Stop hating.

I understand why people hate lawyers. Maybe its the inferiority complex some people have, that when someone strides into a room wearing suit, shoes and a briefcase that would cost normal waged people their monthly salary.

Yes, I kid. Lawyers don't generally earn that much. There are a top few, but if you want money, be a businessman!

I'm talking about being a defence lawyer. And people who say things like "man, this should have never gotten to court, stupid lawyers defending that obviously guilty man, obviously only hungry for his money."

=_=

Here in NZ, if some dude comes to you and hires you to be their lawyer, there are only 4 exceptions to decline. Declining to act on the basis of your own morality is NOT an exception.

Ok, if let say...you were to kill someone in broad daylight, in the sight of 20 witnesses. Just because you hated him. Wouldn't you want to spend less time in prison, even though you were obviously wrong? That's where lawyers come in. Lawyers are the hired guns. You pay them to get you off. You pay them to exhaust every avenue, and you pay them for their mind. Not their morals. Would you like your lawyer to stand up in court and say "your Honour, on the basis of the evidence brought before me, I do believe my client is guilty" ?

Every person that is brought to court, can have their day in court. And that is fair. Stating this, I am not referring to the trial process, merely the idea that everyone should be able to state their side.

Its important that people make distinctions between the person on trial, and the lawyer acting on their behalf. The arguments the lawyer may come up with may be incredulous, implausible and bordering on stupid. Can you blame them when their client is so wrong that they have (almost) no case at all? Now whose fault is it that?

And if lawyers don't attempt to exhaust most/all potential avenues, they will be open to being sued for negligence.

-_-

And I, have great respect for defence lawyers. Just not the people that they defend, mind you.