after communication with the lawyer of whom complaint is made."

Hoffman's Resolutions, Resolve 7:

"As a general rule, I will not allow myself to be engaged in a cause to the exclusion of, or even participation with, the counsel previously engaged, unless at his own special instance, in union with his client's wishes; and it must, indeed, be a strong case of gross neglect or of fatal inability in the counsel, that shall induce me to take the cause to myself."

§ 69. COMPETITION AMONG LAWYERS.

Competition in the business world is all very well, because it is established by immemorial custom and is necessary to the welfare of the community; but competition among brethren of the bar is unseemly and contrary to the established customs of the profession. The basis of the prohibition doubtless is that it would encourage litigation and stir up unnecessary strife in a community if competition were to render a lawyer's compensation greatly reduced in amount. Then, too, law is a dignified profession and it could not retain its dignity if practitioners were to offer their services as hucksters offer their wares at cut rates and bargain-day prices.

COMMERCIALISM AMONG LAWYERS

Complaint is sometimes heard among the older practitioners that too great a spirit of commercialism has grown up among lawyers; too many lawyers have departed from the traditions of the profession and have brought to their law practice the customs of the market-place.

Take for example Lawyer X, a bright, industrious, young man. His father being a successful business man, X was brought up in a commercial atmosphere. He was trained to the business by his father and has turned to the law only because his personal inclinations prompt him to be a lawyer. Since admission, he has applied the principle of competition, importuning anybody and everybody for business and offering to render services more reasonably than other lawyers. has not yet learned the true relation that the lawyer bears to the public. Doubtless he will learn it, and speedily, but his present example is contagious. He is honest and well liked socially, and other young lawyers will follow his example; if not for this reason, then because they are driven to it for self protection.

He

DUTY OF OLDER LAWYERS TO YOUNG PRACTITIONERS

There is an increasing number of young lawyers recruited from the ranks of the business world,

and it is the duty of older practitioners and of teachers of law to endeavor to impress upon them what the customs and traditions of the profession may be, that is, if these customs and traditions are to be preserved to future generations.

Candidates for the clergy are taught that there are certain worldly customs that they must lay aside upon entering the profession. The same attitude should perhaps be taken by the lawyers of the land. Those who are newly admitted to the bar should be admonished to lay aside any method of procuring business that militates against the dignity or honor of the profession of law.

§ 70. NOT TO DISPARAGE OTHER LAWYERS.

It is written in the Great Book to which all Christendom goes for ethical teaching: "Blessed is the man that backbiteth not with his tongue nor speaketh evil of his neighbor."

This applies to lawyers as well as to others of mankind. In this saying there is an implied reprobation of the man whose conduct is at variance with it. The man, lawyer or layman, who speaks evil of his neighbor cannot expect a blessing for so doing. He may justly expect that such conduct will be followed by unpopularity and by others speaking evil of him.

There is no vice more common than that of disparaging one's neighbor either through envy

or a foolish belief that to belittle the neighbor will magnify oneself in the opinion of present

company.

CAUSTIC COMMENTS HAVE BOOMERANG EFFECT

The lawyer should be broad-minded and wise if he expects to win enduring success. He must cast aside petty jealousies, and envyings, and speaking evil of his neighbor. The listener may wag an acid tongue, but he is quick to perceive the same fault in another and to condemn him for it. He will speedily form his judgment of the critic and pass on his impressions for the benefit of the multitude. Thus a reputation will go abroad that will do much to prevent a full measure of success.

Envy and jealousy are never felt against those who are less successful and less fortunate. Hence the deprecatory "He's all right, but," etc., indicates that the lawyer referred to has a better practice and a higher standing in the community than has his critic. Therefore, if a lawyer cannot speak well of another attorney, he had better by far maintain a discreet silence, or evade the issue by some commonplace remark.

CAUSTIC COMMENTS CAUSE EVIL RESULTS

The attorney criticized is also injured by caustic comments. The power of suggestion is very great.

All of us have had the experience of hearing a disparaging comment directed at an acquaintance, who had before that time inspired perfect confidence. "He is a time server," "He is tricky," "He stretches the truth," "He looks too hard at the dollar," "He's so conceited," and so on. Whatever the disparaging remark may be, we instantly refute it in our own minds, but presently it comes back to the memory, and the friend is watched to see if the fault described really exists.

Confirmatory evidence of anything that we are looking for in another is reasonably sure to be forthcoming in time. We would not notice it ordinarily, but when watching for it, the whole horizon is darkened by its appearance. The attorney is injured in one mind at least, and the chances are that it will not be kept a secret. Others will hear and conjecture and surmise until the attorney concerned is regarded, temporarily at least, with suspicion by a large number of people.

A thought that should constantly be borne in mind is that which is the basis of many of a lawyer's duties, whatever injures the profession should be avoided. Blackening the reputation of a fellow member of the bar becomes indirectly an injury to the profession of law, and hence should be shunned and avoided by every worthy practitioner.