Back before lawyers were the punch lines of bad jokes, being a lawyer meant something. The law was used for social progress and cultural growth.
At some point, in such a capitalistic culture, the importance of social values have been replaced by the importance of the almighty dollar.
Sadly, no more so is that the case than in the legal community. The legal oaths with which lawyers are all sworn to become nothing more than punch lines in actual practice. Anyone who does not become coerced to the conformity of which we have now become conditioned is shunned as an outsider.
Bill your hours. Make partner. Align yourself with the right people politically. Pay to play. Conform. Fall in line. Protect the police. Protect the system.
That is my perception as to where the legal system is, based on six years as a District Attorney and one year in private practice.
I am starting my own practice as a social experiment of some sort, as well as a challenge. Can one use the law not to trudge along with the system, but to challenge it, and, in some cases, destroy and obliterate the routine injustices that take place in the system? Can the law still be used for a more noble calling? Can the law still be a vehicle to advance social change?
Yes, these questions sounds somewhat lofty and grandiose in nature. So be it. They are sincere in their quest to create a different model that goes against the grain, and goes against the system with which more and more of the population is recognizing as being broken.
