The Lawyer Myth: A Defense of the American Legal Profession

“When you mentioned to family or friends that you were considering becoming a lawyer, you probably faced skepticism, if not serious criticism… You are undoubtedly asking yourself if three or four years of a rigorous and costly legal education is really worth the candle. For you … we add these final comments. We hope that they will reassure you, as well as your friends and family, that it is possible, as Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. proclaimed, ‘to live greatly in the law.’” — from The Lawyer Myth Lawyers and the legal profession have become scapegoats for many of the problems of our age. In The Lawyer Myth: A Defense of the American Legal Profession, Rennard Strickland and Frank T. Read look behind current antilawyer media images to explore the historical role of lawyers as a balancing force in times of social, economic, and political change. One source of this disjunction of perception and reality, they find, is that American society has lost touch with the need for the lawyer’s skill and has come to blame unrelated social problems on the legal profession. This highly personal and impassioned book is their defense of lawyers and the rule of law in the United States. The Lawyer Myth confronts the hypocrisy of critics from both the right and the left who attempt to exploit popular misperceptions about lawyers and judges to further their own social and political agendas. By revealing the facts and reasoning behind the decisions in such cases as the infamous McDonald’s coffee spill, the authors provide a clear explanation of the operation of the law while addressing misconceptions about the number of lawsuits, runaway jury verdicts, and legal “technicalities” that turn criminals out on the street. Acknowledging that no system is perfect, the authors propose a slate of reforms for the bar, the judiciary, and law schools that will enable today’s lawyers—and tomorrow’s—to live up to the noble potential of their profession. Whether one thinks of lawyers as keepers of the springs of democracy, foot soldiers of the Constitution, architects and carpenters of commerce, umpires and field levelers, healers of the body politic, or simply bridge builders, The Lawyer Myth reminds us that lawyers are essential to American democracy.

Strickland, Rennard

Read, Frank T.

Rennard, Frank T.

Strickland, Read

Ethics & Professional Responsibility

SWALLOW PRESS+

Lawyers and the legal profession have become scapegoats for many of the problems of our age. In The Lawyer Myth: A Defense of the American Legal Profession, Rennard Strickland and Frank T. Read look behind current antilawyer media images to explore the historical role of lawyers as a balancing force in times of social, economic, and political change. One source of this disjunction of perception and reality, they find, is that American society has lost touch with the need for the lawyer’s skill and has come to blame unrelated social problems on the legal profession. This highly personal and impassioned book is their defense of lawyers and the rule of law in the United States. The Lawyer Myth confronts the hypocrisy of critics from both the right and the left who attempt to exploit popular misperceptions about lawyers and judges to further their own social and political agendas. By revealing the facts and reasoning behind the decisions in such cases as the infamous McDonald’s coffee spill, the authors provide a clear explanation of the operation of the law while addressing misconceptions about the number of lawsuits, runaway jury verdicts, and legal “technicalities” that turn criminals out on the street. Acknowledging that no system is perfect, the authors propose a slate of reforms for the bar, the judiciary, and law schools that will enable today’s lawyers—and tomorrow’s—to live up to the noble potential of their profession. Whether one thinks of lawyers as keepers of the springs of democracy, foot soldiers of the Constitution, architects and carpenters of commerce, umpires and field levelers, healers of the body politic, or simply bridge builders, The Lawyer Myth reminds us that lawyers are essential to American democracy.

This book traces the emergency of the Cherokee system of laws from the ancient spirit decrees to the fusion of tribal law ways with Anglo-American law.
The Cherokees enacted their first written law in 1808 in Georgia. In succeeding years the leaders and tribal councils of the southeastern and Oklahoma groups wrote a constitution, established courts, and enacted laws that were in accord with the old tribal values but reflected and accommodated to the whites’ legal system. Thanks to the great gift of Sequoyah-his syllabary-the Cherokees were well versed in their laws, able to read and interpret them from a very early time. The system served the people well. It endured until 1898, when the federal government abolished the tribal government.
The author provides a brief review of Cherokee history and explains the circumstances surrounding the stages of development of the legal system. Excerpts from editorials in the Cherokee Phoenix and the Cherokee Advocate, letters, and tribal documents give added insight into the problems the Cherokees faced and their efforts to resolve them. Of particular interest is a series of charts explaining the complex Cherokee spirit system of crimes (or "deviations") and the punishments meted out for them.

Fire and the spirits: Cherokee law from clan to court (The Civilization of the American Indian series)

University of Oklahoma Press

This book traces the emergency of the Cherokee system of laws from the ancient spirit decrees to the fusion of tribal law ways with Anglo-American law.
The Cherokees enacted their first written law in 1808 in Georgia. In succeeding years the leaders and tribal councils of the southeastern and Oklahoma groups wrote a constitution, established courts, and enacted laws that were in accord with the old tribal values but reflected and accommodated to the whites’ legal system. Thanks to the great gift of Sequoyah-his syllabary-the Cherokees were well versed in their laws, able to read and interpret them from a very early time. The system served the people well. It endured until 1898, when the federal government abolished the tribal government.
The author provides a brief review of Cherokee history and explains the circumstances surrounding the stages of development of the legal system. Excerpts from editorials in the Cherokee Phoenix and the Cherokee Advocate, letters, and tribal documents give added insight into the problems the Cherokees faced and their efforts to resolve them. Of particular interest is a series of charts explaining the complex Cherokee spirit system of crimes (or "deviations") and the punishments meted out for them.

