The Practice of Law

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

I’m a solicitor (aka a lawyer in most jurisdictions).

And, I’ve been at it a long time — more than half my life.

I decided to study law on a whim; in hindsight, it was a mistake: I should have studied English.

I’m what they call an old hack; and I’m happy with the regnant label.

I’ve had too many jobs; and most of them have sucked.

Right now, I work In-house and in private practice but I feel my wings have been clipped by dint of the fact that I’m no longer anywhere near the cutting edge of legal argument.

I act pro bono where I can and do some work on a self-employed basis for one delightful client who allows me to get on with the work and doesn’t trouble me. (I wish I had more of these clients.)

I will retire from law but, as things stand, not just yet.

Now is not the same as when I first joined the profession; I blame the commercialisation of law; it’s no longer a profession but a business that is designed to make money — lots of it — for a select group of people.

I used to think I had something to say about how soul and role could be linked. No more. Truth is, I don’t care how firms are run or managed. They’re certainly not people-centred and are very hard on the soul.

I’d like to think I’ve got something to offer and I’m good at my job but I'm probably deluded.

What does any of this mean?

In short, law is a wonderful subject and essential to all our lives but the sacrifice is too great.

But of course, most people who join the profession appear to do so with the idea that it is a profession and the spoils are worth the mental carnage; but I’m not convinced — or at least not easily.

Perhaps one day the profession might take a long, hard look at itself with a view to reconnect with its past but I doubt it.

I very much doubt it.

Blessings,

Julian

Photo by Danika Perkinson on Unsplash