At his Notes from the (Legal) Underground, Evan Schaeffer asks: "Why Are Lawyers So Despised?" and suggests one possible answer:
If you ask me, over-the-top advertising has done far more harm to the public image of lawyers than the duty of zealous representation, especially in recent years.
Perhaps he has something like this in mind?
Update: On the subject of those potentially liable -- and in a position to pay -- for injury and death in the Glendale Metrolink crashes, see also Ted Frank's reports at Overlawyered.
But where is the line between unprofessional begging for business and informing potential plaintiffs of their rights and telling them that you are an experienced person with knowledge of what has happened to them?
Personal injury lawyers make their money out of human misery. There is no way around it. Family lawyers make their money out of human misery. Its just the way it is, I dont see it is unprofessional to be explicit about it. No one wants people to get divorced or injured, but if they do then the person might need assistance.
Whats the difference between a lawyer saying 'if you are injured come and see me' and a crash repairer saying 'if your car was damaged in that recent hail storm, I can fix it' or Weightwatchers saying 'if you are fat, we can help you'. Problem and solution . .
Posted by: ctd | February 01, 2005 at 05:18 PM