Coxcersixc Sourcrtors. By One of Them. With a Preface by the Rt.
Hon. Augustine Birrell, KO. Chatto and Windus. 6s, net.
As Mr. Birrell reminds us, in his delightful Preface to this sagacious and gently-humorous little book, people ought to remember the maxim of Lerd Hannen that an honourable Solicitor is a family blessing." Yet in spite of the invaluable work done by solicitors, privately and in pul they are not popularly regarded as constituting one of the heroic professions. This is largely due, as Mr. Birrell suggests, to two facts: firstly, the dubious parts played in literature and the drama by persons described as '"'Attornoys"; and, secondly, the fog in the average man's mind as to the functions of a "Solicitor of the High Court," his duties and his responsibilities.
The remark of a Chairman of Committees of the House of Commons: "The two great evils of this country are taxes and attorneys," though uttered in 1954 before the Judicature Acts (circa 1875) became the dividing line between the old and the new legal world, still expresses a popular belief which also perpetuates itself in such stock epithets as "petty," "prowling." and "pettifogging." The public does not know that there have been, and still are, great Solicitors as well as great Barristers—men equally distinguished for their large ability, high sense of honour, and profound legal learning with any of the famous advocates who have lived in the full illumination of publicity. Mr. Birrell gives two! examples from the experience of his early days in the law—the late Mr. Bateson, of Liverpool, "who was able to nip more litigation in the bud than ever found its way into the Chambers of the most eminent and hardworker of Cou sel," and Sir John Hollams, who' "Jong occupied the same position in London, and on his own very varied lines was as distinguished and useful a lawyer, though perhaps_not so learned a jurisconsult, as Ronndell Palmer or George Tessel.""
Wise axp Witty.
It is to be hoped that this en-terraining book will have the effect of convincing the general public of the essential truth of Lord Hannea's compliment. The variety of a solicitor's work sounds interesting, but it involves rapid decisions. In passing it may be pointed out that a close student of the Peace Conference attributed Mr. Lloyd George's swift imperturbability in making decisions to the practice he had had as a small country solicitor, a legal maid-of-all-work, who might be required, at the urgent call of clients hanging on to a telephone, to sell a farm, settle a breach of promise, bury a client without relations, meet a blacxmailer in the gate, and stop an imprudent marriage, all in one morning's work.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.