“How does it make you feel when you have to compromise your ethics by defending guilty criminals? What do you mean, ‘comprimise my ethics’? That is my ethic – to defend people accused of a crime, whether I believe that they may be innocent or guilty. If you can’t deal with that, don’t become a defense lawyer.”
This is a brilliantly simple way to look at the concept of being a zealous advocate for your client. Since I’ve been *thinking* about going to law school, people have asked me how I can consider doing criminal defense. I don’t know if I want to actually do defense, but this has certainly made me *think* about it.
The quote is from Alan Dershowitz’s ‘Letters to a Young Lawyer’. It’s a collection of 2-4 page essays on, well, being a lawyer. Dershowitz is a wonderful writer – his style makes you feel like you’re sitting across from him on a comfy chair in a warm coffee shop, drinking lattes and discussing the practice of law. It seems to talk about the reality of practice, as opposed to the fantasy that many law students (myeself included!) have – similar to posts I’ve made to/for people looking to get into my current field. It’s kind, but it dosen’t sugarcoat the problems involved in this career path. It’s simple, direct, and thought provoking – I *highly* reccomend it to the legal professionals out there. Heck, even if you’re just intersted in the law, it’s a lovely book.
johnh Said:
on November 29, 2006 at 8:02 pm
I was actually pondering that question the other day while watching “Primal Fear” (great flick, see it if you haven’t already), and posted about it on my blog. I’m not planning on going into defense law. But it is good to figure out where you stand regardless of what side you’ll be representing. I’ll have to read Dershowitz’s book now. Preferably while sitting in a comfy chair in a warm coffee shop, drinking a latte.
theDonnybrook Said:
on December 8, 2006 at 8:39 pm
I have done a lot of prosecution work. Honestly, some of the prosecutors are lacking in the ethics department. We call them true believers. I am reminded the oath I took just a few weeks ago before I received my law license. It raises just this kind of this seeming conundrum, but I think it’s more important in light of the oath of the practice. We swear to uphold the Constitution of the state and the nation. Criminals have a right to an attorney, and a right to be heard. That is ethical enough.