Literal meaning. What's the origin of the phrase 'A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client'? This proverb is based on the opinion, probably first expressed by a lawyer, that self-representation in court is likely to end badly.
The special about this concept is that it the proverb in question. It has been attributed to a judge, Oliver Wendell Holmes, who is stated to have said that âwho acts as oneâs own lawyer, has a fool for a client.â
Every Man his own Lawyer; or, a practical and popular exposition of the laws of England, etc. by James Shaw James Shaw has penned down this book as a guide for the common man to understand the English laws. They are very complicated and require hard work to understand properly.
A man (or woman) who is his (her) own lawyer has a fool for his client. A lawyer who represents himself (herself) has a client who is an even bigger fool.
There is the old adage in criminal trials that describes a person who represents himself at trial: "He has a fool for a client." Accordingly, attorneys maintain that they should handle all legal matters for their clients and that clients should not attempt to discharge legal matters on their own, no matter how simple.
Benjamin Franklin Quotes A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.
Pro se legal representation (/ËproĘ ËsiË/ or /ËproĘ ËseÉŞ/) comes from Latin pro se, meaning "for oneself" or "on behalf of themselves", which in modern law means to argue on one's own behalf in a legal proceeding as a defendant or plaintiff in civil cases or a defendant in criminal cases.
He has sharp words for the dishonest and unscrupulous members of the bar, calling them "fiends" and "knaves." He warns prospective lawyers, "if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer."
Benjamin Franklin's Famous QuotesâLove your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.â ... âHe that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.â ... âThere never was a good war or a bad peace.â ... âHe that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas.â ... âBetter slip with foot than tongue.âMore items...
The term "pro se" is Latin, meaning "for oneself" or "on behalf of oneself." It is a practice where individuals represent themselves in pending legal proceedings before administrative bodies or courts. Pro se representation is Constitutionally protected but frowned upon in most courts.
Definition: Acting on one's own behalf in court, without the assistance of a lawyer or other advocate.
Legal malpractice is a type of negligence in which a lawyer does harm to his or her client. Typically, this concerns lawyers acting in their own interests, lawyers breaching their contract with the client, and, one of the most common cases of legal malpractice, is when lawyers fail to act on time for clients.
A fee that the client pays upfront to an attorney before the attorney has begun work for the client.
One of Lincoln's greatest strengths as a lawyer was to take complex cases, parse out the key points, and simplify it in court. This and his talent for offering persuasive arguments while reading the mood of the jury was of great benefit to him during his law career.
The Addams Family: "They say a man who represents himself has a fool for a client. Well, with God as my witness, I am that fool!" Fielding Mellish does this in Bananas. His self-cross-examination is actually one of the less absurd scenes in this movie â except for the fact he's his own hostile witness.
Abraham Lincoln learned the law by borrowing books and training informally with practicing lawyers. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1836 and practiced law there for 25 years. Most of his work involved settling debts, contracts, business disputes, divorces, and some criminal cases.
Abraham Lincoln reportedly employed the following adage. Here are two versions: If you are your own lawyer you have a fool for a client. He who represents himself has a fool for a client.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID: A man who represents himself, has a fool for a client.
It is an old law adage, copied from the Italian proverb of Che sâinsegna, &c. that the man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client. If he undertakes, of choice, to become so in making his will, he seems to us to verify the proverb in the most obvious and striking instance. For the ill consequences of his ignorance fall upon those whom he loves best, and wishes to benefit most.
Before you act, itâs Prudence soberly to consider; for after Action you cannot recede without dishonour: Take the Advice of some Prudent Friend; for he who will be his own Counsellour, shall be sure to have a Fool for his Client.
A counselor is a person who gives counsel, i.e., an adviser. Alternatively, a counsellor is an attorney, especially one who pleads cases in court. The context suggests to QI that the first interpretation is the most likely.
Benjamin Franklin (Fredd Wayne): No, that might be unwise, Sir. The man who defends himself in court has a fool for a lawyer and a jackass for a client.
fantasy-comedy television series âBewitchedâ broadcast an episode titled âSamantha for the Defenseâ which included a character depicting Benjamin Franklin who had magically been transported from the past. 7 The Franklin character employed the adage, and another character credited the line to Abraham Lincoln: 8
This knowledge beyond the four corners of the law would largely escape the attorney practicing outside his area of specialty.
Because of the specialized nature of most of their practices , transactional attorneys often do not have the experience necessary to represent themselves in matters outside their specialty areas. For example, a securities attorney should probably not handle the legal documentation involved in the sale of his home.
Issues involving conflicts of interest can become especially acute when an attorney represents a business entity in which he is also an investor. Attorneys are routinely participants in investment partnerships, private businesses, banks, hospital districts and any number of commercial and not-for-profit businesses.
Judges typically keep the pro se defendant on a short leash during opening and closing arguments to prevent him from making factual statements without swearing to tell the truth first.
Practicing attorneys in a field, beyond the technical nuts and bolts of practicing law, develop expertise as to the customary and appropriate terms for a matter in a given instance, that is, what the particular market will allow.
There is the old adage in civil or criminal trials that describes a person who represents himself at trial: âHe has a fool for a client.â
Early in the 20th century, trial lawyers were capable of handling all litigation matters, whether they be criminal or civil. Many of the members of the Bar were sole practitioners in small law practices who handled all legal matters, from wills to criminal proceedings.
A man (or woman) who is his (her) own lawyer has a fool for his client.
