Suing the sick

[BoSoxGal]

Except he wasn't going to have the settlement reviewed; Scoot had suggested that, and in response he is assuming that 'these 'people'' will charge him for just walking in the door.

There are overly negative biases toward attorneys being displayed in this thread, reflecting not uncommon mis-perceptions, but given the history the biased folks have interacting with the contingent of attorneys here (5 or 6 from the US, one from Canada), it seems a bit insulting - at least to me.

I can't recall how many times we've had this conversation (or some variation of it) here and prior at CSB, but it seems like a broken record - "Lawyers are greedy bastards" v. "No, actually, they function to protect individual rights in a society ruled by law"; ad infinitum.

It's almost like some of you can't stand the thought of lawyers, except the ones with whom you are friendly here (or perhaps elsewhere in your lives).

Those of us lawyers you do like, however, would probably all tell you that while there are some bad apples in our profession, most of our colleagues are decent people who believe in their work and are dedicated to law and practice it ethically.

Strange that we all hail from nations prideful of being ruled by law, but those who make that rule of law possible by functioning as the protectors of it are subject to so much antipathy. I am speaking largely in general terms, of course, but this thread is illustrative of the kind of attitudes those of us who practice are repeatedly met with in the course of our professional lives.

[Lord Jim]

Yeah, I know...

The only lawyers deserving of criticism are the ones that dare to work for a Republican Administration...

The rest of them are all angels....

ETA:

Part of the problem BSG, is that when an attorney makes a silly blanket statement that can't possibly be backed up, (like the one of Sue's that I quoted earlier, where she said that she could "assure" everyone that a lawsuit would not have been filed in this case were the claim not valid...something she couldn't possibly know for a fact and also conveys the message that there's simply no such thing as an unjustified personal injury lawsuit...an obviously absurd position) they undermine their credibility and invite mockery.

That having been said, I have a lot of friends who are attorneys, and I would agree that as a profession they probably get more criticism than they deserve...

But part of the reason for this is because so many of them are so damn obnoxious....

[Sean]

Strop and Joe are absolutely spot on. Never would I disparage any members of the legal profession when I haven't had first hand experience of their work and ethics. I was referring of course to the PI lawyers which I have had the misfortune to have had contact with.

BSG & Scooter

The lawyers I am talking about only come into play when you have already had an offer from Workcover. Even if they can't get a cent more for you they will take a percentage of what you have already been offered without their help. They call it 'No Win, No Fee' but the fact that you receive anything whatsoever is classed as a win.

[Sean]

Except he wasn't going to have the settlement reviewed; Scoot had suggested that, and in response he is assuming that 'these 'people'' will charge him for just walking in the door.

No BSG, you are the one assuming. I would not have made those statements if I hadn't already checked it out...

[BoSoxGal]

Sorry Sean, I read only what you posted in this thread as you posted it, and it sounded like your initial post regarding your settlement indicated you had no intention to get an independent assessment - but that Scooter then suggested that you do. You never said you'd already looked into it until now. My apologies if I wasn't able to read between the lines of what you'd posted to see something you hadn't yet shared.

It is hard for me to believe that there is no attorney (solicitor, barrister) who would review your settlement offer without first locking you into sharing a piece of it.