 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 
|
|
 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Bar News - March 23, 2001 Fight the Negative Perception of Lawyering Professionalism PROFESSIONALISM ISSUES in the latest National Geographic? It seems that the September 2000 edition contained an article about Mentone, Texas, and mentioned among the town’s blessings no stoplights and no lawyers. Although an avid reader of this picturesque magazine, I did not note the passage—but did see this letter to the editor in the January 2001 edition: The "no lawyers" crack in your article about Mentone, Texas, was uncalled for. So there are no lawyers in town—I guess that means that there is no one for the church board to call for some free legal advice on that boundary dispute, no one for the working-class family to call in the middle of the night when their teenage son gets into some trouble (more free advice), no neighbor to approach over the backyard fence to ask about incorporating a small business. I am starting to think that maybe I should move to Mentone. They need me. Duncan Turner, Attorney-at-Law, Seattle, Washington An additional insult came to my attention recently through my older daughter, an avid viewer of "The Mole," a reality-based television series in which the contestants are secretly sabotaged by one of their number—the Mole. Apparently the Mole turned out to be a lawyer in real life. When the individual on the show explained that the greatest difficulty in playing the Mole was the need to lie all the time, the host commented that at least she had extensive experience as a lawyer. How do we deal with this perception—when our usual experience is with clients who value our services and respect our profession? Through the marvels of the Internet, I located Attorney Turner, and corresponded with him electronically. I thanked him for taking the time to express a view we often think, but don’t articulate. He offered the following: "Here is my challenge to lawyers throughout the country: If you love being a lawyer, never miss an opportunity to tell a layman that you do and why it is so rewarding." Not a bad start.
Russell Hilliard is chair of the NHBA Professionalism Committee. The Professionalism Committee regularly publishes articles in Bar News on issues of professionalism. Comments or replies are encouraged and can be sent to Morning Mail, NH Bar News, 112 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301, via fax to (603) 224-2910 or via e-mail to lsandford@nhbar.org.
|
|
Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store New Hampshire Bar Association |
