The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-11-02
ENGLISH LAWYERS.
ahe Small Fees That Arc Received by the
London Barristcrs.

onsh rees That Arc Received by the
London Barristers.
barrfster's fees arc small, and they
arc always paid in advance, and tho
sum Is recorded under the title of the
prlef. A friend who has large practice
showed mo his Textbook yesterday. The
largest item was 38 guineas, which is
less than $500. The average was about
SsHsIFees are regulated. by the 6enehers
Si tho'rl according to tho ssg9iea per-
formed, and no contingent fees are. al
lowed. barrister may accept cuse
Sor nothing or return the fee in cases of
oharlty, but he cannot without,violat-
ing his oath, directly or indirectly, 90
cept any greater compensation for q
legal service than il allowed i'm tho
regular schedule fixed by the benchers
VI MS lihi Ii he does so, he is tIobarred
from practice.
IL Is common custom in America
tor lawyer to undertake suit for The
recovery of damages or claim of any
KIND with Il contract that no shall re-
colvo a certain percentage of tho amount
OF money recovered. In England such
an act would bo considered disreputa-
Die, and any barrister found guilty
would be expelled from his inn The
ices are regulated by the amount of
time and labor required, and not by the
amount of money involved. A barristcr
may receive a fee of 1850 i'll Il case in
Volvlng only $500, and no may receive
a feo of $50 i'll case involving 81 OOO,
600.
All legal business originates with So
licitors. They bring to the bnrrister s
office case all prepared after certain
forms and written in manuscript. Tho
British courts 90 not permit typowrit-
ing. The solicitor requests the barrister
10 undertake the case, and the fee is
marked plainly upon tho brief. If the
barrlstcr does not care to undertake the
labor Tor the amount Of money allowed
or Tor any other reason, he advises tho
solicitor to go elsewhere. If no accepts
tho responsibility, tho solicitor leaves
the amount of the fec in coin with tho
brief, so that the bnrrister has his nav
III advance. This is tho almost inynria-
bic custom. Tho only exceptions are in
cases of close friendship between the
solicitors and barristers and where there
Is large amount of litigation in
which both are involved. Then it is
customary for tho barrister to make uD
his bill mt tho end Of the month or tho
end OF the quarter. but tho fec in each
case must nevertheless be written upon
the brief and recorded in tho books of
tho court
1t is customary also, for tho solicitor
to leave IA fee for the barrister 8 clerk
mt tho same time, which must be GER
tain percentage of that paid to tho bar
rister. When you dine at hotel or a
restaurant i'll England, it is customary
to tip the waiter all amount equal to 8
per cent of your bill for the same rea-
son. The waiter receives 10 compensa-
ton from his employer, nor does the
barrister's clerk. His pay comes entire
ly from the clients, and if his princi-
pal has no clients no gets no pay. On
the other hand, if his principal has a
very large and profitable practice his
fees arc enormous They say that the
clerk of Sill Charles Russell lives in a
handsome villa down in tho suburbs, is
driven to and from his office in brough-
am and hires box at tho opera for the
season. Chicago Record