Connecticut western news., 1917-03-01
THE LAWYERS JOB
A Paper Read Before Pilgrim Brother
 hood Class.

the privilege or puDl1SnlnR tne Sdne which was granted by the author. The News takes pleasure in presenting it to its readers.
 Let me say at the outser, that it is not always an easy one, much depend ing upon the environment and the place where the lawyer practices.
 In word Iwould say that primarily it IS to keep his clients out of trouble and not thrust them into it.
 A lawyer, like d minister of the gospel or physician, is or should be the family adviser, one who could be approached without fear and with the greatest confidence.
 The ideal lawyer should be man of education, a gentleman, and possessed with keen sense of right and wrong. In my opinion he should not require a press agent to sound his praises or to exploit him in any way, neither should he be ap ambulance chaser. that is, one who follows up every person who meets with an accident, with his pen out so that the sufferer might sign a contract, authorizing him to bring an action for damages on a contingent basis that is, about 50 per cent. of the amount of judgment obtained, for his services. I was brought up in school in which it was ethical for a member of the profession to wait for business to come to him, not to solicit it by means usually employed ill the commercial world. The best method know of for extending ope's practice is by the very excelle"ce of the servlces performed; thus incurring the good will of his client particularly and of the public generally. That is the kind of adver- tising that is most satisfactory and any other is not ethical or in plain words is unDrofessional. I would not deem it either prudent or wise to comment upon the tactlcs frequently pursued in certain localities to obtain business, but am content to leave it for you to decide as to the best way and by that I mean the way least calculated to create criti- cism, in which lawyer should ac quire the job. s......---s-~ ..--...s.....
 A lawyer must be honest and faith ful to his clients interest a all times, that is honest, and faithful not only to his client, but to his God and himself, but if, and I speak from observation, he hopes to become wealthy, that is possessed of great wealth, and at the same time be free from criticism, an1 at times persecution, he ought to go into some other business or profession, for his temptations to acquire more of this worlds goods are many and ex- ceedingly attractive.
 You will ask me what I mean by be- ing "honest." We'll you know possi. ply from experience that you like to get the kind of advice you want, whether right or wrong, if you are go- ing into a fight with another as mat ter of "principle" even though you have the weak end of the fight all to, gether, as matter of law. Now an honest lawyer would advise you not to fight for the "priuciple'' if the evidence and law were against you, even though he might thereby lose a large fee. He would or should advise you to drop the action for "principle" and if there was any doubt of your suc- cess would advise settlement rather than fight, and the same underlying
 
 which you would consult your lawyer.
 It is not unusual for lawyers to enter into a league or arrangement with an opponent by reason of which his client will suffer materially, but he, the lawyer, will profit himself. \ lawyer should pot have more than one client, or in other words, should only take one side in any controversy Or negotiation. He cannot serve two masters and do both justice. one or the other must suffer. l think too that a lawyer should not take any step ill behalf of client unless he can see that his client or his clients interest is going to be materially benefited by that step. The question of fee or other remuner. ation or advantage should not enter into consideration at all. You see I am speaking of the ideal lawyer.
 It is not unheard of for a lawyer to advise proceedings when he well KNOWS that he cannot succeed upon the law and evidence, or cannot gain any bene- fit for his client, but he does know that he can, and invariably does, charge his client 8 large fee for the services rendered. This same man would re sent with anger the imputation that he was dishonest and assert most vigor- ously and with great vehemence that he was beyond reproach, that he had not taken money out of his clients pocket or stolen anything from him.
 What do you think about it?
 You might ask "Is it honest for lawyer to defend a wrong doer know ing him to be guilty ?''
 would not care to do it myself but a very celebrated Justice of the High Court or Justice in England many years ago advised a prominent Counsel who went to him for advice, that it was his duty to defend the prisoner even after the prisoner had admitted his UuiIt