Please Get Lawyers

Recently, I have been watching televised hearings in which attorneys have represented themselves. Big mistake. I wonder whether any of those attorneys realized they were losing while the hearing was occurring. The shocking lack of judgment that led to the decision to represent themselves would be consistent with someone who has difficulty perceiving how the panel would react to the a person (lawyer) acting as his own advocate at trial. They say a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. This is because the attorney advocating for you at trial must be able to maintain a facade of objectivity, make tough and even unpopular arguments, criticize the opposing side’s arguments, all without frustrating or angering the decision maker (judge, jury, hearing panel). There’s the rub. I watched attorney after attorney frustrate and anger the hearing panels, the very same people who would later decide their fate. Bad lawyering. Bad clienting. Lawyers….if you need a lawyer, please hire one.