Sullied by the Practice of Law

It rested on the credenza of his corner office looking battered and well-used, not unlike the lawyer behind the desk. “My daddy carried that to court for 20 years, and gave it to me when he finally retired. I carried it for 30 more, and had it repaired three times.” He pointed to nearly imperceptible resewing of two seams and a replaced handle. “To me, that briefcase represents the practice of law, the tradition and professionalism that called me to the bar. Today, these lawyers carry messenger bags and backpacks that they toss out every few years—just like they toss out our traditions and professionalism.”

Originally published January 31, 2012 0 0