We have all heard that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. Many of us have had occasion to walk into a courtroom, be it in magistrate, state, or even superior court, only to find that the courtroom is packed with pro se parties waiting to have their matters adjudicated. Watching inexperienced people handle their legal matters can at times be entertaining and at other times extremely frustrating. We observe these parties fumbling with rules regarding cross-examination or the admission of evidence. It is almost always apparent that these people are uncomfortable, intimidated, and unaware of how much they do not know about prosecuting or defending a legal action. Out of necessity, desperation, or perhaps stubbornness, many people still choose to represent themselves in court.

As attorneys, we have one of the most difficult jobs to simply duck out for a spontaneous three-day weekend getaway. Notice that we aren’t even allowed to call it a vacation. Such time away from one’s legal practice is referred to as a “leave of absence,” which immediately has a negative connotation; a feeling of abandoning the courts, the clients, the job.

My mother was in town this week from Florida. Unlike my wife and me, my mother is drawn to opinion shows that run on news networks. Notice that I did not say news shows that run on opinion networks. I will try to compose my thoughts in this article without leaning towards the left or the right, if you will. It simply strikes me as strange that given how little time I have to myself these days, others with equally scarce time spend it listening nightly to the opinions that others have on political or social issues.

I know I am not the first to say it, but I don’t know where this year went. There are still so many books I intended to read this year that I have not yet had the time to read, so many tasks I intended to address around the house, and so many New Year’s Resolutions that I failed to pay any attention to whatsoever as of Jan. 2, 2010. Well, I suppose the year is not yet over.

Today, like many DeKalb Bar Association members, I observed a debate between Ken Hodges and Sam Olens, both of whom aspire to be the next Georgia Attorney General. Amidst the bickering over each candidate’s resume and job performance were the undertones of an intellectual disagreement as to whether or not the position of attorney general is better categorized as that of a prosecutor or a politician. Of all the important topics briefly touched upon by the two candidates during the brief and insightful debate, I found this schism regarding the most basic job description particularly compelling.