Executive Director's Report
| Publication year | 2010 |
| Pages | 0013 |
| Citation | Vol. 71 No. 1 Pg. 0013 |
The Image of the Legal Profession and the Weather
What in the world does the image of the legal profession have to do with the weather? Very little except when it comes to complaints. Like those who complain about the weather and the fact that no one can do a thing about it, I often hear lawyers complain about the image of the profession and that no one is doing anything about it. For many years, the Alabama State Bar has done much to publicize the many positive things that the legal profession does—including pro bono work, "Wills for Heroes," the Advance Directive for Health Care and many other worthy examples. Through our 12-year partnership with the Alabama Broadcasters' Association, we have received nearly $10,000,000 in TV and radio time statewide to let Alabamians know of the tremendous public service which the legal profession renders. Yet, with all lawyers do in the public interest, we never seem to get much traction in raising the profession's image.
One can certainly attribute the legal profession's low esteem to several factors, including the fact that lawyers work in an adversarial system, the complexity of the judicial system's rules and the exceedingly slow movement of cases or matters through the system which can be very frustrating to clients and parties alike. But, I believe the fault for our profession's image problem lies principally with us, especially when lawyers lambaste courts for rendering a decision that is not in their favor or denigrate opposing counsel. These actions are unnecessary and do nothing more than stain the image of the entire profession. Sadly, this conduct appears to be on the rise as the monetary and emotional stakes in cases increase.
In April 1992, the Alabama Board of Bar Commissioners adopted the Alabama State Bar Code of Professional Courtesy,1 and the Alabama State Bar Lawyer's Creed2 to guide all lawyers in their comportment and treatment of fellow lawyers and the judiciary. The Code has since been incorporated into the Alabama Pledge of Professionalism.3 Although aspirational, the Code and Creed are both bedrock tenets of professionalism. Among the Code's 19 precepts are the following four which are especially noteworthy with regard to a lawyer's relationship with opposing counsel and the court:
• A lawyer should maintain a cordial and respectful relationship with opposing counsel....
• A lawyer should never
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