Attorneys

Becoming an attorney requires many hours studying law and many other general education requirements. However, one vital requirement for attorneys to be successful is that they follow a strict code of ethics. Although general ethics principles can be taught in a classroom, ethics are really something that grows with an individual and their personal experience. It is important that attorneys understand that basic ethical principles apply to everyone, not just in some cases, but in all cases. There are some attorneys that get into the field of law for the money and prestige. There are also some attorneys that study law so that they can help others. However, either individual must follow the strict code of ethics that come with being an attorney.

If a person becomes an attorney in order to make a lot of money, become partner and maybe eventually have their own practice, they are probably joining the field of law for the money and prestige. In order to become a successful attorney in this sense, many people will do whatever they have to do to get to the top. This will often include many long hours working on multiple, high profile cases and sacrificing time with family and friends. Unfortunately, this sometimes gives these attorneys a sense of entitlement and they make take liberties with peoples rights in order to get what they want most, success. There are many attorneys that are highly successful without ever compromising their ethics, but there are also many that sacrifice ethics for the their own personal greater good. Yet, the reality is that attorneys must not even sacrifice ethics for their clients greater good. The reason for violating ethics is never important, it is only that they were violated that is of importance.

For example, an attorney can not pay a witness to say what he wants the jury to hear in order to clear their client. Imagine a lawyer pulling a person of the street and paying the $5000 to say that they were with his client on the night the crime was committed. This is quite obviously unethical. However, there are also shades of grey in ethics that are not so obvious. Look at the attorney that gets into law to help people. Would this attorney be able to steal money from a bank in order to fund his defense for an innocent client? Of course not. However, what if that attorney overcharged another wealthy client in order to fund the defense of a poor, innocent client. In either case, the attorney has violated ethics in the same way, regardless of the circumstances.

Becoming an attorney is considered a prestigious career. However, being an attorney is also a great responsibility. Attorneys greatest responsibility is to the law and they must not violate any ethical principles to defend or prosecute the law. Circumstances can not determine whether one follows ethical principles. Just as law is law, ethics are firm and fixed.