The first addresses a principle in American law that allows an individual to represent himself or herself in most judicial proceedings, such as criminal or civil trials . This is called acting pro se, whcih is Latin meaning for oneself.
A lawyer may have the arrogant view that she or he knows the law and is an excellent advocate. Right or wrong in that analysis, as an involved party, the lawyer is unlikely to be as objective about the case as an independent counsel. That involvement, almost always emotionally charged, may distort the handling of the case, usually to the lawyer's detriment. Judges will often insist on shadow counsel even when the pro se defendant is a lawyer.
Because of this, many judges, especially in criminal cases, will require that the person representing himself or herself have a shadow counsel available to assist. The shadow counsel does not lead in the arguments or examinations, but is on call as will try to guide the pro se defendant or party informally.
This is tough stuff. You would be foolish if you try to represent yourself .
However, it is also possible for a person to represent themselves, i.e. to be their own lawyer (and therefore, their own client). The adage a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client means that representing yourself in court is foolish.
However, in the event that some further action is necessary, then the smartest decision a person can make is to allow an experienced trained professional to assist them in the resolution of the matter ; especially when the entire âweight" of the legal system is brought into play.
In many cases, because of the issues and often the âtwists", or even simply because the extent of the damages and the possible exposure of the insurance company, the filing of a lawsuit will be required! In fact, statistics show that if a case potentially involves a settlement in excess of $100,000.00; that litigation will more likely than not be required! Simply, because any case with that amount of exposure will cause ALL parties (including the insurance company) to exercise as much âdue diligence" as possible to determine whether the claim has merit.
Plus, the best means of performing âdue diligence" regarding any claim is through the process of litigation. Why? Because, the process of litigation allows for: (1) The âdiscovery" of all relevant documents; (2) The taking of âdepositions" of parties and witnesses under penalty of perjury; (3) The filing of Court âMotions"; and MOST IMPORTANT, (4) The various legal âstrategies" and legal âtheories" that the opposing parties attorneys will use to best develop THEIR defense. ALL for the dual purposes of determining BOTH the âtrue value" of your case, as well as how to REDUCE the amount of exposure (i.e.: the amount of money) that the opposing side will need to pay you to end the litigation.
All professionals, including but not limited to attorneys, physicians, accountants, dentists, but also âspecialists" of all areas - all have one key factor in common: Years of education and Training! Training and education that if used in an âobjective" and âmeaningful" way, can and often does make the difference between winning and losing, and in extreme cases â âfinancial" demise, and loss of âfreedom and liberty".
Next, when a âpersonally vested" emotional state is combined with all the complexities and nuances that every single legal matter involves, the answer becomes obvious: âHe [and even a lawyer] who represents himself [TRULY] has a fool of a client!
President Lincoln was also an attorney, and yet â he felt compelled to make that statement? Why? Speaking from the perspective of an attorney that has been practicing law for over 20 years, the answer to me is actually as much âpsychological" as it is âpractical". In fact, as much of my practice consists of representing attorneys and other professionals in criminal matters, civil litigation, bankruptcy proceedings, and sales of structured settlements, and annuities, I have had the âunique" opportunity to see first-hand â just how true that statement actually is!
A. Because personal injury claims are generally handled on a âcontingency basis"; the ONLY attorney fees charged will come from the FINAL settlement of the claim. Although, âcosts" on occasion may be required (particularly if litigation is necessary); most experienced attorneys will ALSO ADVANCE those costs on your behalf at no interest as well.
Here are some versions of a pertinent adage: He who treats himself has a fool for a patient. A physician who treats himself has a fool for a patient. The person who is his own doctor has a simpleton for a patient.
It has been said that he who is his own lawyer, is sure to have a fool for his client; and that he who is his own physician is equally sure to have a fool for his patient.
1950 Copyright, Sir William Osler Aphorisms From His Bedside Teachings And Writings, Collected by Robert Bennett Bean M.D., Edited by William Bennett Bean M.D., Section: The Medical Student and The Student Practitioner, Quote Page 49, Henry Schuman Inc., New York. (Verified with scans)
1781, Some Observations on the Origin and Progress of the Atrabilious Constitution and Gout, Chapter V: Containing the irregular and complicated gout by William Grant M.D., Quote Page 6, Printed for T. Cadell, London. (Google Books Full View) link
In 1872 a character in a serialized story by William J. Flagg in âHarperâs New Monthly Magazineâ contended that doing housework for oneself was desirable: 6
Besides, it is a well-known fact, that he who prescribes for himself has, generally, a fool for his patient; a man cannot be his own physician; disease, and anxiety, and doubt, and fear so enfeeble his mind and cloud his judgment, that he cannot prescribe, with any tolerable hope of success, for a disorder under which he himself labours.
Generally there are two reasons: (1) you feel like you know the facts of your case better than anyone else, including the lawyer that you hired; or (2) you say you canât afford a lawyer. Okay, there may be a third reason, tooâ youâre insane. If youâre in the first category (or the third), thereâs not much I could say thatâs likely ...
Because of the myriad legal concepts and doctrines that are constantly at play during every trial âwith which non-lawyers are not intimately familiarâin most circumstances, a layperson wonât know when a particular fact, even a very small one, could have a crucial impact on the outcome of the entire case. Sponsored.
If youâre in the first category (or the third), thereâs not much I could say thatâs likely to change your mind. For one reason, itâs usually true that you know the facts of your case better than your lawyer. You should. You were there. But thatâs why lawyers are lawyers, and theyâre not allowed to be witnesses ...
Rule No.1: If the party on the other side has a lawyer, then you should have a lawyer as well.