I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO

THE MEMORY OF

RICHARD DUDLEY HUBBARD, LL.D. GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT

Who gave me an early opportunity to serve my state as a member of the Commission to devise a plan for

Simplifying Civil Procedure

II

ATTRACTIONS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION

1. The Majesty of the Law, and the Lawyer

as Its Minister

2. The Cultivation of the Mind and Heart

Incident to the Legal Profession

3. The Opportunities of the Lawyer for Pub-

lic Service and Social Advancement.

4. The Opportunities of the Lawyer for Mak-

ing Money .

5

5

12

30

42

5. The Spirit of Brotherhood in the Bar

6. The Variety of Legal Business .

71

FESSION

1. The Charge that It Leads to Dishonesty

and Defense of Guilt.

2. The Tendency of the Legal Profession to

Foster a Spirit of Roughness and An-

tagonism

3. The Charge that Legal Procedure Is Anti-
quated and Unfair

IV THE PERSONAL QUALITIES REQUISITE FOR SUCCESS

IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION

V THE EDUCATION REQUISITE FOR SUCCESS IN THE

LEGAL PROFESSION

THE YOUNG MAN AND

THE LAW

CHAPTER I

FOREWORD

Choosing the profession that suits one's tastes. Roger Minott Sherman's comparison of the law and the ministry. Field of law constantly enlarging. The object of this book, and its order of arrangement.

THE choice of any vocation, for entering which a long period of careful preparation is requisite, is generally irrevocable. The law is a profession of that character. It ought not to be adopted, therefore, without full consideration. Personal preferences and disposition should be given full weight. That is done best which is done gladly and with feelings of pleasure in the doing. For one to follow a calling which is distasteful, because unsuited to his powers and inclination, is to court failure from the start.

Many years ago a theological student at Yale found himself with misgivings as to whether he had been wise in choosing the ministry for his profession. He had some leaning to the law, and wrote to Roger Minott Sherman, one of the leaders of the New England bar,