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Comment by alan_cx | Hacker News Reader

How is a lawyer not trust worthy? I have never seen a case where a lawyer screws over a client. Never understood this business of saying lawyers cannot be trusted.

If one means that a lawyer acting against one on behalf of another party cannot be trusted, well, of course. Such a lawyer is not acting for one. In that instance, one would instruct one's own lawyer, and that lawyer would be 100% trust-able.

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In my limited dealings with lawyers I have seen several instances where the lawyer appeared to be recommending a course of action that seemed geared towards extending their billings rather than serving their client's interests with a speedy resolution. This seems to be a common practice with a small but significant minority of lawyers.

No builders, doctors, dentists, or car mechanics then? Your point is a criticism that can apply to any profession. No reason to target lawyers.

I don't think anyone was suggesting that there are no crooks in other professions. I was responding to YOUR comment that you couldn't imagine a crooked lawyer. As to why lawyers are singled out it may be partly due to their unique position in society that allows them to harass and bully. For example http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/lawyer-threaten... or the recent case of Oatmeal vs dickhead lawyer.

> How is a lawyer not trust worthy? I have never seen a case where a lawyer screws over a client.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jul/18/jk-rowling-anger...

Not exactly a common occurrance admittedly, but amusing you say that given the drama over this the past week.

I know someone whose friend put drugs in his truck. The cops charged both of them with possession even though he wasn't even in the truck at the time. His public defender convinced him to plead guilty! His parole officer looked at his case and said, "How did you get convicted of this??"

Like the JKR case, neither of us know enough to comment. Least of all in this case the lawyers reasoning. We don't even know that the parole officer was correct. Its just an anecdote.

We all "know" iffy examples. Doesn't make it general fact. Unless of course we have some stats that show lawyers are generally more self serving than any other walk of life. Do we?

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