What happened? Some say that pop culture and the media’s portrayal of lawyers (think Carlito’s Way, The Devil’s Advocate, and The Firm) has dampened public opinion, and certainly there are bad apples who fuel negative stereotypes; moreover, some dismiss the State Bar’s disciplinary practices as woefully inadequate. Others point out the sad reality that most people associate lawyers with some of the worst times in their lives – divorces, personal injuries, and probating a loved one’s will, for example.
Another reason for lawyers’ bum rep stems from the fact that criminal cases – despite being a slight minority of lawsuits overall – are made much more public than civil ones. Furthermore, people tend to distrust lawyers because their profession sometimes calls on them to defend the “worst of the worst.” Finally, even when people have a good experience with a lawyer, many see that experience as unusual and cling to the more global negative perception of lawyers.
One way to address negative perceptions as well as legitimate concerns surrounding the legal profession is to start early – by training students in Christian law schools or offering additional ethics classes at traditional law schools. At the other end of the timeline, solutions include privatizing professional liability boards and forcing wayward lawyers to pay for the costs of their own prosecution.
While religious-based education may not be for everyone and reformed disciplinary measures may come too late, I’m hopeful that as truthful information about lawyers becomes more accessible to the general public, and prospective clients are given the proper background information to choose a lawyer wisely, we can dispel some persistent myths. In the meantime, I hope studios start producing more movies like The Rainmaker or Erin Brockovich . . .