Sunday 30 August 2015

Fallacies towards Lawyers/Law students






When I let people know I’m a law student they think it is amusing to tell me ‘Ha, all lawyers are liars.” No, it’s not funny. Not at all.
Image does not belong to me
The job of a lawyer is to defend his client, so yes, he is placed in situations where he is required to bend the truth, as in spin the fact in a way that benefits him. He does not lie, per se. Because that is unlawful and no lawyer is stupid enough to risk being disbarred by providing false evidence to the court. Let me explain this further- say you are brought before the court of law for assaulting a man. And this is not the first time your temper(infamous one of that) has got you into trouble. 
When the prosecutor (the one against you) calls you a habitual offender because you have done this before, I (your lawyer) will defend you by saying you have bi polar hence not of sound mind. Both the lawyers do not dispute the fact that you have done this before (assaulting, I mean), we do not lie about that. We only twist the fact to our benefit. Get it?
No, lawyers/law students are not liars. We do not propagate lying. In fact, in the term of my
internships, I’ve encountered that a dishonest lawyer doesn’t receive much respect. He is spoken of as someone you cannot trust. Every profession has those odd ones who do not understand professional ethics, it is not concentrated in the field of law alone.
If people think all lawyers are going to hell for the sin of manipulation, let me remind those nice folks that lawyers twist the truth for them. To defend them. This is one of the hundred reasons I would say law is a noble profession. 


I’ve heard this said multiple times before. As a novice in law school, I took the quote to mean literally. For me the words ‘a great lawyer knows the judge” meant I had to know him personally (like take him out to lunch or buy him expensive gifts) so that when he gives out a judgment, it is favoring me.
It was in second year of school, did I really start to see the true light behind this sentence. No, it does not mean what you think it means.
Image does not belong to me
What the quote is actually trying to say that apart from having excellent knowledge in law, the advocate must understand the judge he is arguing before. This revolves around studying the judge’s psychology. Each man or woman have their personal way of understand, learning and perspective. When you know what the language they understand is, your arguments will be framed to drive home your message.
One of the essentials of communication is “knowing the audience” and this quote is saying just that. Know how your judge thinks. For instance, if you informal in your arguments and the judge you are before is strict about such decorum, you will want to modify your style of speech to a more formal one to get the judge’s approval.That is what this means.

Next time you want to think of lawyers as liars, you will be grossly wrong. And a great lawyer does not “bribe” the judge. That’s two fallacies broken down.

Power to us law students. 

19 comments:

  1. Sorry you get harassed for what you want to be. Really if you think about it, someone could say something negative about all jobs but it doesn't mean we should. ;)

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    1. Your spot on! People always find something negative to say about a profession. It's funny sometimes, not when you don't now what you're talking about XD

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  2. I have heard these things before, and first of all let me say props to you for thinking about these accusations often made and thinking them through. They are horrid to say really. And you're also right in a lot of ways. I liked reading this and I can tell this is something you are passionate about.

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    1. I'm glad you agree, Olivia! These things have been floating around me that I just had to give it a second glance :)

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  3. It's such a shame you get that kind of treatment!! I've been in similar situations, I'm studying Software Engineering and there are also some stereotypes that people just assume to be true. When most people think about software engineers, they think about men who are like the ones from The Big Bang Theory, so it's happened to me that, if a guy asks me what I'm studying, he gets all surprised when I tell him and says he can't believe it. Because, you know, a girly girl who likes wearing makeup and pink clothes can't possible know how to program and all that.
    This is really a great post!!

    Lipstick and Mocha

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    1. That is really bad! We are equally smart, amazing people who can program away any language wearing the highest of heals! You go Carla <3

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  4. This is a great post, you have dealt with the fallacies thoroughly. I agree that sometimes people have such stereotypes and it really irks a person.

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  5. A great lawyer knows the judge - I'd probably have taken it to mean personally as well. However, what you said makes perfect sense. We all have things more important to us and understand differently.

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    1. I agree, everyone has a perspective. But using the same to bring down someone needs to be given a second thought.

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  6. Yours is undoubtedly a noble and useful profession - let's not forget that lawyers are also the ones who defend innocents! - and it also requires great intelligence. So kudos to you girl!

    Bella Pummarola

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    1. Hey Anett1 Thank you! There are many lawyers who fight for the innocents!

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  7. Its sad to see people studying and practicing law going through all this. A large portion of the population generalize lawyers. Its so good to see you reply back. A logical post, very honest and straight forward.

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    1. Hey!
      True. Generalization really harms a profession, what about those who are trying to make a difference? Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
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