Comments on: Honesty and the Practice of Law http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/ One Attorney's Pursuit of Justice Sat, 17 May 2008 15:39:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: “Reasonable efforts” has real meaning « Elusive Justice http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-1094 “Reasonable efforts” has real meaning « Elusive Justice Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:06:23 +0000 http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-1094 [...] way to prevent low numbers of contacts, but still be technically truthful, is to forget to add a parent who does not live in the home of removal as an active individual. [...] [...] way to prevent low numbers of contacts, but still be technically truthful, is to forget to add a parent who does not live in the home of removal as an active individual. [...]

]]> By: How Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are the same, or, Why I'll never be President, or, How voters prefer liars: « Elusive Justice http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-36 How Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are the same, or, Why I'll never be President, or, How voters prefer liars: « Elusive Justice Mon, 19 Mar 2007 00:36:54 +0000 http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-36 [...] is why I will never be President. I explained previously my view on honesty and the practice of law. I just do not have the stomach for the professional level of lying that we expect of Presidents. I [...] [...] is why I will never be President. I explained previously my view on honesty and the practice of law. I just do not have the stomach for the professional level of lying that we expect of Presidents. I [...]

]]> By: Sometimes good guys finish first! « Elusive Justice http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-22 Sometimes good guys finish first! « Elusive Justice Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:05:10 +0000 http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-22 [...] custody battle and I have been digging out my desk these past days. My opponent inspired this prior post. True to his/her form, opposing counsel took every opportunity to mischaracaterize records admitted [...] [...] custody battle and I have been digging out my desk these past days. My opponent inspired this prior post. True to his/her form, opposing counsel took every opportunity to mischaracaterize records admitted [...]

]]> By: jodi http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-10 jodi Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:53:13 +0000 http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-10 I would venture to guess that most attorneys graduate law school without the intention of becoming decietful. It seems to me that one of the temptations that probably leads down that slippery slope is the "best of intentions" where you try condensing multiple facts in complex family law situations into an honest "few sentences". If you have a client with a phone log documenting each and every phone call with an ex-spouse over the last 6 months, naturally an attorney needs to find a way to respect the court's time and not spend three hours testifying about the "phone diary". If there are complex facts, some of which are negative, the temptation is to emphasize the good and ignore the bad. You cannot mention everything, and once you see how easy it is to "spin" large amounts of information in a positive light, it's tempting to compromise "just a little more" the next time to get just a "little" more positive, until the next thing you know... I would venture to guess that most attorneys graduate law school without the intention of becoming decietful. It seems to me that one of the temptations that probably leads down that slippery slope is the “best of intentions” where you try condensing multiple facts in complex family law situations into an honest “few sentences”.

If you have a client with a phone log documenting each and every phone call with an ex-spouse over the last 6 months, naturally an attorney needs to find a way to respect the court’s time and not spend three hours testifying about the “phone diary”. If there are complex facts, some of which are negative, the temptation is to emphasize the good and ignore the bad. You cannot mention everything, and once you see how easy it is to “spin” large amounts of information in a positive light, it’s tempting to compromise “just a little more” the next time to get just a “little” more positive, until the next thing you know…

]]> By: Bart McQueary http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-9 Bart McQueary Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:38:18 +0000 http://elusivejustice.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/honesty-and-the-practice-of-law/#comment-9 Some lawyers are little better than whores. Take for instance a business that has been made fun of on the internet. If the "flamer" went to the lawyer with cash in hand, the lawyer would declare "That's parody - protected speech. They don't have a case!" But if the business owner was first line it would be "A clear, textbook case of slander! No First Amendment defenses!" But I guess that is why an attorney is supposed to defend their clients zealously within the bounds of the law. Some lawyers are little better than whores.

Take for instance a business that has been made fun of on the internet. If the “flamer” went to the lawyer with cash in hand, the lawyer would declare “That’s parody - protected speech. They don’t have a case!” But if the business owner was first line it would be “A clear, textbook case of slander! No First Amendment defenses!”

But I guess that is why an attorney is supposed to defend their clients zealously within the bounds of the law.

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