Defaulting Solicitors

Progress, Volume X, Issue 4, 1 December 1914, Page 142

Defaulting Solicitors

The appearance in the criminal’s dock of several New Zealand solicitors during the past few months suggests that there must be something about an honourable profession calling for close scrutiny and prompt action. Lawyers must sorrowfully admit that their calling has depreciated in the eyes of the community as a result of revelations of dishonesty, muddlcment, and lack of business training which have come to light during criminal proceedings. Lawyers nowadays can be turned loose to practice on the public, full-fledged, loaded with academic qualifications, but sometimes lacking those more important essentials which grace their high profession. Mere academic cramming will not make a serviceable high-principled practitioner. He should have a thorough grounding in the methods of a good sound legal office, and should know more about business system than recent unfortunate happenings would suggest is at present the case. The public looks first to the legal profession itself for practicable methods of improving the present unsatisfactory position.