The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07

...S"ACuSC VI the FUNDAMENTAL principles OF
law Of court procedure and of legal ethics
Ihey also know how to search for cases
and authorities. draw up complaints. pre-
pare briefs and legal documents generally
or oratory they know less than formerly.
out II they have made the most of the de-
oatins societies they can express their
thoughts in clear forcibIe language. They
are given diplomas. admitted to the bar
and the first part of their legal training
ends auspiciously.
Inc period devoted to the gaining of prac-
tice and actual experience is graphically
described by some OF the graduates who
nave stayed in this city Before the day of
graduation most of the students have
formed their plans for gaining practice.
some go to county seats in this State or
IN the far West, others open offices in In
annapolis and a few who have influential
connections procure clerkships in the large
law offices. The young men who gain places
In the law offices of firms that have a large
practice are given small salary or col
lections and petty suits are placed in their
hands which yield from SIS TO $50 a month
They have many interesting experiences
and their search for creditors and witnesses
takes them into every street in the city
They become familiar figures about the
courthouse and their political clubs Their
acquaintance grows by leaps and bounds.
They are drawn into political work and re-
ceive many fiattering social invitations.
If they are capable and energetic they are
as rule eventually taken into the firms
and their careers are thus solidly estab-
lished.
The young men who open Offices in the
small cities in this State and the West are
heard from year two after gradua-
| ton as candidates for district attorney, and
| they are often elected to this office or ap-
pointed to the position of city attorney
Many of them add real estate, insurance
and the making of loans to what law bust
ness they can obtain. and in this way their
start is made earlier and easier than that
| of the city lawyer.
The young men who open law offices in
Indianapolis or any of the large cities tell
| grim stories of their struggles. They are
loud In their assertions that the trust COM
panies. collection agencies and title guaran-
tee companies are fast eating into the bust
ness of the young lawyer. They say that
the credit business of factories and whole
sale houses has been so systematzed and
| scientifically adjusted that bad debts are
! gradually becoming thing of the past.
They show that the large manufacturers
and wholesalers employ attorneys who stay
in factories and stores and work alongside
the purchasing agent and credit man, and
finally they show that business men gen.
orally are more enlightened about the law
and are getting together and adjusting their
differences out of court.
YOUNG ATTORNEYS VENTURES
Young attorneys usually get their first
case in court when they are called over
to the Federal Court to defend a prisoner
who is being tried for counterfeiting or for
violating the postal laws. They seldom
receive any fees for this work. and some
times 1t is their first, last and only case in
court While waiting for business some
young lawyers are said to surreptitiousy
begin the writing of romances. which they
hope will sell like When Knighthood was
In Flower" Others look around for some
great municipal wrong which can be ex-
posed by damage suit, as the Honorable
Peter Sterling exposed the milk frauds in
New York. And, of course, a great many
of the young lawyers are always trying
to secure public office. Failing in these
things, and in securing enough practice to
pay office expenses, they plan to abandon
>, the law. Graduates of law schools say
that over one-half of their classmates have
abandoned the law for one reason or an
other. and the defamation still goes on.
The youthful lawyers are reported to
be giving more and more attention to the
study of corporation law. They are often
advised that while there has been loss of
court work, the law has gained along the
line of office consultations and the creation
and formation of business enterprises. The
organization and reorganization of large
corporations by Eastern lawyers is said
to have had its effect in this city. Speaking
of the tendency towards corporation law
a lawyer who lectures in law school
says: wide awake young lawyers no
longer strive 10 be orators like Webster
or Clay. Their ambition is to become trust
makers like Stetson or DILL
Older lawyers who have long observed
conditions of practicing law in this city.
point out the young men who are develop
ing a talent for remembering names and
faces, for persuasive speaking and for win
ming mems confidence and respect Others
are developing talent for clear and forci-
BILE reasoning, thorough study of intricate
legal problems. and successful adjustment
of claims. Still others are meeting with
success as promoters. AS rule the men
who can get business and the men who
can give business the best attention form
partnerships, and the union of the two
different talents often results i'm the max
ing of firms which take the first rank
1t is interesting to observe the fate OF
the young lawyers who are made in this
city. how some of them force their way
to prosperity and eminence; how many
1 hat
than a fair living; how others marry ad.
vanta geously and settle down to a small
practice, and how still others find their
way into public office or commercial life
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