In space no-one can hear you scream.
Neither can they in the fucking blawgosphere. Yes, Geeklawyer is not a happy bunny. What the buggery fucking bollocks do we barristers pay the cunting idiots at the Bar Council for? Why will they not advert effectively on our behalf as we, on the front-line, duck under the hail of poisoned bolts hurled at us with gleeful abandon by our stunted aphoretic enemies.
Our profession is being dismantled slowly by retarded cretins who pass their communal single emaciated brain cell to one another via a slow motion baton relay race. And yet they still best us. These people who were not good enough to get pupillages themselves because they were too crap to get into decent universities or get a decent degree and who all slope of to become solicitor-inadequates.
And then these professional and intellectual third rates, in combination with the failed barristers in the government, conspire to undermine our profession and criminal justice. Why?
Because they want to wear a wig and pretend they are lawyers. We get our centuries old profession ruined; and the poor brain dead chav arseholes at the pointy end of the criminal justice system get jailed because some lightweight from a polytechnic wants to boast to their mates at the local carrot crunching Rotarian branch. And of course the guilty ones get off, presumably waving to innocent ones being ferried off to a lengthy prison sentences in private Group4 security vans.
Of course for those of us at the better-off , non-criminal, end of the Bar the problem is immaterial. But I really really really want to kick some shirt-lifter hard in the mouth.
Excuse me apologists, but the problem with a smaller more focussed Criminal Bar is that it may not see the bigger picture, you fawning cum swallowing cretinous fucking buffoons.
We once had a proud and noble profession with the view that advocacy was a calling exercised in favour of those less able to aid themselves. A sense of natural justice intellectual curiosity philosophical objectivity and human decency led us to our calling.
Everyone else who wanted a platinum Amex became a solicitor. We have slowly allowed ourselves become bastardised & degenerate from our values. The proles have had their small victory and our withering agonised maceration is their victory.
Now, fuck off: I am genuinely a bit upset & I need a beer and a blow-job. Or just a beer at least.
Chill.
This is not so.
Certainly there is an effort to reduce payment to the Criminal Bar. This will mainly affect people already there. The money will still be decent for those starting off and not expecting hundreds of thousands a year.
The problem is not solicitors. The problem is civil servants. If you’re a good advocate you will manage.
I know this is a rant (are you sure it shouldn’t be ‘another beer’?). But even so it should be aimed — no?
And those of us who remain (probably about the same as before the Bar grew in the 1980s) will still want to do the best we can. I am not saying it is a good situation but it isn’t hopeless either. Meanwhile, if you aren’t already a member, YOU can join the pro bono unit — tomorrow.
Nil desperandum (still ok until 2008)
I do *way* more pro-bono work than paid for stuff. Actually I enjoy it. But it would be nice to pay the mortgage with my fees as a lawyer: rather than those as a part-time drug dealer, gigolo & hit-man.
It is, and the Bitch Goddess will rip me for this, ‘another beer’ — true. And aim is all well and good; but aimed or not, my point is well made, with the greatest of respect to you as a senior member of our profession, while civil servants bear at least the majority of the blame we also must take our share. We have long been ineffective in representing our calling.
You are right — I am indeed ranting in an unforgiveable unprofessional manner– and it is an emotional yell of pain rather than an articulate offering but I have seen this pattern since the early ’90’s.
I fear the death of the Bar — no less.
Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
I haven’t kissed my Mother since I was 10. Why? Would like to kiss her in my place — for her safety?
Wow — snobbery and homophobia in the same posting. Good stuff. All we need now is some monarchist racist moaning and this really will be like reading the Daily Mail.
Thanks Rupert — I like to offend everyone if at all possible. Am scouring the news for a royal story as we speak.
Apologies for the homophobia though.
Daily Mail?! Well thanks but I couldn’t possibly aspire to that level of quality — Daily Star methinks.
Don’t worry the outburst will pass you will slip back into a resigned cynism.
I think there is a general decline in the notion of a professional and similair things are happening within academia and the medical profession for instance. Direct engagement of said professional with the wider public can only be a good thing. I’m sure this is an aspect that has lead to many of the most successfull blogs being run by professionals speaking out against what is wrong with their profession.
A classic GL rant — awesome. No apology needed.
And you’re bound to be angry, having been dumped by your co-blogger. (Did she not know what you are like? A clear failure to perform basic due diligence)
Mind you I rather suspect she may exercise common sense after reading this post
I do love a good rant!!! Even if I am not included in the upper echelons of the intelligista by geeklawyer’s parameters. I am somehwhere around the middle to upper. Instant disqualification from the bar! Oh well, a pint of beer on my amex might sort you out?!
Just what medics feels about the spineless syncophants who purport to represent the interests of the medical profession in the BMA, GMC & Medical Royal Colleges.
This is developing into a theme amongst professionals: accountants and auditors have linked to this post (as can be seen in the above comment trackbacks) and said it is the same for them!
We are revolting!
Come on GL — you’re going to have to get off the fence one of these days and start speaking your mind. Anyway with current trends we’ll have the much vaunted American style fused profession soon, and that’s got to be a good thing yes?
chortle like Mutley
fused profession? Well that’s fine and all, but wont it risk me being confused with a solicitor? Or worse still a solicitor-inadequate like Ruthie?
hmm — i detect a touch of miffed-ness in your post. i wondered also whether you were using the word aphoretic in a philosophical or medical sense. thanks for a new word!
political correctness is a word you should look up — i think it might amuse you as a concept.
really, though, i do think we of the middle classes should shut our overpaid mouths and, if we are really so incensed by something, change it or put up with it. and that doesn’t mean assuming our alleged representatives will do it for us. quit the job and set up an organisation dedicated to achieving our end.
no? still clinging desperately to our salary (yes; not technically correct for a barrister)? then we are reduced to impotent adjective-heavy rants. nothing wrong with that, we all have to eat and i love a rant (both giving and receiving). but it’s like going to your partner with problems and them coming back with solutions when what you wanted was sympathy.
also good to learn that it’s only solicitors who are scum — had never realised at least part of the profession are divine creatures of light dedicated to the eradication of nastiness and the preservatiion of small fluffy kittens. good job it’s the bit i’m going to join — phew!
still — a delightful rant and (if other lawyers are to be believed) on a real and important problem. hope you are feeling better.
Wow… Interesting blog. Lots of difference in opinion! Just what i like to hear
What!? explain — advance rational excuses? Heavens, where to begin. I’ll think about it in the pub and revert.