The First Beatitude
Blessed are they who thirst after knowledge
(both law-related and non-law related) like the future depends on it; for they
shall have a fountain of ‘flowing knowledge,’ achieve mastery in no mean time
and become envies of colleagues and delight of clients.
(both law-related and non-law related) like the future depends on it; for they
shall have a fountain of ‘flowing knowledge,’ achieve mastery in no mean time
and become envies of colleagues and delight of clients.
The above Beatitude was inspired by a letter written by Lincoln on 25 September 1860 to a certain J.M
Brockman Esq. which reads thus:
Brockman Esq. which reads thus:
Dear Sir,
Yours of the 24th, asking “the
best mode of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the law” is received. The
only mode is very simple, though laborious, and tedious. It is only to the
books, and read, and study them carefully. Begin with Blacksone’s
Commentaries, and after Pleadings, Greenleaf’s Evidence & Story’s Equity… Work,
work, work, is the main thing.
best mode of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the law” is received. The
only mode is very simple, though laborious, and tedious. It is only to the
books, and read, and study them carefully. Begin with Blacksone’s
Commentaries, and after Pleadings, Greenleaf’s Evidence & Story’s Equity… Work,
work, work, is the main thing.
Yours very truly
A. Lincoln
The Second Beatitude
Blessed are those who find great delight in
finding the ratio decidendi of judgements on their own –
who neither get carried away with the catchwords and/or case summaries by law
reports nor rely heavily on secondary sources without ‘first drinking deeply’
from the primary sources but go the extra mile in understanding the primary
sources, ratio decidendi in judgements and do not use
precedents slavishly; for they shall achieve inimitable mastery of the law.
finding the ratio decidendi of judgements on their own –
who neither get carried away with the catchwords and/or case summaries by law
reports nor rely heavily on secondary sources without ‘first drinking deeply’
from the primary sources but go the extra mile in understanding the primary
sources, ratio decidendi in judgements and do not use
precedents slavishly; for they shall achieve inimitable mastery of the law.
The Third Beatitude
Blessed are those who do not despise their
days of little beginning but keep investing in themselves through continuous
legal education; for they shall reap a bountiful harvest when the time is ripe.
days of little beginning but keep investing in themselves through continuous
legal education; for they shall reap a bountiful harvest when the time is ripe.
This third Beatitude was inspired by two
letters written by Lincoln. First was written on 3 August 1858 and addressed to a certain William H.
Grigsby who applied for a job to his office. The letter Lincoln wrote
is still very instructive as it captures what most lawyers should focus on in
the formative years of their career in the legal profession. The letter reads:
letters written by Lincoln. First was written on 3 August 1858 and addressed to a certain William H.
Grigsby who applied for a job to his office. The letter Lincoln wrote
is still very instructive as it captures what most lawyers should focus on in
the formative years of their career in the legal profession. The letter reads:
My dear Sir:
Yours of the 14th of July, desiring
a situaiton in my law office, was received several days ago. My partner, Mr
Herndon, controls our office in this respect, and I have known of his declining
at least a dozen applications like yours within the last three months.
a situaiton in my law office, was received several days ago. My partner, Mr
Herndon, controls our office in this respect, and I have known of his declining
at least a dozen applications like yours within the last three months.
If you wish to be a lawyer, attach
no consequence to the place you are in, or to theperson you
are with; but get books, sit down anywhere, and go to reading for
yourself. That will make a lawyer of you quicker than any other
way.
no consequence to the place you are in, or to theperson you
are with; but get books, sit down anywhere, and go to reading for
yourself. That will make a lawyer of you quicker than any other
way.
Yours respectfully,
A. Lincoln
The above Beatitude was also inspired by
another letter written by Lincoln to James T. Thornton on 2 December 1858.
Thornton had earlier written to Lincoln for mentorship on behalf of a certain
law student. John W. Widmer. Lincoln wrote:
another letter written by Lincoln to James T. Thornton on 2 December 1858.
Thornton had earlier written to Lincoln for mentorship on behalf of a certain
law student. John W. Widmer. Lincoln wrote:
Dear Sir,
Yours of the 29th, written in be of
Mr. John W. Widmer, is received. I am absent altogether too much to be a
suitable instructor for a law student. When a man has reached the age that Mr.
Widner has, and has already been doing for himself, my judgment is,
that he reads the books for himself without an instructor. That is
precisely the way I came to the law. Let Mr.Widner read Blackstone’s
Commentaries, Chitty’s Pleadings…Greenleaf’s Evidence, Story’s Equity… get
a license, and go to the practice, and still keep reading. That is my
judgment of the cheapest, and best way for Mr. Widner to make a lawyer of
himself.
Mr. John W. Widmer, is received. I am absent altogether too much to be a
suitable instructor for a law student. When a man has reached the age that Mr.
