The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-28
TOO MANY ALLEGED LAWYERS.


The legal profession is one that no doubt
suffers as much as any other from shysters
and quacks. This fact is due as much
to the leniency Of the bar in general in
dealing with this class, as TO the facilities
offered in some states for admission into
the profession of many who are not even
qualified to practice in justice courts
Chicago had a striking case in point the
other day. on complaint of the Chicago
Bar Association an alleged lawyer was
arrested on a rule for contempt 1t de-
veloped in the course of the proceedings
in his case that he had never complied
with the law for admission TO the bar
He had given his diploma from a law
school and s. to an attorney to secure for
take it for granted that he was then en-
titled 10 practice. For ten years he con-
tinued TO practice in the criminal and
justice courts there without license or
certificate. until one day he committed
a grievous legal error, which jeopardized
his clients interests and the bar asso-
citation took action and made an investiga-
NhNA-E
a lecture from the court, and sentence
of $50 fine and thirty days in Jail for the
man who was laboring under the erron-
eous impression that he had been admit
ted TO the bar Considerable surprise was
expressed that such a man could continue
to practice in the courts of Chicago for
ten years without the courts or some mem
Of -. 10,
right there.
Some years ago when the Farmers AL
lance was at the zenith of it's power,
a young lawyer in the northern part of
this state was admitted into that organi-
cation, so it was said, i'm spite of the fact
that the rules of the alliance strictly for
bade membership to those of the legal
profession. The new member in question
was not noted for any particular fond
ness for his law books. A friend of an
allianceman asked him, How is it you
took John in? l didn't know you admit
ted LAWYERS" I'VE don't" was the re-
ply, but then John amt lawyer enough
TO hurt" That has been just the trouble
in many sections of the countrywide many
Aith ~ aNiNlAS AT tht OAR VINO are not
lawyers enough Ito hurt" II is possible
that there are entirely too many such in
Georgia to-day though they We're admit
ted under the old law governing admis-
sions to the bar. Georgia, however. has
now the means for preventing the admis-
sion of incompetents to practice in her
courts. The law recently enacted prom
ises excellent results BY its provisions
the Supreme Court has primary super
vision of admissions TO the bar though
its work is done mainly through a com
mission of three appointed for that pur-
pose The questions are formulated and
forwarded by the commission TO those
judges of the Superior Courts who re-
quest them. Candidates for admission to
the bar must have a good moral charac-
ter; they are sworn to take no help in
answering the questions and they answer
them in writing. signing boy number The
commission then passes upon the exam
luatiou papers each OF which must re-
ccve seventy per cent erade. before the
candidate can %, passed. such exam,u,-
uons are held twice each year. with the
safeguards that aie possible under this
1w, and 30. only possible but almost in-
pcraayc. il VIII be dlncult matter for
Incompetent 40 become members of
the legal profession in this state.