POOR MAN'S LAWYER

Shannon News, 13 November 1925, Page 4

POOR MAN'S LAWYER

''Ve. v few people know what is meant by a poor man's lawyer," said Miss T-. A. Berthen. a woman solicitor lecturing in London on "Work as ft poor man's lawyer," before the mem. bers of the Soroptimist Club at their weekly luncheon held at the Criterion Restaurant.

"A poor man's lawyer." continued Miss Berthen, "is simply one who voluntarily investigates the cases of. and gives advice to poor people. He or she generally sits at a settlement, or at tome philanthropic institution at a definite time one evening in the week."

Miss Berthen explained that not In. frequently the poilce court Magis. Irate or the police court missionary sent people to a "poor man's lawyer," for advice., while there were others among the respectable poor who dreaded going into a court, and yet were simply baffled, not knowing what were their rights.. These people also visited the "poor man's .law. yer," maintaining that "even to know the worst was better than not to know where you were . "The trouble is," said Miss Berthen,, "that when cases really have to go to court very few settlements have any further ar_ rangements whereby such cases can be adequately dealt with. Every settlement which has a poor man's lawyer doing voluntary work, should ■attempt in some way to raise a fund in order to employ another lawyer who would deal properly with cases handed on to him. Otherwise It is rather analogous to medical diagnosis without any facilities for surgical treatment where necessary. Miss Berthen preceeded to describe the kind of questions with which a poor man's lawyer had to deal. "He has to deal with anything and everything," she said, "from 'what can I do because my neighbour objects to my little dog,, in which I find all my earthly comfort, whereas I object to my neighbour's pigeons 'whose noise imperils my health and well being?' to more serious questions, such as, "If a girl who was woundea by my son, when he was in drink and jeal. ous, should die, as seems most probable, is that counted as murder? If so, how can I insure his defence be. ing properly undertaken? I'd Sell everything I have to do it.' " Referring to the cases she received herself,, Miss Berthen said 60 to 65 per cent, dealt with matters of nous, ing and questions relating to the Rent Acts, while next in order of number came matrimonial troubles. "I may add," concluded Miss Berthen, "that if you are a poor man's lawyer, by the end 6f a week vou begin to congratulate yourself that you are not married."