4 ms·

I find it curious that so many people HATE lawyers, until they need one. The state has virtually unlimited resources and a legal monopoly on the use of force t

I find it curious that so many people HATE lawyers, until they need one. The state has virtually unlimited resources and a legal monopoly on the use of force to compel obedience. That's far more terrifying than the ability of some lawyers to spin events in a favorable light.

Karunamon 12y ago
Because when it comes down to it, lawyers (as a profession) are responsible for getting this garbage into the legal code in the first place. It would be like me writing a business-critical app in INTERCAL or Brainfuck simply out of job security by obscurity, except instead of just me, imagine this was a commonly accepted practice for programmers, and you had to go to a very expensive school to become a programmer in this hypothetical world.
- rayiner 12y ago
  What people are upset about, harsh sentences and lack of judicial discretion in sentencing, were introduced on the back of public concern over criminals being let go on "technicalities" or judges giving lenient sentences based on "sob stories."[1] But those changes reduce how much good lawyering can help a defendant, and thus reduce the value of criminal defense lawyers. [1] It's really interesting to watch 80's dramas like "Star Chamber" to see these concerns aired out.
- rrmm 12y ago
  As much as programmers are responsible for making computers as impenetrable as possible for normal folks to understand. And let's not even get started with the mathematicians. We all know that when stuff gets down to the details, things get complicated, edge cases multiply, and language turns into jargon. Law is no different.
  - SilasX 12y ago
    >As much as programmers are responsible for making computers as impenetrable as possible for normal folks to understand Programmers have made computers significantly easier to use, for more purposes, including programming them, over time. Lawyers have done the reverse. This comparison is not favorable to them.
Pxtl 12y ago
> I find it curious that so many people HATE lawyers, until they need one. I'm pretty sure they hate them after they need them too.
SilasX 12y ago
>I find it curious that so many people HATE lawyers, until they need one. Just like how people hate their captors until they want to know where the keys are.

Karunamon 12y ago

Because when it comes down to it, lawyers (as a profession) are responsible for getting this garbage into the legal code in the first place. It would be like me writing a business-critical app in INTERCAL or Brainfuck simply out of job security by obscurity, except instead of just me, imagine this was a commonly accepted practice for programmers, and you had to go to a very expensive school to become a programmer in this hypothetical world.

rayiner 12y ago
What people are upset about, harsh sentences and lack of judicial discretion in sentencing, were introduced on the back of public concern over criminals being let go on "technicalities" or judges giving lenient sentences based on "sob stories."[1] But those changes reduce how much good lawyering can help a defendant, and thus reduce the value of criminal defense lawyers. [1] It's really interesting to watch 80's dramas like "Star Chamber" to see these concerns aired out.
rrmm 12y ago
As much as programmers are responsible for making computers as impenetrable as possible for normal folks to understand. And let's not even get started with the mathematicians. We all know that when stuff gets down to the details, things get complicated, edge cases multiply, and language turns into jargon. Law is no different.
- SilasX 12y ago
  >As much as programmers are responsible for making computers as impenetrable as possible for normal folks to understand Programmers have made computers significantly easier to use, for more purposes, including programming them, over time. Lawyers have done the reverse. This comparison is not favorable to them.

Pxtl 12y ago

> I find it curious that so many people HATE lawyers, until they need one. I'm pretty sure they hate them after they need them too.

SilasX 12y ago

>I find it curious that so many people HATE lawyers, until they need one. Just like how people hate their captors until they want to know where the keys are.