John Marshall Law School - Abstract Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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THE ABSTRACT —1937 THE CLASS OF FEBRUARY 1938

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Lincoln ' s cS duice to lawyers The Icadinsj; rule for the lawyer, as for the man of every other calHng, is diligence. Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done to- day. Never let your correspondence fall be- hind. Whatever piece of business you have in hand, before stopping, do all the labor per- taining to it, v. ' hich can be done. When you bring a common-lav. ' suit, if you have facts for doing so, write the declaration at once. If a law point be involved examine the books and note the authority you rely upon for the declar- ation itself where you are sure to find it when wanted. The same of defenses and pleas. In business not likely to be litigated — ordinary collection cases, foreclosures, partitions and the like — make all examinations of titles and note them, and even draft orders and degrees in advance. This course has a triple advantage, saves you labor when once done, performs the labor out of court when you have leisure, rath- er than in court when you have not. Extemporaneous speaking should be prac- tised and cultivated. It is the lawyer ' s avenue to the public. However able and faithful he may be in other respects people are slow to bring him business if he cannot make a speech. And yet there is not a more fatal error to young lawyers than relying too much on speechmak- ing. If any one, upon his rare powers of speak- ing, shall claim an exemption from the drudg- ery of the law his case is a failure in advance. Discourage litigation. Persuade your neigh- bors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how a nominal winner is often a real loser — in fees, expenses and waste of time. As a peace maker the lawyer has a superior op- portunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough. Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this. Who can be more nearly a fiend than he who habitu- ally overhauls the register of deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon to stir up strife, and put money in his pocket? A moral tone ought to be infused into the profession which should drive such men out of it. The matter of fees is important, far beyond the mere question of bread and butter involved. Properly attended to, fuller justice is done to both lawyer and client. An exorbitant fee should never be claimed. As a general rule never take your whole fee in advance, nor any more than a small retainer. When fully paid beforehand you are more than a common mor- tal if you can feel the same interest in the ease, as if something was still in prospect tor you as well as for your client. And when you lack in- terest in the case the job will very likely lack skill and diligence m the performance. Settle the amount of fee and take a note in advance Then you will feel that you are working for something, and you are sure to do your work faithfully and well. Never sell a fee note — at least not before the consideration service is per- formed. It leads to negligence and dishonesty — negligence by losing interest in the case, and dishonesty in refusing to refund when you have allowed the consideration to fail. There is a vague popular belief that lawyers are necessarily dishonest. I say vague be- cause when we consider to what extent confi- dence and honors are reposed in and conferred upon lawyers by the people, it appears improb- able that their impression of dishonesty is very distinct and vivid. Yet the impression is com- mon, almost universal. Let no young man choosmg the law for a calling for a moment yield to the popular belief. Resolve to be hon- est at all events: and if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation, rather than one in the choos- ing of v. ' hich you do, in advance, consent to be a knave. Page Thirty-eight

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Class Officers February 1938 - V 4i mk STANLEY S. EVANS President DALE SUTTON Vice-President JOSEPHINE ARNOLD Secretary-Treasurer THE CHARGE OF THE LAW BRIGADE Half a year. Half a year. Half a year onward, Into the Field of Law Once rode our Hundred. Was there a heart afraid? Was there a man dismayed? What though each student knew Someone had blundered: Theirs not to reason why. Theirs to compete and vie: Though left to strain and try Less than a Hundred. Lees to the lett ot them Lees to the right of them Lees on all sides of them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with text and case Boldly they rode apace Into the jaws of Law Into the whirring saw Now — a Half Hundred. Maxims and briefs were there. Pleas and defenses rare Driving them mad with care, Oh, how they wondered! Only to reach the Bar Where all the dollars are Fought the Half Hundred. Where are their classmates now Comrades who took the vow Not to go under? Say, is the battle won Or has it just begun For the Half Hundred? What has the world in store When the wild struggle ' s o er For the Half Hundred? Will honors deck their breasts Or will they trail the rest Hope from life sundered? Honor the charge they made Honor the price they paid Noble Half Hundred. —ARTHUR A BOGEAUS Page Forty