Lincoln's Legacy as a Lawyer Is Remembered on His 200th Birthday
Although best-remembered as a U.S. president at a time of national turmoil, Abraham Lincoln was also a skilled trial lawyer who at one point argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Today, on the 200th anniversary of his birth, his advice and approach to practice are still timely, reports the Southeast Texas Record.
Particularly known for his honesty, conciliatory spirit and speaking ability, Lincoln was not one to pursue litigation lightly or overcharge.
“Discourage litigation,” he writes in “Notes For a Law Lecture,” the article recounts. “Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser; in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peace-maker, the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.”
Among other recommended reading on Lincoln, the article suggests the ABA Journal’s February cover story, “Abraham Lincoln, Esq.”
