Why are lawyers so universally hated by the general public?
546846
Certain categories of the profession are looked down upon.  The ambulance chasers, the class action guys have given the profession a bad name.  The defense lawyers who defend obvious guilty people don't add much in favor to the profession, either.  A lawyer is either the bad guy who is trying to take something from you (prosecuting attorney trying to get you convicted, or your spouses divorce lawyer trying to take half of everything you own,  or the lawyer for  clumsy guy who tripped and fell in your store trying to sue you for $3,000,000.  \n\nOr if you're on the opposite side of the examples given above - he's your savior who is saving you from something (jail) or is helping get you something - that $3,000,000 dollars.
531301
Yes. It's called advocacy and is considered one of the most important skills law students learn in law school and their entire legal professions.\n\nWithout advocacy, there are no lawyers, and there is only judges with law. Where goes our legal system? It is based on the important principal that everyone deserves a fair trial and people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.\n\nA lawyer who does NOT do everything (legally) he can to help him client, regardless of guilt, is considered practicing bad lawyering and can actually be disbarred for it.
736983
Lawyers & Politicians ?
888769
Unfortunately, that can be true.  There are people who somehow think they deserve a "break" because they are famous.  Then of course there are those who are majorly tough and throw the book at them..to make an example as with Winona Ryder...frankly if they broke the law, they should be treated the same as everyone else.  Cops are usually decent (at least where I live) and if you are a decent person, they pick up on it, and often cut you a break if it is a minor offense such as a traffic ticket.  It all depends on the individual.  \n\nBut people can be corrupted, and for the most part, I think that celebrities DO get away with a lot more than they should..get treated better...get priority everywhere they go...it's a business after all and proprieters go for the attention so even if they trash a hotel or something...they suck it up and not say anything or risk losing other "valuable" celebrities as customers.\n\nWhere I think the system sucks is when they get to the courts, and their fancy lawyers play a song and dance and get them off...that is the REAL crime.  I will never forget the ugly people I worked with in government and how they reacted and jumped for joy (yes half were minorities) when OJ Simpson got off for murder...they jumped for JOY.  I hope they come back in another lifetime as victims who get their throats slashed so someone else can "jump for joy" when their likely murderer got off scot free.
875034
If you hate EVERYONE, perhaps the would be decent respondent detects your hostility and ergo, decides to ignore you, leaving only 'douchebags' (what a lovely turn of phrase, young ladies use today) to reply.\nPerhaps, if you asked a decent question with a point, then more people would give a valid response.
759805
The only thing you have as a lawyer is your reputation.
743096
Because if they're in the courtroom all the time, then they see only either lawyers or criminals.  So they just go for the lawyers.
798204
Right now, it's jealousy.  Yes, some people do actually hate other people because they differ on opionions.
1183100
I can't do you a percentage but it will probably be lower than you think. Most lawyers are doing bog-standard high-street , local government work etc. The high earners aren't that common but you find them in the top commercial/media/industry firms. Or in prestigious criminal firms.
834666
Lawyers spend about 70% of their daily activity reading. So, your premise is faulty to start.\n\nNext, less than a third of lawyers are primarily involved in litigation. Most do transactional work. So your examples of trial lawyers (litigators) is only partially applicable to the profession, in that you don't seem to be talking about private transactional attorneys, solo practitioners, corporate attorneys, public interest attorneys, or other very large segments of the profession.\n\nAs to your example, usually less than 20% of the litigator's time is spent in court. The rest is spent preparing for court and handling related issues for clients. Also, most lawyers are juggling anywhere from 5 to 15 cases at once, so the details of any given case are often fuzzy. \n\nYes, there are some that are arrogant or careless. And everyone will occasionally make some mistakes. It's being human. Could they take more time to re-read materials? Sometimes, but not always. There are just so many hours in the day.\n\n{EDIT} Based on email with the asked. \n\nSample sets vary. It seems your experience with attorneys is very different than mine. But I still think you're over generalizing.
163631
Attorney are only answerable to other attorneys...if you bring a complaint against an attorney it has to be through the bar association which yuppp you guessed it is made up of attorneys...the Judges in this country were once all....yuppp yet again attorneys.... we need for these people to be accountable to us not to themselves.....it is the ultimate example of injustice and the fox guarding the hen house ....wake up America there is no real justice anymore...only back room deals and what time are we playing golf tomorrow....Its an affront to all Americans...
929606
Is it any wonder that lawyers are so despised? When do people start taking responsibilities for themselves? They were trespassing on railroad property and climbed on top of a boxcar, which is more trespassing. This is a travesty.
123116
If you want to craft new legislation, half the people will not read between the lines and miss your legal loop-holes.\n A lawyer is born.
939711
People dont like killing a dog! ....:D  (No offence to lawyers is intended, I love em really!)
20510
I've considered a career in law as well and tried to do as much research as possible.  What I found is, literally, 90% of the lawyers I've interviewed are unhappy with their lives.  The other 10% were merely ok with their decision.  Considering these are close friends or friends of friends, it's very telling about the profession.\n\nThe major reason for their answers are usually the long hours.  Working for law firms tend to be worse than the corporate environment, but it isn't saying much about corporations either.  I met up with a friend who was a corporate lawyer and noticed how hard rock was absolutely blasting out of his car.  When asked why it was so loud, he responded in a serious tone, "Man, I gotta drown out the $!%@# from work".\n\nI suggest you try to find some friends or friends of friends who are lawyers and asking for a completely candid Q & A session with them.  You'll learn the most from that than anything else.
649543
Many elected officials are lawyers...and they write the laws so that a normal person can't really understand what the hell they mean. So then you need a lawyer so you don't get screwed.
1067277
"people who like laws and sausages would do well not watch how either are made." Utah Phillips\n\nalso, most of our politicians are ex lawyers, "lawyers makin laws is kind of like doctors makin diseases." also him