Widner has, and has already been doing for himself, my judgment is,
that he reads the books for himself without an instructor. That is
precisely the way I came to the law. Let Mr.Widner read Blackstone’s
Commentaries, Chitty’s Pleadings…Greenleaf’s Evidence, Story’s Equity… get
a license, and go to the practice, and still keep reading. That is my
judgment of the cheapest, and best way for Mr. Widner to make a lawyer of
himself.
Yours truly
A. Lincoln
The Fourth Beatitude
Blessed are those whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole – ones
who will stand for the right though the heavens fall – ones who will
stop at nothing in achieving their goals; for they shall have integrity and
good name unsoiled but will stand before
kings and not mean men.
who will stand for the right though the heavens fall – ones who will
stop at nothing in achieving their goals; for they shall have integrity and
good name unsoiled but will stand before
kings and not mean men.
The Fifth Beatitude
Blessed are they whose first professional duty as ministers in the hallowed temple of
justice is not sacrificed in a foolish and sheepish commitment to the
clients’ demands – who do not truncate the course of justice for their own or
clients’ selfish ends but allow justice to take its natural course, having done
all that is professionally expected of them; for they shall not be ‘witch-hunted’ by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission and
made to face ‘brutal sanctions’ from the Legal Practitioners
Disciplinary Committee as the fear of both is the beginning of
professional sanity.
justice is not sacrificed in a foolish and sheepish commitment to the
clients’ demands – who do not truncate the course of justice for their own or
clients’ selfish ends but allow justice to take its natural course, having done
all that is professionally expected of them; for they shall not be ‘witch-hunted’ by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission and
made to face ‘brutal sanctions’ from the Legal Practitioners
Disciplinary Committee as the fear of both is the beginning of
professional sanity.
The Sixth Beatitude
Blessed are those who do not sacrifice
family, healthy living cum healthy relationships and good networking
opportunities on the altar of ‘crazy deadlines’ and ‘never-ending-work’ but are able to maintain a good work-life
balance; for their joy shall be full and shall live to the fullness of
their potentials while enjoying the fruits of their labour.
family, healthy living cum healthy relationships and good networking
opportunities on the altar of ‘crazy deadlines’ and ‘never-ending-work’ but are able to maintain a good work-life
balance; for their joy shall be full and shall live to the fullness of
their potentials while enjoying the fruits of their labour.
The Seventh Beatitude
Blessed are those who never see anything as
impossible but look at the word ‘impossible’ as I’M POSSIBLE – who keep pushing
the limits, exceeding all expectations and delivering great results to clients,
colleagues and ‘constituted authorities’ alike and non-alike; for they shall
reap their rewards in no mean time.
impossible but look at the word ‘impossible’ as I’M POSSIBLE – who keep pushing
the limits, exceeding all expectations and delivering great results to clients,
colleagues and ‘constituted authorities’ alike and non-alike; for they shall
reap their rewards in no mean time.
The seventh beatitude was inspired by
Lincoln’s letter to Ishaam Reavis.
Lincoln’s letter to Ishaam Reavis.
The letter dated 5 November 1855 reads thus:
My dear Sir:
… If you are resolutely
determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done
already. It is but a small matter whether you read with any body or not. I did
not read with any one. Get the books, and read and study them till, you
understand them in their principal features; and that is the main thing. It
is of no consequence to be in a large town when you are reading… The
books, and your capacity for understanding them, are the same in all places…
determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done
already. It is but a small matter whether you read with any body or not. I did
not read with any one. Get the books, and read and study them till, you
understand them in their principal features; and that is the main thing. It
is of no consequence to be in a large town when you are reading… The
books, and your capacity for understanding them, are the same in all places…
Always bear in mind that your own
resolution to succeed, is more important than any other thing.
resolution to succeed, is more important than any other thing.
Very truly Your friend
A. Lincoln
The Eighth Beatitude
Blessed are those who do not mix work with
pleasure – who bill when they have to and follow through to ensure that clients
pay timeously for work done while skillfully sustaining healthy relationships with
clients; for they shall know more peace, have their ‘bank accounts smiling to
the banks’ and know no taste of being denied payments for work done.
pleasure – who bill when they have to and follow through to ensure that clients
pay timeously for work done while skillfully sustaining healthy relationships with
clients; for they shall know more peace, have their ‘bank accounts smiling to
the banks’ and know no taste of being denied payments for work done.
* Note: This
publication represents only the personal views of the author and is provided to
highlight issues as well as for general information purposes only; it does not
constitute legal advice. Whilst reasonable steps were taken to ensure the
accuracy of information contained in this publication, the author does not
accept any responsibility for any loss or damage that may arise from reliance
on information contained in this publication.
publication represents only the personal views of the author and is provided to
highlight issues as well as for general information purposes only; it does not
constitute legal advice. Whilst reasonable steps were taken to ensure the
accuracy of information contained in this publication, the author does not
accept any responsibility for any loss or damage that may arise from reliance
on information contained in this publication.
Legal
Practitioner/Consultant/Scholar/Writer
Practitioner/Consultant/Scholar/Writer
Photo – Joseph Onele