position; but that this doubt became an
affirmative certainty before they were half through with it--they
_knew_ their client was right.

The answer to this is that any man can work himself into an
enthusiastic belief in almost anything if he goes upon the theory that
the thing is true, and gives all his energy and ability to proving
its truthfulness to others and to himself. This is peculiarly the case
with the most sincere and genuine men. I repeat, therefore, that upon
a point so vital, and about which there are such sharp differences of
opinion by equally good and wise men, it is better for you to incline
to the stricter view of legal ethics.

So if you believe your client to be in the wrong, frankly tell him so;
show him why; induce him to compromise and to settle, if he ought. If
he will not because he is obstinate, he will probably lose his case
anyhow, and of course blame his lawyer for the loss. So that if you do
not have that case you have lost nothing. On the other hand, you have
gained. The client will say: "If I had followed his advice I should
not have had the expense and humiliation of defeat."

In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the honest client will respect
you for your position. If the client persists in his course because he
is a scoundrel, then, doubly, you cannot afford to take his unjust
case. After a few years of such practise you will have acquired a
moral influence with court, jury, and people which will be, even from
a money point of view, the most valuable item in your equipment.
Public confidence is the young man's best asset. And you will be
surprised to find how little you will lose, in the way of fees, by
this course.

Of course there is a large class of cases in which the correct
application of the law is very doubtful, with lines of decisions on
both sides; as, for example, in cases of the distribution of funds of
an insolvent corporation, constitutional questions, and the relative
equities of conflicting interests. These are fair examples of
controversies where a lawyer may rightfully and righteously accept a
retainer upon any of half-a-dozen sides. But in the ordinary course of
practise perhaps it is better to stick to Horace Mann rather than to
Lord Brougham, and reject employment in a case you believe to be
wrong.

While the law is not a money-making profession, either in theory or
practise, the young lawyer should begin by charging every cent his
services are worth. It i