ABSTRACT
Atticus Finch, the character created by Harper Lee for the book and movie To Kill a Mockingbird, was the epitome of the “gentleman” lawyer: courteous, honest, brave, and intelligent. He was a consummate professional, but more than that, he was an admirable man. In the plot of the story, he was a comfortable, respected attorney in a small Southern town who agreed to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. In a time of lynchings, this decision exposed him and his family to ostracism and danger, yet at all times he maintained a professional courtesy, even toward those whose actions were condemning an innocent man to die. In contrast to this ideal of an attorney, there is the stereotype of the “ambulance chaser” lawyer who, like a parasite, exploits and profits from others’ misfortune. The criminal defense attorney is often perceived as unscrupulous and uncaring, stopping at nothing to “get his client off.” So, where is Atticus? Of course, it helped that he defended an innocent client; real-world attorneys are not always so lucky.
