Lawyers Are Indispensable In Society Essay Example
Lawyers Are Indispensable In Society Essay Example

Lawyers Are Indispensable In Society Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
Topics:
  • Pages: 6 (1617 words)
  • Published: April 23, 2017
  • Type: Essay
View Entire Sample
Text preview

The role of lawyers in society is vital as they consistently work towards achieving justice and ensuring its delivery. Their substantial contribution grants them privileged status. However, the sensitive nature of their responsibilities exposes lawyers to temptations that impede the administration of justice. This essay seeks to examine the duties of lawyers and their motivations for choosing a career in law. Currently, pursuing a legal profession is seen as financially lucrative but demands significant commitment.

Furthermore, the profession of being a lawyer demands intelligence and confidence on a continuous basis. To become a fully qualified lawyer, a law student must conquer tests of patience, endurance, and wit while successfully passing the challenging bar exam. It is crucial to recognize that lawyering is intricate as it pertains to matters concerning life, liberty, and property for those involved. With

...

in society, there is an expanding population of law students whose numbers have steadily grown over the years. This profession holds immense appeal due to its ability to offer something highly valuable in comparison to other occupations within society. At present, one can find numerous lawyers within the halls of justice who exude confidence and elegance with their pristine and well-pressed coats.

Carrying their suitcases at all times adds to their appearance of respectability and wealth. Their offices have a significant presence in the city. In the current era, specific rules and laws regulate human actions. Any transgression of these laws or infringements upon freedoms is considered a crime according to the law and can result in punishment. The organized enforcement and application of these laws necessitate the involvement of lawyers and other parties.

The increasing population of lawyers raises doubt

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

about whether they will have enough cases to handle. Some lawyers actively seek out potential clients, including accident victims, individuals affected by medicine or product usage, and insured individuals, solely to increase their client base. Despite the apparent decline in prospective clients, many still choose law as their profession. Generally, a lawyer's role in society is to aid in the pursuit of justice. According to Silvio Auditore's article "Ethical Duties Owed by Lawyers," which focuses on family law, lawyers have responsibilities towards the law itself, their clients, and the courts. A lawyer's obligation to the law necessitates acting within its boundaries and upholding it consistently.

According to Auditore's article, lawyers are obligated to act honestly, fairly, and confidentially in protecting their clients' interests. They must also demonstrate diligence, reasonableness, courtesy, and skillfulness while representing their clients. It is crucial for a lawyer to display honesty, integrity, and candor before the judge without engaging in any misleading behavior.

Aside from courtroom responsibilities, lawyers also have additional duties. They are capable of managing legal documents and offering legal advice. Consequently, lawyers hold a vital position within society.

Lawyers are often regarded as champions of justice, defenders of the vulnerable, and truth-seekers. Their role is pivotal in reinstating truth, harmony, and organization in society. Despite the considerable responsibilities and exhaustion that accompany being a lawyer, many still aspire to pursue this occupation. The legal field offers diverse advantages and embodies certain principles. One prevalent association with lawyers is their affiliation with wealth and prosperous individuals.

In Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street," a lawyer exemplifies idleness as a typical portrayal of his profession. Being a lawyer himself, the

narrator recounts his daily routine at work and interactions with his staff members.

The story portrays the narrator as an elderly man who possesses significant knowledge and experience in law. He has four employees named Turkey, Nippers, Ginger Nut, and Bartleby. Although they have different personalities and moods, the narrator holds affection for each of them for various reasons. In particular, Turkey is highly productive in the morning but becomes indolent in the afternoon.

In contrast to Turkey, Nippers is the opposite as he is lazy and unproductive in the morning but becomes hardworking and calm in the afternoon. Ginger Nut, a law student, works as a cleaner and sweeper in the lawyer's office, while Bartbery is the lawyer's scrivener. A scrivener refers to a writer or copyist. Melville's story portrays scriveners as an integral part of modern industry and commerce, educated to perform monotonous tasks. The lawyer typically sits with his scriveners, Turkey, and Nippers during their daily routine to review the papers they have prepared.

