TOO MANY LAWYERS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 288, 5 December 1932, Page 5

TOO MANY LAWYERS?

A JUDGE'S OPINION.

DIVERGENT LEGAL VIEWS,

Speaking in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, Mr. Justice Reed said that unless boys were particularly smart tliey ehould not be put to the legal profession, but to some other occupation. There were far too many lawyers now, eaid his Honor, and it was foolish to train a boy for the law if he was not specially smart.

When the matter was mentioned to one of the leading practitioners in Auckland, he said hie Honor's remarks applied to every walk in life, but to use the old saying, "There was always room at the top." If a youth had ability, was honest and conducted himself properly, he would go far in any profession. It was true that too many youths had entered the legal profession during- the past few years. Many had put their "shingles" up when they should be continuing to learn the ground work of their profession in an office where work was insisted upon.

Another legal practitioner expressed another view. "It is the greatest profession on earth for a boy with a quick brain and a. lofrical mind," he said, so why should we discourage recruits? They must first learn discipline, for without self-discipline who can honestly take control of another person's affairs? yon will notice that the honest ones go faT, given equal ability with the others. Good times will come again and there is still room for men of ability in our profession."