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Lawyer jokes are so common, they're not even funny any more. But attempts to improve the profession's reputation are pointless, says Tim Murphy, a lawyer with McMillan LLP, a former MPP and a former chief of staff to former prime minister Paul Martin.

"Certain public opinion truths are inalienable. We are seen as a necessary evil; inevitable, like death and taxes. In public opinion terms, we are expensive, inaccessible, have situational ethics, defend criminals, and are involved in politics. Wow, don't we sound great?" he told an audience earlier this month at the Law Society of Upper Canada conference for solo lawyers and small firms, according to a report in The Law Times.

While improving the quality of service lawyers offer, and fighting to bring down the cost of legal services, are good ideas, he said, other public relations efforts to improve the profession's reputation are likely to fail.

On the move

Howard Burshtein has left Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP for Baker & McKenzie LLP, the Toronto office of the U.S.-based global legal giant. Mr. Burshtein is a finance and mergers-and-acquisitions specialist. He is a former legal counsel for the British Columbia Securities Commission.



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