The following letter came across the editor’s desk a few weeks ago.  In it, the author presents an attractive picture of life after the law.  If you have been dreading retirement, you may change your mind after spending a quiet afternoon in a Thames bookshop with Robert Rowe….

Dear Editor:

One of the great joys of retirement is that I can now read what I choose, rather than what I must. And this past month I found a delightful book in an outdoor second-hand book stall located under a bridge over the Thames River—a perfect read for trial lawyers. The book is titled, Advocates, by David Pannick.

I was fascinated by the title. But not wanting to be rushed into an $8.00 purchase, and to the annoyance of the proprietor, I dallied and thumbed through the chapters. How could I not make this purchase after reading the first sentence in Mr. Pannick’s preface, then his introduction? In the preface he states, “It may seem somewhat presumptuous for a barrister whose first client was hanged to write a book on advocates.” Then Mr. Pannick continues in his introduction describing the task of the advocate. “He earns his living propounding views to which he does not necessarily subscribe, and which are sometimes anathema to him, on behalf of clients whose conduct may not interest him, will often offend him, and can occasionally cause him outrage. When making submissions to a judge, seeking to hold the attention of a jury, or cross-examining hostile witnesses, the advocate is required to entice, flatter, to insult, all in order to advance a cause for which he is instructed, however unworthy of his efforts, it, or his client, may be.”

Purchase the book I did.  It made for great reading during the balance of my vacation and on the flight home. The book caused me to think back decades and remember my practice, the people and courts. This is one of the benefits of retirement—the opportunity to ponder the subject of the practice of law and trial advocacy and remember others and the advice they provided. Two views I still remember:

Over 40 years ago Sherm Horton, long before he became a Supreme Court judge, stated the view that a lawyer’s primary job is to resolve disputes, not litigate. Sage advice, valid decades ago—but of course the bar has changed.

Then another lawyer, whose name I can’t remember, provided the best advice to consider in taking a case. He said. “Never take a case if it does not meet two of the following three conditions. First, you like the client. Two, you like the issue. Or three, you like the money.

Give me a call if you would like to borrow the book. Suitable security for the return can be arranged.

Robert H. Rowe

Amherst, NH

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