The Lawyer Commandments
-
Study
Law is in constant transformation. If you do not follow its steps every day, every day you will be less a lawyer.
-
Think
Law is learnt by means of studying, but is exercised by means of thinking.
-
Work
Advocacy is an arduous fatigue to the service of justice.
-
Fight
You must fight for the law; but on the day when law and justice come into conflict, fight for justice.
-
Be loyal
Loyal to your client, whom you must not abandon until you learn he is unworthy of you. Loyal to your adversary, even when he is disloyal to you. Loyal to the judge, who ignores the facts and must trust your word.
-
Tolerate
Tolerate the other's truth as much as you want your truth to be tolerated.
-
Be patient
Time takes revenge on those things that are made without its collaboration.
-
Have faith
Have faith in law, as the best instrument for human beings to live together; in justice, as the normal destiny of law; in peace, as a good-natured substitute for justice; and above all, have faith in liberty, without which there is no law, nor justice, nor peace.
-
Forget
Advocacy is a fight amongst passions. If in every battle you filled your soul with rancor, a day will come when life will be impossible for you. Once combat is over, forget your victory as soon as your defeat.
-
Love your profession
Try to consider advocacy in such a way that, on the day your child asks your advice about their future, you consider it an honor to suggest they become a lawyer.