The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-11
vIn.-THE LAWYER.
THE SUNDAY JOURNAL BY NATHANIEL c. FOWLER JR.

Are Fitted for the Prof
Copyright, 1906, by Nathaniel G. Fowler. Jr)
IN ECAUSE about one half. if not q
rs larger proportion Of our states
1O men and other public characters
have practiced at the bar; and because
he is commonly called, is apt to acquire
closely associated with political office,
the leader of all professions, and as
state or national advancement and
fame. Certainly the successful lawyer
is universally recognized and respected,
and no doubt his calling offers to him.
greater opportunity for general adj
vancenent in almost every branch Of
public life and ofhce-h holding honor,
than is presented, all things being
equal, to members Of any other calling.
The training Of the law school and
the experience before the bar will
usually make good speaker out of
anyone who has fair amount Of ca
pacity for delivery. The lawyer in the
practice Of his profession is obliged to
think quickly and to think upon his
feet. It is but natural then that he
should become a good speaker, if he
has any natural ability in that direc-
tion, and it is obvious that good speak
ing Is an essential part Of public life.
The mediocre lawyer is not re-
spected. He is invariably looked
down upon and despised, and his pro-
fession offers to him a solutely no OPP
po1tunity for more than subordinate
Advancement. T.
Almost anyone Of ordinary ability
can become a lawyer; that is to say,
he can by close study pass the neces-
sary examinations and become a mem
Der Of the bar. But knowledge of
the law does not make lawyer any
more than a knowledge of theology. fits
man to become clergyman. I'm
less the legal knowledge is accompanied
by the ability to use that requirement,
It's possessor has no attachments Of any
value to himself or to anyone else.
It has been said that there is a law
yer to every case; this Is exaggeration.
It is fact, nevertheless, that the sup
ply Of lawyers, and even Of good law.
yers, much exceeds the demand; and
that rs per cent Of them, not ex-
cepting those of any class or grade
save the highest, might easily be
excused from practicing their profess
sion. There is plenty of room at the
top. The top never has been, and
never will be, crowded, in the law or in
. anything else -,@.zs.. i. ~.
There is also much room few steps
from the top, for even the upper rungs
have not been fully filed. - 81
X !. +
u There is no easy road to legal emf
#nence. The goal cannot be reached by
series Of jumps. 1t is hard work
5sat the start, and hard work all along
the line.
& Unless the young lawyer occupies
high social position, and enjoys the
close friendship and confidence of many
leading business men and capitalists,
She will probably not be self-suppor&ng
inside Of five years, if he is located in a
large city; and it may take from three
to four, or more, years before he can
earn anything more than a fair living
In the country.
The maximum annual income Of our
greatest lawyers exceeds 100000 q.
year. l can vouch for the correctness
of the statement that a leading metro
politan attorney earned, or at least re-
ceived, not less than a quarter Of
million dollars for six months services
Many city lawyers annually receive
from ten to twenty thousand dollars.
The average income Of the city lawyer,
is, however, not more than $4,000 a
year.. The maximum income Of lead
ing country center lawyer is not far
from $4,000 year; altho few, and a
very few, earn twice this amount; and
q limited number may exceed it, if they
have metropolitan connections, or have
occupied some high government posi-
tion, or have been in other ways prom
inent in the public eye. The average
amount earned is about $4,000 a year.
The lawyer in small country towns sell
dom receives from his practice more
than $500 to $1,000 a year, which
amount is with economy, sufficient to
maintain him in reasonable comfort
j. + j.
One Of the highest Of the lawyer
ambitions is to become judge. There
is no position more honorable, nor is
there any Of greater responsibility.
A man may be a good lawyer and
make a very poor judge. A man may
be well fitted for the bench and be less
adapted for the bar The Judge, how
ever, must first be lawyer. He must
also have judicial mind, one capable
of sitting evidence and getting at the
truth; and he must not only know the
law, but must know how to apply it.
X !. :
The legal profession is divided into
several sections, classes, or branches.
These are represented by the follow
ing:
First-The regular practitioner, who
is familiar with the law in general,
and with every kind Of law except the
so-ca1led technical law, like the law Of
patents.
Second-The office or desk LAWYER.
who confines his practice to the draw
ing: up Of documents and to giving adj
vice on general law matters, and who
seldom appears before court.
Third-The corporation lawyer, who
is attorney for the great corporations,
like railroads and other consultations
of capital. This class Of lawyers en-
joys the largest incomes but only the
most skillful can hope to successfully
meet the requirements.
Fourth-The patent LAWYER, who