This post and some next following posts of the LegalTrek series are about Clarence Darrow and his biography.
LegalTrek
Life is Full of Surprises।। How I Became A Lawyer।। Allahabad High Court Is Born।। Lucknow Bench - Historical Necessity।। Introduction to Setalvad।। Benches and The Law Commission।। Court of Appeal – Not A Good Idea: Some Suggestions।। Courtroom - Finest Legal Biography।। Leibowitz - The First Case।। Art of Cross Examination।। The Man on the Cigarette Packet।। Scottsboro Boys' Case - Facts।। Scottsboro Boys case - First Round Supreme Court।। Prejudice - the Womb Of Injustice।। Books - Best Cure For Mental Illness।। Clarence Darrow for the Defense।।
Life is Full of Surprises।। How I Became A Lawyer।। Allahabad High Court Is Born।। Lucknow Bench - Historical Necessity।। Introduction to Setalvad।। Benches and The Law Commission।। Court of Appeal – Not A Good Idea: Some Suggestions।। Courtroom - Finest Legal Biography।। Leibowitz - The First Case।। Art of Cross Examination।। The Man on the Cigarette Packet।। Scottsboro Boys' Case - Facts।। Scottsboro Boys case - First Round Supreme Court।। Prejudice - the Womb Of Injustice।। Books - Best Cure For Mental Illness।। Clarence Darrow for the Defense।।
Clarence Darrow was born on 18th April, 1857, about half a century before Leibowitz, about whom some posts have already been published. Darrow was most famous lawyer of his time and his life is excellently documented by Irving Stone in the book 'Clarence Darrow for the Defense'. It should be read by everyone, who aspires to become a lawyer.
Darrow was intellectual liberal, whose sympathies lay with the underdogs - poor, labourers, African Americans. He also taught at Illinois college of Law. Once his student asked him if it was possible to be financially successful lawyer, without resorting to sharp tactics, or taking advantage of technicality of law, or injuring the other fellow.
'No', answered Darrow, without any hesitation.
The student said then how come Darrow was successful and earned great deal of money, if he was not crooked.
Darrow explained that it is said that he was successful lawyer but he was not financially successful. His clients were not rich; they were downtrodden.
When Darrow was old, he once debated to take up a case or not, as it involved lot of time and a lot of travelling expenses. He asked if the client had money to pay. He was told that the client had no money to pay.
'This settles the question', answered Darrow. 'I will take up the case.' He paid the money from his pocket.
One third to half of Darrow's professional efforts were devoted to the clients from whom he collected nothing. He devoted more time to widows and orphans than all lawyers in Chicago put together.
Darrow was liberal and known for his wit. He could marshal facts better than anyone else. He had phenomenal memory and summed up his cases from his memory, without referring to the notes. This made him one of the most famous American lawyer and civil libertarian.
In the next few posts, we will talk about some cases contested by him.
Irving Stone, Clarence Darrow, Clarence Darrow for the Defense,
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