matthew mckeon
Guest
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2005
I finished Brian Dirck's "Lincoln the Lawyer" an analysis of Lincoln's legal career, from his first attempts to study law, through his election to the presidency.
It's a little dry, but very interesting. High points include:
Dirck's description of the antebellum legal scene in Illinois, the circuit court, and the role lawyers played in the somewhat jerrybuilt frontier economy.
His descriptions of the kind of cases that Lincoln undertook as a general practice lawyer. Short version: just about anything that offered a fee. He was honest, skillful, ethical and often tried to settle out of court.
Lincoln is described as "grease" not of any group, but dedicated to the smooth functioning of society as a whole. He took cases of all kinds.
Lincoln's comfort and enjoyment of the social world of his fellow lawyers, yet his emotional distance from them and most others.
His detachment of his political activities and ambitions from his legal work.
Weakest point: Dirck's attempt to link Lincoln the lawyer with Lincoln the President.
It's a little dry, but very interesting. High points include:
Dirck's description of the antebellum legal scene in Illinois, the circuit court, and the role lawyers played in the somewhat jerrybuilt frontier economy.
His descriptions of the kind of cases that Lincoln undertook as a general practice lawyer. Short version: just about anything that offered a fee. He was honest, skillful, ethical and often tried to settle out of court.
Lincoln is described as "grease" not of any group, but dedicated to the smooth functioning of society as a whole. He took cases of all kinds.
Lincoln's comfort and enjoyment of the social world of his fellow lawyers, yet his emotional distance from them and most others.
His detachment of his political activities and ambitions from his legal work.
Weakest point: Dirck's attempt to link Lincoln the lawyer with Lincoln the President.
Bringing the