The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-09-22
ENGLISH LAWYERS.
The Small Fees That Are Received by the
London Barristers.

London Barristers.
\ harrister's fees arc small, and they
are always paid in advance, and the
sum is recorded under tho title of the
brief. a friend who has large practice
showed me his Textbook yesterday. The
largest item was 50 guineas, which is
less than 5000 The average was about
500. Fees arc regulated by the benchers
of the inn according to the service per-
formed, and no contingent fees are al
lowed. y barrister may accept case
for nothing or return the fec i'll cases of
charity, but he cannot without violat-
ing his oath, directly or indirectly, ac-
cept any greater compensation for "A
legal service than is allowed in the
regular schedule fixed by the benchers
of his inn. If he does So he is debarred
from practice.
Ii Is a common custom in America
for lawyer to undertake suit for tho
recovery of damages or claim Of any
kind with a contract that he shall re-
COVE certain percentage of the amount
of money recovered In England such
an act would be considered disreputa-
Bile, and any barrister found guilty
would be expelled from his inn. Tho
foes AFRO regulated by the amount OF
time and labor required, and not by tho
amount of money involved. A barrister
may receive fee of $3.50 i'll case in
volving only $500, and ho may receive
n fee of $40 i'll case involving 81, 000.-
600
All legal business originates with So
licitors. They bring to the barrister's
Office case all prepared after certain
forms and written in manuscript. The
British courts do not permit typewrit-
ing. Tho solicitor requests the barrister
to undertake. tho case, and the fee is
marked plainly upon tho brief. If the
barrister does not caro- to undertake the
labor for the amount of money allowed
or for any other reason, he advises the
solicitor to go elsewhere. II no accepts
the responsibility the solicitor leaves
the amount of the fee i'll coin with the
brief, SO that tho barrister has his pay
in advance. This il the almost. invaria-
bio custom. The only exceptions are in
cases of close friendship between the
solicitors and barristers and where there
il n large amount of litigation in
which both are involved. Then it is
customary for tho barrister to make up
his bill ut the end OF the month or tho
end of tho quarter, but tho fee i'll each
case must nevertheless be written upon
tho brief aud recorded in the books of
tho court
1t IL customary, also, for the solicitor
TO leave fee for the barrister's clerk
mt the same tune, which must BIO Ger
tain percentage of that paid to the bar
ristor When you dino at II hotel or a
restaurant in England, it is customary
to tip tho waiter an amount equal to o
per cent of your bill for the same rea-
son. Tho waiter receives no compensa.
ton from his employer, nor does tho
barrister's clerk. His pay comes entire
| ly from the clients and il his princi-
! pal has no clients he gets no pay. On
tho other hand, if his principal has u
very largo and profitable practice his
fees arc enormous. They say that the
clerk of Sin Charles Russell lives in IA
handsome villa down in tho suburbs, is
driven to and from his office in brough-
am and hires n box at tho opera for the
season Chicago Record.