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The Moral Lawyer And The Machiavellian Nature Of Law Practice, David Barnhizer Sep 2015

The Moral Lawyer And The Machiavellian Nature Of Law Practice, David Barnhizer

David Barnhizer

In Western culture the name Niccolo Machiavelli has become Machiavellianism, a pejorative signifying the willingness to do anything to achieve desired ends. American lawyers do have limits, however, and are expected to operate according to an ethical code that is at least intended to prevent the worst abuses. The effectiveness of this ethical code has often been questioned, as have the questionable efforts of the organized bar to enforce its rules, but on the surface it differentiates law practice from hand-to-hand combat and military struggles. Even though I have sometimes used the concepts of the warrior lawyer, the general and …


The Moral Lawyer And The Machiavellian Nature Of Law Practice, David Barnhizer Jan 2015

The Moral Lawyer And The Machiavellian Nature Of Law Practice, David Barnhizer

David Barnhizer

In Western culture the name Niccolo Machiavelli has become Machiavellianism, a pejorative signifying the willingness to do anything to achieve desired ends. American lawyers do have limits, however, and are expected to operate according to an ethical code that is at least intended to prevent the worst abuses. The effectiveness of this ethical code has often been questioned, as have the questionable efforts of the organized bar to enforce its rules, but on the surface it differentiates law practice from hand-to-hand combat and military struggles. Even though I have sometimes used the concepts of the warrior lawyer, the general and …


"Practice Ready" Law Graduates, David Barnhizer Jan 2013

"Practice Ready" Law Graduates, David Barnhizer

David Barnhizer

Whatever view one holds on the idea of “practice ready” law graduates in the abstract it seems clear that it does not and could not mean that a new graduate can be fully capable of providing high quality services across the board to clients unfortunate enough to be using the services of the neophyte lawyer. If that were the case I can hear a client’s conversation with the brand new lawyer in a complex corporate merger with numerous parties, millions of dollars at stake, estate and tax issues, patent rights and differing valuations for the deal. “How many of these …


Ten Elements Of "Real" Ethics In The Practice Of Law (And Life), David Barnhizer Jan 2012

Ten Elements Of "Real" Ethics In The Practice Of Law (And Life), David Barnhizer

David Barnhizer

The legal profession has been “running a game” on its clients and on American society in its claim that it can self-regulate. The system of ethical regulation as practiced by the legal profession and courts is not a “real” system nor can it even be said to be an Ideal system. It is a deceptive pretense and pretension. It is time to stop the deception and to construct a new way of regulating lawyers and holding them to account for deficiencies and neglect. Many lawyers will not accept this interpretation either because of self-interest or to avoid facing the uncomfortable …