The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-16
CORPORATE MuNOruI.Y
FIELD Of LAM

b
The New York Court Of Annals ms
lately decided that corporations may
practice law. AT recent dinner of
the New York County Lawyers. Asso-
citation vehement protests were made
against this decision. One man pres
ent said that he had investigated seven
Teen cases OF indemnity companies
whose policies provide that the insured
man must turn over to the insurlng
company the conduct OF his defense In
case of litigation. These cases. he said
were only an example OF many in
stances where corporations were not
only practicing law. but were practic-
ing In a manner which would suffice
10 disnar an individual SO practicing
At u meeting OF tho Baltimore Bar
Association. March Z. COMMITTEES of
i've was selected to report upon Tho
Legislation necessary to properly SUI
pervise, regulate and control bodies
corporate acting In legal and hduciary
capacities in this State and to regulate
their fees, commissions and other
charges as we'll as limit their legal
powers" At this meeting ono Of tho
lawyers said:
This Association is face TO foce win
an important situation have been
I'M rined that 40 per cent. Of the mem
pers OF tnis bar are not making n
livelihood do not believe so per
cent of the 1900 or 500 members are
making 500 the month. Corporations
aoihs our business nrc working NOT
oniy 10 our detrimcnt, but will also
ultimately inflict tremendous injury
upon the general public. Slowly, but
WIN persistence. the corporations are
pushing the lawyers TO the wall Thev
advertise. solicit. and by their ,cor
porate influence and wealth monopolIze
the legal held.'
Law Notes. whence this Information
is derived. states that some mem
bers of the Denver. Colorado. Bar
association declare that of tho 500
lawyers in that city fully one third arc
scarcely making n living from the
practice OF their profession. 1t is said
that the law business transacted nv
corporations will be brought to the at
tention OF tho Association. SAYS one
There is no intention to mako mn
historical attack upon corporations
engaged In the business of lawyers.
But 1t is essential that attention be
directed toward them, for IL is con-
uitlon that threatens the existence OF
our profession and affects our liyeli-
hood" $500
Doubtless, there is much merit In the
contentious OF the lawyers. but per
haps tic real fault lies Mt the door ~
the legal profession itself If lawyers
everywhere We're more insistent upon
making bar examinations and entrance
requirements such as to invoke The
principle of the survival of the 1T
Test the profession would not be so
terribly congested The trouble Is that
the present status of bar examinations
is tending to ill up the legal profess
SION everywhere with quantity in
stead OF quality. 1t is in the power
OF tic lawyers themselves 10 nut tho
par UP so high that none but the best
trained and ablest men can tump over
The law schools are grinding out
lawyers with startling rapidly.
the ease With which admission to the
bar Is effected by men of indolent men
tal habits Is discouraging. a great
many men go 10 the bar because they
arc too lazy TO do anything else. and
hope to bluff" out an existence
through a shingle and a pompous' front
The moral Is; Make tho bar exami-
nations very, Very much harder.