Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-02-24
MONEY MADE IN LAW.
THE LEGAL PROFESSION FROM A
FINANCIAL STANDPOINT.

There are hundreds Of lawyers in
New York who earn less than day
laborer does, alleges the News of that
city. Hundreds of others make fair
Iy comfortable living, and hundred
or so make from $4,000 to 1925, ZOO a
year, and lucky few make fortune.
TO be successful lawyer in New
York means more than to be a success
full lawyer in probably any other city
in the world. In no other city are
fees so high for the great lawyers OF
SO low for the little ones. You can
get the services OF Tombs shyster
for dollar, OF those OF one of half a
dozen others for a little less than a
million. There is no maximum or
minimum fee. New York lawyers
charge just what they can get, and
put their own valuation on the SER
vices that they render. A good law
yer-but, of course, not one of the
great lights Of the bar--will try case
at from $40 to 5000 day, and many
others just as good will do the same
thing for half this sum, while the
fees charged by the men who are con-
sidered as being at the head of their
profession are we'll nigh incredible.
''It pays to be lawyer after you
have succeeded in making reputa
ton, and it pays in proportion with
that reputation, said one who is at the
top ''Of course, it takes time to
build up reputation, and success to
many men comes late in life. When
attained, however, it is substantial.
Perhaps the best paying business for
a lawyer is that of attorney to corpo-
rations. AS an example of the high
fees paid to corporation attorneys 1
may mention that John E. Parsons
received 100000 for organizing the
Sugar Trust, which, by the way, was
afterwards declared illegal by the
court of appeals of this state, and was,
1 believe, recognized under the lawslof
New Jersey.
Perhaps the highest fee paid to
lawyer for attending court is received
by Joseph H. Choate,' continued my
informant. ''When he attends court
for another lawyer he gets fee of
$1,000 for each appearance, together
with his retainer in the case. This
retainer is never less than $4,000, and
is often much more. The biggest fee
| Choaie ever received for one appear
ance was 800, 900. This was for his
argument before the United States SUI
preme court to have the Income Tax
| law declared unconstitutional. When
| the corporate interests involved are
considered, the fee was not such
great one, especially as he won his
| case.
'sAs remarked BEFORE" continued
| this lawyer, corporation business
paws best of all. AS recent instance
of big fees paid to corporation law
yers, the firm of Guggenheimer, I'm
| termyer & Marshall received the other
| day fee of $4,000 for drawing up
the articles of incorporation for a
brewing company. An ordinary law
yer would have done the work for
fee of 800. Companies, however, are
willing to pay big sums to be started
right.
''How does criminal compare with
civil practice as to fees?" asked
''There is great deal more money
in civil than in criminal practice.
Criminal lawyers never get as high
fees as civil lawyers, and for a very
good reason. As rule, rich men do
not commit ordinary criminal offenses.
The average criminal is hard up. In
fact, he commits crime usually i'll or
der to ct money, and seldom has
much to fee lawyers with. A crimi-
nal lawyer must be content to take
what he can get and be thankful. In
many criminal cases the lawyer who
defends a man accused of crime is out
of pocket himself. There are no such
fees for the ablest criminal lawyer as
the one which Henry L. Clinton re-
ceived for defending the will OF the
late Commodore Vanderbilt. His fee
in that case was $3.50, 000."
''But there are lawyers who make
money in criminal practice" [ re-
marked.
eyes, but they are few. If man
makes money by criminal practice II
is due more to untiring industry than
to ANYTHING else. He must be work
ing all the time because his fees in in
diyidual cases are small. A good fee
in criminal case would be from $500
to $500, and there are not many OF
the latter going"
In building up q practice it is an
aim with all young lawyers to enlarge
the number of their acquaintances.
To this end they are nearly all in poll,
tics, and many are club members.
Many OF the great lawyers of New
York practice like English barristers
that is, they only appear in court
their cases being prepared by another
lawyer. A number of young lawyers
who have means are also aping this
English fashion. Glover attorneys
not very learned in the law, but good
at hunting clients, bring them cases.
The latter charge moderate fees tof
! trying them. and the attorneys get
great deal more out of the client.
Limbless From Birth.