The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-17
ATTORNEYS DRAF I BILL TO REGULATE PRACTICE IF LAW
Bill Designed to Prohibit Law yers From Soliciting Busi- neSs-0utside Practice
 Included

Birminsham attorneys, through the
 Birmingham Bar association, will
 present to the next legislature bill
 tt' prohibit any attorney from solicit
 ing business, to prohibit any person
 other than a licensed attorney from
 drawing deeds, wills, abstracts and
 similar instruments. and to prohibit
 settling any death or personal injury
 claim until 30 days after such death
 or injury has occurred.
 With one of the largest attendanees
 ever recorded in it's history the as-
 stciation at It's annual meeting voted unanimously to present thls 8bill drafted by q special committee, to the legislature. A committee com posed of T. A. Murphree. W. II. Wool yerton and David ]. Davis was ap- pointed to carry the bill to Mont gomery and appear before the law makers in its behalf.
 Seek IdenIfsm
 This action of the association was said by officers to be a reflection of a strong movement toward idealism in the profession, as opposed tC com merciaiism. Such legislation has, 1t was said, been adopted in % other states.
 Present statues require that no at torney shall employ a solicitor, but places no restriction upon the lawyer searching for business himself. The pro posed measure would extend the present laws so as to include the at torney.
 shorn of Practice
 Protection for the lawyers is sought in the second provision of the bill, prohibiting real estate men, bankers, and such business men, from receiving remuneration fer r 2 a1vt n vpt1lo ohe similar instruments. Since attor- neys have ben shorn of some of their practice by operation of the com- pensation act, 1t was said, protection is sought from entertainment upon their profession by persons other than lawyers. It IS provided in the bill that in any trial instituted under this section. proof that a person has drawn five such instruments shall be prima facie evidence that he has done so for reward or compensation Adjudging Claims
 The third regulation included In the bill provides that 1t shall be un- lawful for any person, firm or cor poration to settle, adjust or comprc- mise with any other person any claim or demand in favor of any person for personal injuries or death of any person until after the expira- tstibh VI op uds HUH lne dd8f OI such death or personal injurys The report of W. Marvin Woodaii, retiring president, was enthusiastic ally received by the members of the association. It showed that the asso- citation had awakened from a period of comparative lethargy. and that Gne of the most active years of its history had been experienced During the year 22s members of the bar signed a written pledge that they would not engage in solicit | tation and other unethical practice in obtaining business. and that they would give the grievance committee 1 information of such conduct on the part of any ether lawyer.
 l It was shown in the report that the l finances of the association were bet ! ter than they had ever been, and that the membership was larger. The Birmingham bar lost during | the past year. three of it's most distinguished members ex-Senator 1 Frank s. White. ex-Governor Emme O'Neal and Joseph F. Johnston