Saturday, October 20, 2007
How Do You Know?
Lawyers are different from other people. One of the distinctions between lawyers and other people is that lawyers always insist on not only knowing but also knowing how you know. Whether it is with respect to the law or the facts, a good lawyer will always insist on asking his colleagues no less than his adversaries: what is the basis for the argument or assertion; what is your precedent or your proof? This is a crucial aspect of legal practice. It can be do collegially, even politely; it must, however, be done.