Fire and the Spirits: Cherokee Law from Clan to Court (Volume 133) (The Civilization of the American Indian Series)

History

Americas

The Indians in Oklahoma, a survey of the sixty-seven tribes residing in the state, explains the colonizing process that populated Indian Territory (the future Oklahoma) with American Indians from all parts of the United States during the nineteenth century and interprets the striking cultural diversity of the Indian communities thus formed. The author separates the Native American experience in Oklahoma into four periods.This book is one of a series entitled "Newcomers to a New Land" which analyzes the role of the major ethnic groups that have contributed to the history of Oklahoma.

The Indians in Oklahoma (Newcomers to a new land)

The Indians in Oklahoma, a survey of the sixty-seven tribes residing in the state, explains the colonizing process that populated Indian Territory (the future Oklahoma) with American Indians from all parts of the United States during the nineteenth century and interprets the striking cultural diversity of the Indian communities thus formed. The author separates the Native American experience in Oklahoma into four periods.
This book is one of a series entitled "Newcomers to a New Land" which analyzes the role of the major ethnic groups that have contributed to the history of Oklahoma.

The Indians in Oklahoma (The Newcomers to a New Land Series)

Discusses the production and uses of traditional American Indian clothing, sculpture, and bowls

As in a Vision: Masterworks of American Indian Art

Wade, Edwin L.

Haralson, Carol

Arts & Photography

Univ of Oklahoma Pr

How do Native Americans maintain their identity and culture in a hostile society, and to what end? This book is a passionate attempt by a leading Native American scholar to reassess the Indian world view and its importance to all Americans. His deeply felt essays project a vision of how Native Americans can recapture the power of their cultural legacies. "What we have witnessed over the last five hundred years," states Rennard Strickland, "is the domination of an ideologically superior world view (that of the Native Americans) by a technologically advanced but spiritually bankrupt civilisation (that of the discoverers)." He proposes a reversal of this pattern, arguing that "values must prevail over technology," especially if people are to attain balance and peace with themselves and their surroundings. He delineates the enduring cultural heritage of Indians in essays on law, literature, history, art, film, and culture.

Tonto's Revenge: Reflections on American Indian Culture and Policy (Calvin P. Horn Lectures in Western History and Culture)

Univ of New Mexico Pr

How do Native Americans maintain their identity and culture in a hostile society, and to what end? Tonto's Revenge is a passionate attempt by a leading Native American scholar to reassess the Indian world view and its importance to all Americans. His deeply felt essays project a vision of how Native Americans can recapture the power of their cultural legacies.
"What we have witnessed over the last five hundred years," states Rennard Strickland, "is the domination of an ideologically superior world view (that of the Native Americans) by a technologically advanced but spiritually bankrupt civilization (that of the discoverers)." He proposes a reversal of this pattern, arguing that "values must prevail over technology," especially if people are to attain balance and peace with themselves and their surroundings. He delineates the enduring cultural heritage of Indians in essays on law, literature, history, art, film, and culture.

Tonto's Revenge: Reflections on American Indian Culture and Policy (Calvin P. Horn Lectures in Western History and Culture Series)

University of New Mexico Press

In Building One Fire, Chad Smith and renowned Cherokee-Osage scholar and author Rennard Strickland present a unique look at Cherokee art through the lens of Cherokee philosophy. Since the time when Water Spider brought the gift offire to the Cherokee people, the One Fire, “the Ancient Lady,” has been at the center of Cherokee spiritual life.
From this fire, which represents community, thewhite smoke of prayer rises to Nitsudunvha, One Who is Always Above. In return Nitsudunvha sends to each person four sets of gifts with whichto develop mind, body, and spirit. These gifts are brought by four messengers, one from each of thecardinal directions. The gifts of the four messengers, the colors and qualities associated with them, and the four-pointcircle that embraces the sacred fire—all these arepart of Cherokee consciousness and creativity.They take visible form, subtly or directly, in works created by Cherokee artists.
This book presents more than 200 art-works by some 80 artists which speak to what it means to be Cherokee. Cherokee philosopher Benny Smith shares his teachings about Cherokee world view, Cherokee art is laid before the reader in a visual feast, and a special endingsection celebrates the vivaciousness of child artists who represent the next generation’s creative Cherokee citizens.

Building One Fire: Art and World View in Cherokee Life

Smith, Mr. Chad Corntassel

Smith, Benny

History & Criticism

Cherokee Nation

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Strickland, Rennard. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Strickland, Rennard

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Strickland, Rennard. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Lawyer Myth: A Defense of the American Legal Profession

The Lawyer Myth: A Defense of the American Legal Profession

Fire and the spirits: Cherokee law from clan to court (The Civilization of the American Indian series)

Fire and the Spirits: Cherokee Law from Clan to Court (Volume 133) (The Civilization of the American Indian Series)

The Indians in Oklahoma (Newcomers to a new land)

The Indians in Oklahoma (The Newcomers to a New Land Series)

As in a Vision: Masterworks of American Indian Art

Tonto's Revenge: Reflections on American Indian Culture and Policy (Calvin P. Horn Lectures in Western History and Culture)

Tonto's Revenge: Reflections on American Indian Culture and Policy (Calvin P. Horn Lectures in Western History and Culture Series)

Building One Fire: Art and World View in Cherokee Life