Transcript A Meaningful Difference: The Value of A Single Lawyer Stephen Spitz Professor of Law Charleston School of Law.

A Meaningful Difference:
The Value of A Single
Lawyer
Stephen Spitz
Professor of Law
Charleston School of
Law
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You Certainly Know What
Some People Say
The World Already Has Too
Many Lawyers
The Economy is Lousy
Law School is Difficult /
Horrible / Boring
Endless Bad Lawyer Jokes
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Remarks for The Occasion:
Two Key Questions
1. Can You Do This
Program?
2. Is It Really Worth
Doing?
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My Own Personal Belief:
Law is a Great &
Honorable Profession
Answer To Question 1:
If You Work Hard, Of
Course, You Can
Complete This Program
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Answer To Question 2:
Is It Worth It?
The Tale of A
Famous Case
Reynolds v. Pegler
(1954)
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Quentin
Reynolds,
Plaintiff
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Quentin Reynolds:
A Famous World War II
Reporter
• London Can Take It (Superb film
footage of London at War in 1940
during the German Air Offense
Called The “Blitz” And Narrated
By Quentin Reynolds To Be Found
On “You Tube”) (Just click Google,
“London Can Take It”)
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But,
In 1949
• Reynolds was viciously, unfairly,
wrongfully attacked in hundreds
of newspapers by another
reporter as a
– Coward In WW II
– War Profiteer
– Immoral
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Westbrook
Pegler,
Defendant
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Louis Nizer,
Reynolds Attorney
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Judge Edward
Weinfeld
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Mr. Nizer:
“You Only Have 3
Minutes”
What Would You Say
To An Absolutely Key
Witness – Utterly
Unwilling To Testify?
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Lord Mountbatten,
The Key Witness
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The Jury’s Verdict:
Total Vindication
for Quentin
Reynolds
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In 1954
Dollars
• $1.00 Compensatory
Damages
• $175,000 Punitive Damages
• Largest Verdict for Libel In
This Country’s History Up To
That Time
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Lessons To Be
Remembered:
Exactly like Nizer, you
are certainly going to
confront difficult
tasks as a Lawyer /
Law Student
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What You Are
Going To Face:
• As a Law Student: Hard Law
School Classes That Truly
Challenge You
• As a Lawyer: Indifferent / If
Not Hostile Witnesses, Like
Lord Mountbatten
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So,
Why Is It Really A
Great Honor To Be A
Lawyer?
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Because There Are
Countless Future
Quentin Reynolds
Who Will Always
Desperately Need
Professional Help
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Thanks
For Listening
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