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Lawyers don't get the respect they deserve.

ARCHIVES Lawyers don't get respect they deserve It's become fashionable to knock lawyers. People who couldn't tell a funny joke to save their lives can recite insulting wisecracks about the legal profession. The fact lawyers are held in such a low esteem came to mind the other day when Democratic hopeful John Edwards announced his intention to seek his party's nomination for the presidency. Before serving a term in the U.S. Senate, Edwards was a personal injury trial attorney and specialized in corporate negligence and medical malpractice claims. He ended up making a fortune through his success as a trial lawyer. And that, more than his inexperience serving in an executive political capacity, may be the biggest handicap he has to overcome. His detractors will make up disparaging stories about him dragging people with fake bandages into court and then having them get out of their casts and wheelchairs to dance around celebrating over huge settlements. The fact he was defending the rights of innocent victims will be downplayed. Unless it's in the context of a television program, lawyers today do not get any respect. For some reason the public revels in watching lawyers protect the justice system on TV but takes a dim view of lawyers in the real world. When the subject of lawyers is mentioned, eyes roll and complaints of red tape and high legal fees are often raised. To some, being a lawyer ranks on the same level as being an embezzler, pickpocket or corrupt politician. “They chase ambulances, looking for lawsuits to pry money from people and companies,” is a charge leveled quite frequently. It's not uncommon to hear comments like, “Lawyers and their litigation are ruining this country.” Or — “Leave it to a lawyer to take something simple that can be settled out of court with common sense and make it a complicated issue that costs everyone money.” A few years ago a neighbor of mine complained after a nearby house had been sold. “I heard a lawyer bought the place,” he said. “Just what we don't need, a lawyer moving into the block.” I mistakenly thought he was joking. OK, there are greedy lawyers. And there are attorneys around who do not always have the best interest of their clients at heart. However, every profession has its share of people who don't measure up under close scrutiny. Those who chase ambulances and try to exploit situations unfairly are the exception rather than the rule. Take a moment to evaluate the people you know who are lawyers. I think it's safe to say we are all familiar with lawyers who work tirelessly around the clock to serve their clients. Most of the attorneys I know will go out of their way to encourage settlements in cases before they go to court. With the exception of divorce cases, where too often emotion pushes things into a win-at-all cost mentality, the lawyers I know are reasonable and practical. The process alone of becoming a lawyer, forging through law school and having to pass stringent state bar exams, is enough to discourage all but the most dedicated. Many go into the law profession to defend people without enormous wealth, giving them a chance to compete on equal footing against the rich, famous and powerful in a court of law. Certainly it's true we live in a society that has become needlessly controlled by litigation. But that's not the fault of lawyers. Blame people who are too often greedy, self-centered and caught up in the ruthless nature of the corporate world for having a need to hire lawyers. For the most part, lawyers abide by a high code of ethics and steer their clients to play by the rules. What could be more honorable than that? - David Maril, an Enterprise copy editor, can be reached at dmaril@enterprisenews.com.

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