The time I've spent in court this summer has been fantastic for picking up tools of the trade and filing them away in my brain for future reference. My file system is pretty simple: "things to do" and "things NOT to do." I could file this under the latter as "how NOT to treat clients." Instead I'll file it under the former and call it "love people."
I understand attorneys are extremely busy people. I also understand that seasoned defense attorneys are frequently lied to, forced to chase down clients who haven't made the effort to contact them, rarely shown appreciation, and weary from seeing clients back in court making the same mistakes time and again. That said, I have been tremendously disappointed with how little regard some attorneys have for their clients.
One of my primary goals in doing criminal defense work is to avoid becoming hardened and to love my clients--to be compassionate and patient, to look them in the eye and listen, to demonstrate to them that they matter. I hope to take each one as he comes, not to pile onto him the misdeeds of others. Most importantly, I will strive to see them as God sees them--as human beings created in His image.
I suspect that if I raised this issue with one of the attorneys, they would call me naive and idealistic, like a first-year teacher who thinks he will change the world. I will happily wear those badges, though, if I leave my clients feeling like someone believes they are worthy of respect. In my minimal interactions with clients thus far, I have felt an inexplicable love for them, and I will fight tooth and nail not to let cynicism creep in.
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