Then why do you need to put down public defenders to sell yourself?  Courtesy of  Skelly (again) comes yet more of the private defense bars strange compulsion to compare and contrast itself with some strawman argument that public defenders (you know, them freebie lawyers, not them real lawyers) just too darn overwhelmed to do their job.  Watch the video:



Now this particular pitch adds a very curious touch.  Not only is he experienced, but he’s expensive.  Very expensive.  So that’s why he’s trying to poach clients from the public defender?  I have no idea who Barry Bernstein is, so I offer no comment on the quality of his work.  But juxtaposing these conflicting claims leads me to think that this is one ill-conceived way to market oneself, and reflects quite poorly on him.  Sorry, but it’s really pretty pathetic.

But there’s more.  I’ve questioned my good buddy Kevin O’Keefe at  Real Lawyers Have Blogs about calling something a blog when it’s nothing more than a self-serving promotion.  So what am I to make of this so-called blog?

YOUR VERY OWN PERSONAL LAWYER

Here’s the “story” from this San Diego criminal defense firm:

A recent article in a popular San Diego newspaper was written which talked about some criminal defense attorneys and their heavy, unmanageable caseload. There are some San Diego criminal defense lawyers whose caseloads get up to 300 and even 800 cases. At Wallin & Klarich, we do not think an attorney can work 300, much less 800, open cases at one time all by him or her self without providing less than desirable service to some clients. Would that lawyer be able to remember your case? Your name? Your face? With hundreds of other clients vying for attention, we doubt it.

Will the public defender be able to remember your name?  Give me a break.  Is this really necessary to get a client?  Is this the best the firm can offer? 

It won’t be long until some of the “very expensive,” “very experienced,” name-recalling private criminal defense lawyers start promoting themselves through picture of public defenders drooling and tripping over their over-stuffed brief cases in the well.

Ladies and Gentlemen, have some shred of dignity.  Promote yourself all you want, but stop doing it at the expense of the public defenders.  It is truly embarrassing.  And it is simply wrong.  Stop it.  Please.