· And they fondly quote President Abraham Lincoln, who said: “He who serves as his own counsel has a fool for a lawyer and a jackass for a client”. In conclusion, a partial match appeared in 1682, but it probably was not specifically about lawyers.
As with many proverbs, it is difficult to determine a precise origin but this expression first began appearing in print in the early 19th century. An early example comes in The flowers of wit, or a choice collection of bon mots, by Henry Kett, 1814: ...observed the eminent lawyer, "I hesitate not to pronounce, that every man who is his own lawyer, has a fool for a client.
 · Abraham Lincoln Had It Right - “He who represents himself has a fool for a client” Business contracts Types of personal injuries Car Accidents Show 2 more WHY EVEN LAWYERS HIRE OTHER LAWYERS TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS IN LEGAL MATTERS President Lincoln was also an attorney, and yet – he felt compelled to make that statement? Why?
 · Even If You Are the Elected District Attorney. By Mark T. Morodomi. When you took your first bar review prep course you probably heard the adage, “The man who represents himself has a fool for a client.”. The internet tries to attribute the quote, like many other profundities, to Abraham Lincoln, but some sources credit it years earlier to English clergyman Henry Kett.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID: A man who represents himself, has a fool for a client.
Benjamin Franklin Quotes A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.
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.
The lawyer should inform the client that if he does testify falsely, the lawyer will have no choice but to withdraw from the matter and to inform the court of the client's misconduct.
“A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.” - Feher Law.
Meanings of “A Man Who Is His Own Lawyer Has A Fool for a Client” This is an English proverb, which means if the person has not studied law and is trying to defend himself is foolish.
Is it a foolish thing to do to go all out and represent yourself before a court of law? Lawyers have a saying that a man representing himself in court has both a fool as a client and a fool as a lawyer. And they're partly right. But the same could be said, however, for a client who hires a fool of a lawyer.
When representing yourself in court, there's a risk that you may become defensive, angry and upset when the charges or evidence are presented to the court. Your every word, action and expression will be scrutinised in the courtroom and your response could influence the judge or jury's decision in a negative way.
It is always best to consult with a lawyer before filing a lawsuit to make sure that the case is one you can bring with some chance of success. Most local bar associations have lawyer referral and information services that can provide you with a limited consultation with a lawyer for a small fee.
In California, the Rules of Professional Conduct govern a lawyer's ethical duties. The law prohibits lawyers from engaging in dishonesty. Cal.
Lawyers have a fiduciary obligation to their clients and must be honest and candid with the client and act in good faith to advance their client's best interests. Similar to the relationship between doctors and patients, lawyers have a duty of confidentiality towards their clients.
If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.
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: “He has a fool for a client.”
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.
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 “weight" of the legal system is brought into play.
In many cases, because of the issues and often the “twists", 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 “due diligence" as possible to determine whether the claim has merit.
All professionals, including but not limited to attorneys, physicians, accountants, dentists, but also “specialists" of all areas - all have one key factor in common: Years of education and Training! Training and education that if used in an “objective" and “meaningful" way, can and often does make the difference between winning and losing, and in extreme cases – “financial" demise, and loss of “freedom and liberty".
Next, when a “personally vested" emotional state is combined with all the complexities and nuances that every single legal matter involves, the answer becomes obvious: “He [and even a lawyer] who represents himself [TRULY] has a fool of a client!
President Lincoln was also an attorney, and yet – 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 “psychological" as it is “practical". 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 “unique" opportunity to see first-hand – just how true that statement actually is!
A. Because personal injury claims are generally handled on a “contingency basis"; the ONLY attorney fees charged will come from the FINAL settlement of the claim. Although, “costs" 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.
When you took your first bar review prep course you probably heard the adage, “The man who represents himself has a fool for a client.” The internet tries to attribute the quote, like many other profundities, to Abraham Lincoln, but some sources credit it years earlier to English clergyman Henry Kett. Regardless who said it or who said it first, the wisdom of the adage are at least two. First, an individual, even if he or she is a trained lawyer, may not have the expertise in the particular area of law at issue, even though many of us think we are smart enough to figure anything out. (We lawyers are sometimes too smart for our own good.) More precarious is that someone who represents him or herself is likely to lack the ability to see both sides of a case. As lawyers, we all know how difficult it is to convince a head strong client from doing something stupid.
More precarious is that someone who represents him or herself is likely to lack the ability to see both sides of a case. As lawyers, we all know how difficult it is to convince a head strong client from doing something stupid. Of course, many people can’t afford to hire a lawyer – but that’s a different thing.
Mark Peterson, the disgraced and convicted Contra Costa County District Attorney, found out the hard way. Just last month, Peterson pled no contest to a single count of felony perjury and resigned from office. Peterson didn’t represent himself in his own criminal case. But he did represent himself in what seven years earlier he probably considered ...
But he did represent himself in what seven years earlier he probably considered a crumb of a matter: he acted as his own political campaign’s treasurer. Peterson was no novice politician. He had been a Concord City Councilman before he ran for district attorney in 2010.