Jeez louise, I find it impossible to believe all of you have the experience with attorneys you would need to support categorical condemnations like "lawyers are scum of the earth."
I am an attorney in public service (specifically, in the Air Force), and I can tell you all from experience that many, many lawyers are not unethical, dishonest, or immoral. Frankly I am confident that as individuals, physicians are every bit as egotistical and greedy as attorneys, but they do not bear nearly the same brunt of public dislike.
I believe the real reason people dislike attorneys is that it appears to the outsider to be a profession with a rather lax, elastic set of morals and ethics. Obviously lawyers are paid to advocate on behalf of their clients, and this may require them to zealously argue in favor of causes that vary wildly, and may seem repugnant to others in some instances.
In addition to chasing ambulances and freeing rapists (the stereotypical mental images of attorneys held by many laypeople), lawyers prosecute criminals, defend the innocent, and otherwise work to preserve the public peace. Unlike doctors, all lawyers are expected to perform pro bono work. We are not all bloodsuckers or amoral self-promoters. I for one was motivated to practice law by the example of my mother, who has been a judge for 17 years, and who is my role model for her humanity and interest in public service.
I love lawyer jokes as much as anyone, but I ask you to at least give a moment's thought before you criticize a profession without regard to its individual practitioners.
How many attorneys does it take to roof a house? It depends how thin you slice them.
A man enters a lawyer's office to enquire about his services.
"I am interested in hiring an attorney. How much do you charge?"
"I get $1000 to answer three questions," the lawyer replies.
"That's a lot," the man says. "Are you any good?"
"I'm the best. Now what's your third question?"
Did you hear about the terrorists who hijacked a 747 full of lawyers this morning? They are threatening to release one every hour until their demands are met.
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