From the Yld President
| Publication year | 2022 |
| Pages | 0010 |
RONALD EDWARD "RON" DANIELS
YLD President
State Bar of Georgia
ron@danielstaylorlaw.com
The Public Perception of Lawyers
Atticus Finch. Jack McCoy. Perry Mason. Ben Matlock. Elle Woods. Vincent Gambini. Saul Goodman. This isn't a random list of names, rather it is a list of fictional lawyers many people are familiar with. Regardless of their fictional nature, these lawyers often form the perception of what the public thinks of lawyers. We, as lawyers, often cite the movie or TV show in which they appear as our favorite legal films or television programs.
And while most of us are familiar with "To Kill a Mockingbird," "My Cousin Vinny" or "Legally Blonde," there are other movies which feature-somewhat prominently-lawyers or legal proceedings which play an integral role in the plot. While we may not all agree the films are "lawyer movies," we can all agree there are lessons to be learned from those films and the fictional lawyers.
"The Mighty Ducks" is most often remembered for igniting in many children a passion for hockey. It's not usually remembered as a legal thriller. But how did 'The Minnesota Miracle Man' Gordon Bombay come to coach a youth hockey team? The movie begins with Bombay as a highly successful defense attorney in Minneapolis. His success is matched only by his ego. In celebration of his 30th successful case, he goes out drinking, gets a DUI and winds up being ordered to serve 500 hours of community service by coaching a youth hockey team. Their funding being essentially non-existent, Bombay convinces his boss (Mr. Duck-worth) to sponsor the team and the team is renamed 'The Mighty Ducks.'
The movie's plot finds Bombay conflicted between choices which will result in him being fired or allowing another team to keep a player who should rightfully be on his team. He chooses principle over continued employment as a lawyer. In the end, the Ducks win the championship and Bombay goes off to try out for a minor league hockey team. Gordon Bombay the lawyer is successful, but also representative of the dangers of unchecked egos, substance abuse and lack of concern for others. Gordon Bombay the coach demonstrates the type of principle and selfishness he should have displayed as a lawyer. We learn from Coach Bombay the importance of protecting our integrity over improperly advancing our careers.
Another successful fictional lawyer...
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