New-York tribune., 1905-11-13
THE STATUS OF LAWYERS IN EUROPE

The debates and determinations of the Inter-
national Congress of Advocates, which was held
recently at Liege and which was ATTENDED, Dy
about two hundred representatives OF the bar
Of almost every European country, contained
much matter fruitful Of suggestion to members
Of the legal profession and to all who have re-
gard for the efficiency and integrity OF that pro-
fession In some particulars the constitution
of the European bar was shown to be not unlike
that of America, while in others, of fundamental
interest, striking contrast was revealed
The first of the four questions OF general In
terest discussed WAS whether the profession or
the advocate should be under legislative or ad-
ministrative control, or should be free. The
sentiment of the congress was in favor of free
dom and independence, and opposed to any rule
which would restrict the number Of advocates
In any country. 1t was agreed, however, that
admission to the bar should be possible only
through winning a professional diploma, and
it was recognized that in some places the pro-
fession is overcrowded, in Liege where
among a population of 100000, there are oOO
advocates. In Greece it appeared the advo-
cate is a government officer pure and simple
In Germany, before entering the bar. man
must spend nine years in general study and
three years at a university, and then he must
pass two or three examinations and serve for
some years on probation. But there is no re-
NANs'J
be admitted to the bar, so long as they show
the required qualifications.
The second question, which Will be regarded
with peculiar interest In America, was whether
an advocate might properly engage In any other
calling Much diversity Of opinion was devei-
oped in the congress, and it was shown that
there was diversity Of practice in various
lands In some countries as in America. law
yers freely engage in other businesses. In Paris
oi,NJo +la+, nodx fa mo- an
gage In any enterprise which involves financial
responsibility Thus he may not be banker. a
director of corporation or the editor of a news
| paper The only conclusion the congress could
| come to upon this point was that While no
specific universal rule could be formulated, ad-
vocates everywhere should keep aloof from
every occupation which might impair the dig
nifty Of the profession.
There was like difference of opinion, result
ing in a similarly indecisive declaration, con-
cerning the classification of lawyers. The
general drift appeared to be, however, in favor
Of disregarding the old distinction between ad-
vocates and avoues and Of adopting the "cumu-
lative SYSTEM under which the same man has
charge of all parts of q suit. That is the rule
now in Germany and Holland, while in France
and Belgium the dual system prevails, as it
does also in England. The congress finally
agreed to disagree on that point but declared
ltSoI1 III 1dfOT Ot permitting dill duNoSdtS "
plead in every court Of his country. The fourth
question, whether lawyers Of one country should
be admitted to the courts Of another, provoked
little discussion, and decided in the afirma-
tive with practically no dissent the feeling be-
ing that the competition possible under such a
system would be so slight to be a negligible
quantity
The keynote of the whole congress, however,
was one which may well be accepted in all lands,
namely that the dignity and integrity of the
profession should be most scrupulousy main
tanned. and that this should be done by regard
ing the practice Of the law not as a simple
means of making money by all possible tricks
and devices, but profession involving the
gravest moral responsibilities, of which each
member should consider himself q sworn officer
of a court of Justice. There can be no question
that such conception of the lawyers functions
is the true one, and that it needs to be largely
cultivated at the American bar we'll as at
that of other lands