Introduction
Lawyers must not banish their evil side, but must look for ways of reconciling it with the good within them. Failure to do so may result in deep public hostility towards the profession. Jekyll v Hyde Esq. was indicative of humanity’s inner conflict of good and evil. Humans have a dual nature that represents both good and evil. However, if they do not accept these tensions, then the evil nature may become too powerful to control. Lawyers possess a Jekyll and Hyde quality about them. On one end of the spectrum, they provide a much needed social service that is designed to enhance liberal values, promote justice and protect the innocent. On the other hand, lawyers are sometimes regarded as communication corruptors, strife fomenters, and even economic predators. Unless these professionals can reconcile both sides, then hostility towards them will continue to increase.
Lawyers as demons
Lawyers have been regarded as communication corruptors. They sometimes take ordinary facts and complicate them. A number of them will make black and white facts appear multifaceted, and will mystify issues through legal jargon. The result is decadent disorder in the courts. Lawyers act as demons when they behave as strife fomenters. These are people who perpetuate strife or conflict through self interest rather cooperation. For instance, a vast number of tort laws arise from pursuance of self interest. After listening to their lawyer’s advice, patients will sue doctors to promote their monetary interests. However, this advances defensive medicine; doctors perform unnecessary surgery or medical procedures to protect themselves.
Lawyers may also be viewed as economic predators. They often charge their clients exorbitant fees for their services. Alternatively, one can question the very notion of charging clients for some common rights cases. These professionals will mystify legal rights to manipulate them to their advantage. The government passed Intellectual property laws to protect creative individuals; however lawyers have manipulated these laws to support cartels in the software and technology industries. Personal injury litigations and class action lawyers are quite wealthy legal professionals because of rechanneling funds meant for injured plaintiffs.
Lawyers as saints
These professionals may act as saints when they enhance liberal values. In principle, Tort and product liability lawyers are inherently good; they allow victimized consumers and employees to take on big corporations. This means that lawyers can protect the rights of such individuals.
They are also protectors of the innocent. In this regard, they act as change agents. When bills that protect the rights of others are passed, it is the compelling testimonies given in courts of law that create them. Lawyers usually organize these testimonies and affect their outcomes. Lawyers promote justice by providing a platform for defending those who may have been wrongfully accused. They also assist jurors and judges in coming to the right conclusion about conflicting parties.
Conclusion
In conclusion, lawyers have a dual nature of being both saints and demons. Excessive manipulation of the good aspects of the profession has resulted in demonization. Lawyers have turned around services that were created to promote justice. For good to triumph over evil, these professionals must reconcile those tensions. They need to avoid excesses, or manipulation.