Declining collegiality.

• Author: Hollander, Howard J.
• Position: Letters - Letter to the editor

I just had the privilege to read the President's Page ("Blessed Are the Peacemakers," December 2007) written by Florida Bar President Frank Angones. It was like a breath of fresh air.

Over the course of 42 years of practicing law, I have noticed a startling decline in both collegiality and professionalism in how lawyers treat each other. I believe that the growth of The Florida Bar has something to do with it. Nevertheless, that is not the complete answer.

The fact is that too many of our practitioners have a "win at any cost mentality." Often, they substitute themselves for their clients and become emotionally involved in both the process and outcome of litigation. Clients watch their attorneys act unprofessionally and assume that this is acceptable conduct. Hence, everything...