Reflection #12 (Only1064 to go!): In Defense of Lawyers
A couple of weeks ago, I spent a most delightful two hours in the company of some truly wonderful Ignatius alumni. The Saint Ignatius College Prep Law Society was having their annual luncheon and I was privileged to be invited to sit with a family that is dedicated to the practice of law in the city of Chicago, the Simon family.
I have heard more than my share of "lawyer" jokes, most of which are not funny and not deserved. (By the way, in Wisconsin, they say that there are some towns too small for one lawyer, but there are no towns too small for two lawyers! Ba-dum-bump!)
To my way of thinking, laws and lawyers (including judges) are the lynch-pins of our civilization (pun intended). What is more, with the God-given intelligence and moral background, instilled by their families and reinforced by their strong Jesuit training, I hold the men and women that attended this luncheon in the highest esteem.-
Now I have to say, in the interest of full disclosure, I, too, have had my disagreements with members of the legal profession. Happily, none were related to "criminal" actions on my part. One such “discussion” was related to the fact that I have been on seven (count ‘em: 7) juries, including a grand jury. Drawing an expression from my youth, I am both bragging and complaining. It is not that I am adverse to doing my civic duty, but the work involved in planning and preparation when I'd miss my classes is not a walk in the park. (Oh! That’s right! Teachers only work 4 hours a day for 9 months a year, and are paid a King’s Ransom...but we'll discuss that comment at another time.) Several of my friends have told me that they’ve never been called, but they would love to, usually adding that they thought it would be interesting. Trials usually are very interesting, but couldn't there be a more equitable way of distributing the "opportunity to exercise one's civic duty"? , siete, sieben
Getting back to my original point, lawyers are the referees/umpires of our culture that help define and keep order. They are the ones who must know the rules and determine whether a person's actions violate them. That is a monumental task. When I was on the grand jury, the states attorney for Will County explained that, not only are the number of laws daunting, but the complexity of laws can be all but overwhelming. The legislature frequently tries to "tweek" the conditions and stipulations relating to a "flawed" law rather than revamping it. While, for the purpose of fairness and equity, this can be good (not always), it increases the burden on law enforcement and the legal profession.
I recall my days as baseball coach, one umpire told me that there are 11 (or was 13?) ways to commit a balk. The umpire had to know all of the ways to commit a balk, and make the judgment whether a balk had been committed. The ramifications of making an error in that setting are minor. The legal profession deals with our entire culture, and frequently with life-altering consequences. For better or worse, I applaud their work.
Anyway, I was in the company of people whose acquaintance and, even friendship, I cherish, and I thank my hosts for allowing me to be present.
