Much has been said and written about the role of the lawyer as a public servant. He is expected to be a leader in extra curricular activities. He is expected to be a student of world affairs, of politics and of government. He is considered obligated to be in the forefront in charitable, religious and philanthropic activities of his community.
But what about the lawyer as a lawyer? His bread and butter are derived from his clients, not from gratuitous public service. After all, his primary duties are to his clients. He performs these duties adequately only when he does them as well as it is possible to do them. Perhaps we are prone to forget this. To so function, he must know as much as he can know. He must not only know what the law is, but he must know best what to do with it.
