Comments on: Bad Lawyer. No Cookie.

By: Terrance Mish

Terrance Mish — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:27:31 +0000

I don’t care what any lawyers do or what any bad things anybody says about them. I still like all
lawyers. Well done, of course.

By: John David Galt

John David Galt — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:04:12 +0000

If this letter isn’t enough to get its writer convicted of extortion, it ought to be.

By: South Texas

South Texas — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:49:46 +0000

Wow. I’d be afraid to say such things to a client, much less put it in writing. It’s somewhat ironic that this is a lawyer doing this, as we are the ones who are supposed to advise people against memorializing something so brazenly unethical.

That being said, I’m hanging on to a copy of this letter for next December. Collections can be tough around the holidays.

By: Ron in Houston

Ron in Houston — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:04:34 +0000

That’s the kind of letter that makes me hang my head in shame. There are a lot of great people in this profession, but then there are those kinds.

By: Rick Horowitz

Rick Horowitz — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:34:09 +0000

This would almost blow my mind, except for one thing. There are private attorneys in our town who typically grossly (and by “grossly,” I mean hugely, seriously, majorly, whatever-else-makes-it-clear-this-isn’t-piddly) underbid all other attorneys for cases.

It can be nearly-impossible to compete with these guys if you don’t already have a huge “rep.”

Yet it’s well-known (or at least well-discussed amongst other attorneys) that they pretty much just walk their clients to a conviction.

Frankly, it makes me wonder what the point of State Bar admission is. There are people who can’t get admitted who would do a better job than the above-mentioned attorneys. To SOME extent (many public defenders being the exception), you DO get what you pay for.

By: robert

robert — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:56:18 +0000

I like to insert my head into my rectum because my feces don’t stink.

By: Robert Guest

Robert Guest — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:27:35 +0000

A larger issue is trial fees and payment plans. Not all lawyers are willing to go to court and fight for their client sans payment. Those lawyers should get all their money up front, or prosecute.

My contract has clear language and policies regarding payment and withdrawal. However, the risk of non performance is all mine. Threatening to botch a trial or have your client incarcerated for failure to pay is an unethical way of shifting that risk to the client. I’ve heard similar dialogue more than a few times in the courtroom hallways. For some reason in writing it always looks worse.

Finally, I need some bailout money to start a company offering low interest criminal defense attorney’s fee loans. Who’s with me?

By: S

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:53:43 +0000

I agree with Michael. I think no matter the motivation, the letter is an ethical violation.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:10:41 +0000

An appalling letter. Worthy of sanctions, in my view.

By: BRIAN TANNEBAUM

BRIAN TANNEBAUM — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:09:45 +0000

what has not been mentioned here, putting aside case law on expenses for indigent defendants and the legalities of withdrawal based on non-payment of fees, is that the lawyer who wrote that letter is a complete asshole.

I know you frequently use the term “asshat,” however we here in Florida rarely use that term.