in that way.
The masses of the people are sometimes
sympathetic and resent what they are in
duccd 10 believe is ostracism by the bar
of charatan and in that way such law
yers continue TO deceive and swindlc
clients.
The masses of the people should appre-
ciatc the fact and be grateful for it, that
the higher the qualifications demanded by
bar associations for entrance into the pro-
fcssion by an applicant the greater is the
safeguard to the peoples interests. Men
of ability and integrity in the practice of
law demand that their associates ut the
bar shall be, like them, men of ability and
integrity, simply because they desire to
protect the interests of the people from pet
tifoggcrs and shystcrs, and the higher the
requirements for admission to the bar the
greater is the security to the people.
We notice that at the recent meetings
of state bar associations recommendations
have been made in some of the states that
the laws shall be so amended as to require
that applicants for license to practice law
shall he made and granted only by the
judges of the supreme court of the state.
That would carry the granting of license
above all favortism or local sympathy
for the applicant, and leave the license
solely upon merit. This is most excel
lent recommendations made by the bar
associations of several states, and if adopt
ed will effectually purge the profession of
all incompetent lawyers or lawyers of
doubtful integrity.