By David Ziemer
Dolan Media Newswires
Practicing law well is a lot like living a well-lived life.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
There is a time to file a lawsuit, and a time to settle, a time to send dunning letters, and a time to profit from those letters. A time to send men to the electric chair, and a time to forgive, a time to golf, and a time to put in 80-hour work weeks;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to get rid of lousy clients, and a time to market for new clients, a time to hit up old clients for new business, and a time to send other old clients out the door;
A time to bill, and a time to not bill, a time to demand another check, and a time to say ''We're cool'';
A time to appeal, and a time to pay damages, a time to object, and a time to claim plain error;
A time for litigation, and a time for peace.
There's really only one verse in Ecclesiastes 3 that doesn't fit: "A time to love, and a time to hate."
Seriously, what are you supposed to substitute for that? A time to represent your client zealously, and a time to steal from your client?
A time to represent your client zealously, and a time to sell him out for the benefit of another client?
A time to represent your client zealously, and a time to disclose his confidences?
No. None of those work.
There is never a legitimate excuse to steal from a client. Ergo, there is never a legitimate excuse to hate.
Yes, I know. This is poor logic. But it worked for Chief Justice Roberts in the Obamacare decision, so why should I be constrained by the strict rules of logic?
Furthermore, in contrast to the sick and evil result reached via the sophistry employed by the majority in that case, I've actually reached the right result here.
There is never a time for hate. Ever.
Entire contents copyrighted © 2012 by The Dolan Company
Published: Thu, Jul 26, 2012
