Monday, August 13, 2012

If you were not an attorney...


Attorney, lawyer, solicitor, advocate, barrister or counsel - different names but same profession and similar personality traits as well. A person whose profession is to give legal advice and assistance to clients and represent them in court or in other legal matters. In different countries they are called by various names.  Clients demonstrate full trust in them and reveal all of their ins and outs to make their case stronger. An attorney's tasks as a spokesperson of clients, a representative of the legal system, and a public citizen are usually melodious. On the other hand conflicting responsibilities are also often encountered when there is a clash between lawyer's responsibility to a client and the lawyer's own sense of personal honour, including responsibility to society and the legal profession.

"If there were no bad people there would be no good lawyers" [Charles Dickens The Old Curiosity Shop]

"I'm trusting in the Lord and a good lawyer" [Oliver North]

"I don't want a lawyer to tell me what I cannot do; I hire him to tell me how to do what I want to do" [J. Pierpoint Morgan]

"A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns" [Mario Puzo The Godfather]

Attorneys possess very unique characteristics and it’s really hard to relate them to an alternative profession.  They are very task oriented and speak their mind and are often seen as the most argumentative personalities on the planet. Very high scorers on knowledge, they value education and take pleasure in academic activities. Attorneys are resistant to authority and sceptical of others. Wanting perfection in whatever they do, they normally become overly critical and tensed (excited) even on the misplacements of commas in a document. When it comes to lifestyle they prefer environments that are stylish, entertaining, and flexible.

It is very tough to think of a society where there are no attorneys because Law is the system of rules of conduct recognized by the government of a society to correct wrongs, uphold the solidity of political and social authority, and deliver justice.  Attorneys are the ambassadors of the legal system of any country and are experts in the way their country’s rules and government operate. If there were no attorneys, I think, there would not be any law because they are the actual caretaker of a country’s law and order. A common man does not know much about the laws and in the absence of proper guidance laws might be violated. In other words every citizen need a representative not only to get him justice but in every phase of life.

After discussing this with many attorneys and even those who are not into profession I reached a conclusion that most of them could not think themselves beyond this line of work.  I know most of the readers of this post would be attorneys and would really like to see their opinion if they ever thought of this. I am sure even those who complain about the profession never wish to think beyond law as the line of work.

About Draft n Craft

Established in 2008, Draft n Craft is a cut to the chase Legal Process Outsourcing Company with strong and dedicated work force of professionals. Having established a brilliant track record, Draft n Craft has been partners of growth to many of the law firms and corporations in the UK and US. Draft n Craft’s supreme focus has always been on helping lawyers deliver the best value to their clients by working on process and technology optimization, and by devising ways to rationalize client’s operational spending. 

No comments: