He earnestly commends diligence in study, and, next
to diligence, promptness in keeping up his work.
"As a general rule, never take your whole fee in advance," he says, "nor
any more than a small retainer. When fully paid beforehand, you are more
than a common mortal if you can feel the same interest in the case as if
something was still in prospect for you as well as for your client."
"Extemporaneous speaking should be practised and cultivated. It is the
lawyer's avenue to the public. However able and faithful he may be in
other respects, people are slow to bring him business if he cannot make
a speech. And yet, there is not a more fatal error to young lawyers than
relying too much on speech-making. If any one, upon his rare powers of
speaking, shall claim an exemption from the drudgery of the law, his
case is a failure in advance. Discourage litigation. Persuade your
neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the
nominal winner is often a real loser--in fees, expenses, and waste of
time. As a peacemaker, the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a
good man. There will still be business enough. Never stir up litigation.
A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this. Who can be
more nearly a fiend than he who habitually overhauls the register of
deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon to stir up strife and put
money in his pocket? A moral tone ought to be infused into the
profession which should drive such men out of it.
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