When the lawyer asked Bartbery to join him, Bartbery consistently responded with the statement "I prefer not to." This became his go-to answer whenever the lawyer had something to ask him. Eventually, the lawyer became frustrated with Bartbery's lack of action and constant idleness, leading to his dismissal and abandonment of Bartbery. Although Bartbery was forcefully placed in a new care facility, the lawyer still provided support and offered him alternative job opportunities as a scrivener. However, Bartbery chose not to accept these offers and eventually passed away. This story highlights the moral lesson regarding the lawyer's duty in society.

The text highlights a lawyer's duty to protect individuals accused of

crimes who have a valid defense and did not commit the alleged crime. Unfortunately, the lawyer in the story fails to save Scrivener from societal discrimination, as scriveners are now being replaced by machines. Despite this, the lawyer demonstrates concern by treating Bartbery with compassion and generosity. Also, the narrator portrays the lawyer as someone whose main focus is money. The lawyer himself states, "I am one of those unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury... but in the cool tranquility of a snug retreat, do a snug business among rich men’s bonds and mortgages and title-deeds." In other words, he is not a typical courtroom lawyer, but rather specializes in financial matters for wealthy clients.

Instead of solely relying on his profession as a lawyer, Bartbery also accumulates wealth through bonds, mortgages, and title deeds of affluent individuals. He advocates for a lifestyle emphasizing ease and comfort, contrasting the typical work-driven approach of most lawyers. His priorities lie in personal enjoyment and security. The narrative implies that Bartbery is a victim of societal inequality, where those with less privilege receive less attention. Additionally, the narrator highlights himself as an example of a lawyer who prioritizes monetary gain. In a society with countless lawyers, it becomes challenging to discern whether they work for money, power, or principle. However, it is possible that only a few lawyers truly prioritize principles.

In the story "Man the Reformer," Ralph Waldo Emerson addresses the society's discrimination against the poor and their disregard for God's existence. Emerson argues that justice cannot be achieved without divine intervention. He states, "The Americans lack faith and hope... They rely on money's power and ignore sentiment.

They believe society can be easily changed, just as the north wind can be quieted. Scholars and intellectuals are particularly faithless." He also emphasizes the importance of considering the poor and advocates for their representation in society.

In the text, it is argued by the author that equal access to food should be provided for all children. It is suggested that improvements in property laws should be driven by the generosity of the wealthy rather than the desperation of the poor. This issue is particularly relevant within the legal field where only those who can afford lawyers receive representation, resulting in a lack of justice for low-income individuals. In Henry David Thoreau's essay "Life Without Principle," he critiques society's preoccupation with work and money, asserting that people prioritize financial gain over leading fulfilling lives. Thoreau depicts a busy world consumed by business and disrupted by incessant noise from locomotives disturbing his sleep at night.

The author is frustrated with society's constant busyness and the lack of leisure time. They criticize how work takes precedence over enjoying nature and exploring one's potential contribution to humanity. The author emphasizes the importance of prioritizing job satisfaction and fulfilling one's purpose in society rather than simply pursuing financial gain.

The article emphasizes that laborers should aim not only to earn a living or have a decent job, but to excel in their specific field. The author suggests that the town should pay its laborers well enough so that they don't feel like they are merely working for survival, but rather for scientific and moral purposes. Additionally, the author questions whether those involved in courtroom proceedings prioritize cleaning their ears as

much as they do their hands and faces. In the eyes of the author, all individuals engaged in the legal process - auditors, witnesses, jury members, attorneys, judges, and even defendants - are equally responsible. Various readings on the legal profession indicate that lawyers, considered intellectuals of society, are primarily motivated by financial gain and power. It can be concluded that lawyers pursue careers in law with the goal of becoming wealthy through interactions with affluent individuals. Despite this perception, lawyers are still seen as agents of justice who contribute to establishing truth.

Seeking justice is a complex and fragile process, where a single error can wrongfully convict an innocent person or release a guilty individual. Therefore, lawyers must fulfill their duties with conviction and adhere to moral principles. Additionally, the legal system must not disregard the marginalized individuals who lack the resources to hire skilled and influential attorneys. If deemed deserving, justice should be attainable for the underprivileged. Furthermore, within the justice system, numerous lawyers operate based on their values.

These lawyers uphold their oath and provide free legal services to the underprivileged. Unfortunately, the government does not offer them many opportunities. Nonetheless, it is crucial to uphold justice without being influenced by money, power, or principle in every case.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New