The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-07

Whenever there is a doubt as to the
quality, effect or possibility of some
unusual commodity. some one is sure
to say, try it on the dog, a sug-
gestion, that IL followed, is generally
rough on the dog but very effective in
removing the doubt aforesaid
Among the many uncertain quantities
or doubtful propositions that-yearly come
to our notice, is the flock of legal fiedg-
lings. who, armed with a diploma and
a superabundance of self-assurance, shy
their castor i'm the ring, to speak. and
undertake to out-Blackstone Blackstone,
in Interpreting and defining the subtle in
tricacies of the law.
These young fellows have to make a
start somewhere, and if perchance they
become connected with well established
law firm, the opportunity soon presents
itself and the future supreme justice is
given a chance to 'stry it on Judge Alb
ernethy,' for if ever there was school
for kid lawyers, Judge Abs court is it.
The judge takes the try-out'' very good
naturedly Sometimes he pokes little
fun at the youthful advocate, but in the
main he shows them every consideration
consistent with the dignity" of the
bench
Speaking of young lawyers, the ones
lust out of college or who have just been
admitted to practice are meant, possibly
no other profession on earth presents the
number of difficulties that confront a
young fellow who has just hung out
his Single" and who undertakes to
earn his coffee and cake by the sweat OF
his-clients. To the youngster who is
taken by Dad into active partnership,
with swell offices and a lucrative prac-
tice, the highway of success is macad-
amzed asphalted and wood paved, BAT
to him whose only assets are few text
books, a code, two clean collars and an
extra pair of socks-outside his unqualified
belief in himself to force to the front
it is the Rocky road to Dublin" with a
few washouts on the side
Almost every young lawyer starts out
with the highest ideals of the ethics of
the profession and loudly proclaiins
against the "pettifogger" and the SHY
ster' This applies to him who treads
on velvet as well~as the gink who walks
the planks. In almost every instance
where charges have been preferred or
sure enough protest been made against
unethical or unprofessional conduct. it
has come from some legal fiedgling whose
pin feathers have hardly begun to sprout
This is by no means a case of Fools
the great majority of these young fell
lows are bright, active, cean-imbed and
earnest, and endowed with a fair pro-
portion of brains. Someone has said
you may find a lawyer that is -disreputable
but you will rarely find a fool-they sim
ply haven't arrived at the whats the
use?' stage of their older brethren
The kid lawyer who lacks the parental
wing or the influence of powerful friends
and whose bank account resembles the
remains of the principal ingredient of a
| lmeade, as it slips from the "squeezer,''
generally tacks himself to some firm of
established reputation and take such
cases that may come his way through
the vehicle of the well established firm
aforesaid. or course the firm does not
| throw any $4,000 damage suits mis- way
and he has to be content with the little
cases Hence it is, that almost invaria bly,
he finds his way to the school of ex-
perience where Judge Alb is the principal
school teacher and guide.
Some of the kids make good on the
start: some have a hard road to travel.
Sometimes fees earned are long time
coming, and those earned and collected
generally are small The legal hedgling
realizes that the competition is strong
and that no matter how brilliant youth
he may be: no matter how high he stood
| in his class at college,: of how great his
prowess on the athletic field, the people
| having to do business with the courts
are generally from sMissouri'' and insist
on giving their cases TO firms who have
won recognition in tie courts and with
| the legal fraternity.
| But to youth hope springs eternal,
and the lSidlet gameIy continusS the strug-
gle Sometimes he feels discouraged at
the fierce competition that includes the
Ambulance chaser" and the Jury fixer.
If perchance he owes a months board
and his only other shirt is in the hands
of an unfeelng, Acknowledged Celestial.
who could not. or would not understand
the word credit by the aid of II die