OT Two short essays

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
It does beggar the imagination, doesn't it, how some of these lawyers
can look themselves in the mirror.

To be sure, all of the attorneys with whom I am personally familiar drive
nicer cars than mine and live in better houses, but not all of the "big"
settlements ballyhooed in the media are truly windfalls for the attorney.
These things do take substantial preparation time and incur sometimes
substantial out of pocket expenses for the lawyer and his firm. I don't
doubt that on a per hour basis they're doing okay, but I think the
perception is too often that a million bucks goes right into the pocket of a
greedy lawyer. 'Tain't necessarily so. With the possible exception of the
ones spending all their time posting here, those guys actually work hard for
a living. For a good narrartive of how badly things can sometimes go, I
highly recommend "A Civil Action" by Jonathan Harr.

Joe F.

rb608 wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:

It does beggar the imagination, doesn't it, how some of these lawyers
can look themselves in the mirror.

To be sure, all of the attorneys with whom I am personally familiar drive
nicer cars than mine and live in better houses, but not all of the "big"
settlements ballyhooed in the media are truly windfalls for the attorney.
These things do take substantial preparation time and incur sometimes
substantial out of pocket expenses for the lawyer and his firm. ...

The lady lawyer in the case I mentioned ended up being hauled before the
Illinois Bar (I assume) because of the bad publicity. Basically the Bar
told the 12 clients that they were fortunate the lady lawyer's firm agreed
to leave them $2 million instead of taking the whole $12 million and then
sending them a bill. Apparently hiring a law firm for two years is worth
every bit of $10 million and then some.

I would not have the balls to explain to 12 clerks, typists and secretaries
who have been the victims of sexual discrimination for years why I should
get the lion's share of their settlement money. That's why you go to law
school I suppose.

--
Ken Fortenberry

To be sure, all of the attorneys with whom I am personally familiar drive
nicer cars than mine and live in better houses......

I know a couple of lawyers, members of TU, who have spent many hours
over the years ABSOLUTELY FREE to protect the environment around here.

They not only lost the money they could have made doing other work,
but they alienated much of the business community and thus damaged
their future prospects.

They do live in nicer houses than mine, but I don't begrudge them one
bit. They've earned my highest respect.

vince