One of the most vilified professions is also one of the most important vocations. On the second Tuesday of every year, the world honors these professionals with "Be Kind to Lawyers Day." The day is meant to give people the chance to let lawyers know how much you appreciate them by thanking them, taking them to dinner or sending them a gift to show your gratitude that they are there to keep you out of trouble.
With "Be Kind to Lawyers" day here, it is also a chance to enjoy some of the best lawyer movies in the history of cinema.
"To Kill a Mockingbird"
While some lawyers receive a bad rap, the man considered the greatest character and hero in all of movies is an attorney. Gregory Peck plays Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird," a fiercely loyal and honest attorney who fights prejudice and seeks only justice and fairness from the system he works for. The American Film Institute named Atticus Finch the greatest hero of the 20th century.
"A Time to Kill"
A movie that shares a lineage with "To Kill a Mockingbird" is "A Time to Kill," based on the novel by John Grisham. Instead of the African American man falsely accused of raping a white woman, this movie tells the story of an African American man who seeks vengeance for the rape and brutalization of his young daughter by two white men who get off under a technicality. The story takes a hard turn when the Ku Klux Klan show up in town wanting the neck of the father after his act of vengeance and target the attorneys
Did you know that at present, there is only one lawyer for every 247 Americans in the Unites States? A lawyer is “a person trained in the legal profession who acts for and advises clients or pleads in court” (Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus). According to about careers, there are many different types of lawyers, among the top five highest paying legal professionals around the globe are trial lawyers. The first lawyers, also known as the “Gilded Lawyers” arranged the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in the early 1930s (“National Lawyers Guild). The actions the Gilded Lawyers made gave them useful experience for defending the rights given to us by the First Amendment and suffused the work of the business in later years. Today, trial lawyers must meet specific job requirements and qualifications such as working under stressful conditions for long periods of time, making a profitable salary, and keeping up with the ever changing future needs for the career.
Many criticize Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockngbird, and the value it portrays to have versus the value it really has. Many believe that the novel is in no way, a proper representation of African American’s history and their oppression, and many believe that Atticus Finch, the father being portrayed as a hero, is not heroic at all. However, Atticus Finch is a hero for going against the racist status quo of Maycomb County and his children are the symbols of the future generation to make true change in the world and break the racial stereotypes in America.
Criticisms of lawyers are the topic in Richard A. Wasserstrom's article "Lawyers as Professionals: Some Moral Issues." Wasserstrom broke this topic into two main areas of discussion. The first suggests that lawyers operate with essentially no regard for any negative impact of their efforts on the world at large. Analysis of the relationship that exists between the lawyer and their client was the second topic of discussion. "Here the charge is that it is the lawyer-client relationship which is morally objectionable because it is a relationship which the lawyer dominates and in which the lawyer typically, and perhaps inevitably, treats the client in both an
The subject of law always fascinated me. Unlike medicine, the practicalities of the subject do not dampen my passion for the subject but rather fuel it. Law is engaging because it requires constant adapting and analyzing. With every case comes a unique set of issues. The challenge of having to work within the bounds of the law while also planning a compelling and forceful case for a client is thrilling. Every word holds tremendous power in law. Practicing law requires eloquence. Anecdotal stories are the hallmark of the best lawyers. There exists no third person perspective in law. I admire how good lawyers can form a message that appeals to people’s emotions and reason. I relish the opportunity to study every minute detail of law and become a practicing lawyer because of all the ways it would challenge me.
Unfortunately, law is not like that anymore - if it ever was - and today's attorneys must juggle a number of different responsibilities all at once. They must act as marketers to attract new
Mr. Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a hero due to his honesty, his courage, and his want to persevere in hard times for all. Atticus Finch must be honest and stay true to his word by being the man of better judgment. He must make hard decisions without bias toward another group or person.
To kill a Mockingbird is one of America's favorite books. It is a nobel that everyone should read at least once. It is a great story full of wonderful characters, but one character stands out from the rest, Atticus Finch. Throughout the novel he is ridiculed for doing the right thing, but they still hold high respect for the man that he is.
How is Atticus a Hero? Some say that Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is a hero, while others say he is not. He is a hero because he has many characteristics that make him a hero. Atticus is a hero because he is brave, knowledgeable, and kind.
Atticus Finch is arguably one of the most recognizable characters in literature. Although he has a fairly one-dimensional character and undergoes no character development, he is easily recognizable as a hero in To Kill a Mockingbird. He serves as the epitome of justice and doing what is morally right. He displays various traits which justify his identification as a hero. A hero is defined as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” All of these are the basis of Atticus's character. Through his actions is he able to create this image for himself. Some of his characteristics defining him as a hero are his parenting, his steadiness in his morality and other beliefs,
amazing lawyer.” he said, with such a bright smile on his face, he really means it. The judge says goodbye, and our class leaves the courthouse with bright, shining smiles.
Atticus Finch of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird In the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird", by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is a most compelling character. Atticus grew up on a cotton farm and eventually became a defence lawyer. He is the voice of reason in the town of Maycomb and many of the people in the county are his clients. He served four years in the state legislature.
Justice. It is something that everyone wants, something that we strive for, even something that sparks. However, when we think of lawyers, we think of superheroes with an expensive education, walking into the courtroom and serving up justice. What no one thinks of is the person that helped the lawyer get there, the paralegal that prepares the necessary documents, the paralegal that makes sure his or her attorney is at the right place at the right time. A paralegal is crucial and in some cases vital to our justice system yet they are so often over looked.
Within the book, Dershowitz poses the question of whether prosecutors and defense attorneys are advocates for justice, or only for their clients. The reason for lawyers choosing a client can
Question #12. Do the ethical rules of fairness prevent lawyers from aggressively advocating a client’s position?
‘What kind of lawyer do I want to be’ is a very wide question open to a whole range of interpretations. Choosing to study Law at university almost certainly means becoming either a barrister or a solicitor will be the route to follow, but this choice as well as deciding whether to practice civil or criminal law is one which requires substantial thought. Having carried out work experience at my local Crown Court, and visited the Exeter Crown Court, it has impacted how I see my future. Additionally, my independent research coupled with seminar tasks in negotiation and advocacy have also helped to shape my decision. These experiences have brought to my attention a range of ethical concerns within the courtroom, however there are two issues in particular that have stood out. The first being cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses and defendants, for example, the elderly, rape victims, and children, and the second issue being legal aid and its impact. Learning about legal aid within the legal foundations course has opened my eyes to the struggle of the ‘ordinary person’ unable to obtain legal advice, and the significant, increasing divide between city firms advising corporate clients and the ‘high street firm’ advising the everyday citizen. Both of these issues have impacted on how I see my future as a lawyer.