The Albany, NY, version of The Business Review-bizjournal tried today
to make sense of the New York State Bar Association’s crusade to
improve the image of lawyers by eliminating “sleazy,” inappropriate ads.
“Savvy or sleazy: Bar tackles tricky issue of attorney advertisements,”
by Eric Durr, Feb. 13, 2006. (treated at length in our prior post, Nov. 18,
2005)The article is worth a read, with quotes from: the crusading NYSBA pres-
ident, A. Vincent Buzard; a lawyer using “heavy hitter” ads; a couple of ad
agency heads (one of whom does not want p/i lawyer clients); and the (in)-
famous E. Stewart Jones (see porior posts here, here, and there). Jones,
one of the biggest lawyer advertisers in the NY Capital Region, is quoted
saying about advertising:
“I think it’s a plague on the profession,” and “I recommend its abolition.”
“There are no restrictions on what people can say about themselves. It
does more to misinform.“It has become a necessary evil because it is such a competitive business
that if you don’t advertise, you don’t get your name out. You have to fight fire
with fire.”Jones, who is on local tv being interviewed spouting and spinning defense lawyer clap-
trap more than any other attorney, adds: “Many of them are just absolutely tasteless.
It’s just a tawdry process. It cheapens the profession. If people see something is on
television, they think it’s great.”
For my money (and my viscera), entertainment and copyright lawyer Paul C. Rapp,
who teaches those subjects as an adjunct professor at Albany Law School, makes
the most sense (and, coincidentally, sounds a lot like the f/k/a gang) on the NYSBA
push to approve lawyer ads, in advance, for appropriateness and their effect on lawyer
image. Rapp says ” In some ways the whole notion of doing that seems dangerous
and misguided.” He adds:
“The whole idea of trying to maintain the dignity of an entire profession,
and especially the legal profession — which I don’t have to quote Shakespeare
to you to tell you [that] for centuries this has not been grea t– by trying to
control how attorneys represent themselves, seems almost silly.”
“buzardMug”
a. vincent buzard
Seeing Vince Buzard continue this battle — his top priority as bar President — against
the First Amendment and the forces of competition makes me wonder: Why would
any bar association choose him to lead their association? Why, indeed. (hint: see
our bar & guild essay)
I wonder what Kobayashi Issa would have to say
about all this, from his perspective in early 19th Century Japan?
they even sell
the swamp’s lotuses…
leaf and blossom
river boat–
on a night of fireworks
still selling fireworks
harvest moon–
the peddler selling
eight cent sake
they even sell tea
not worth a fart!
summer trees
selling morning-glories
wet with morning dew…
a tough character
translated by David G. Lanoue
February 13, 2006
perspectives on NYSBA’s war on lawyer ads
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ukku celebrates the coming of spring with haiku
Starting today, February 13, 2006, a new group haiku weblog
will be launched, to celebrate Winter’s turning into Spring.
“UKG” It’s called ukku spring haiku — “uk” denoting the
United Kingdom, the location of its prime movers, and “ku”
being the Japanese word for verse or phrase. Matt Morden
tells me that he pronounces the weblog name “ook-koo.”
At this time, the proprietors of some of my very favorite
haiku weblogs are signed on as Contributors:
Alison and Matt deserve credit for spearheading this project.
dagosan will be participating, too, with his humble offerings,
and I’m sure more fine haijin will be joining the festivities, as
we record the coming and progress of Spring 2006, between
the full moon on February 13th 2006 and the one on 13th April.
Matt tells us that:
The only pre-requisite for posting is that there should
be a Spring (or signs of Spring) theme to the subject
matter. Postings could be haiku, senryu, tanka,haiga
or haibun. Photos or graphics in an haiku spirit are also
welcome.
If two recents posts at Morden Haiku are any indication,
Matt is definitely ready for Spring:
every year
before snowdrops
spring catalogue
“mordenChillies”
chillies in color here
february grey
i remember chillies
in a sieve
It looks like Eric is ready for spring, too.
Especially if winter is getting you down,
please remember the ukku sping journal.
update (5 PM): Since I looked early this morning, ukku‘s
contributors list has expanded to include: Denis Garrison,
editor of the online Haiku Harvest journal, and the weblog
Haiku Unchained; author/poet Alan Summers of with words;
and Aurora Antonovic, the multitalented Canadian writer,
editor, and visual artist (who I enjoy making laugh over at
Even better, clicking around, I discovered that
Aurora has finally started her own weblog (since Jan. 20,
2006), called The Longest Wooing. Don’t miss it.
potluck
leisure, love, renewal and priorities. See the current
discussion of Lawyers and Leisure at places like
As we point out in a Comment at Prof. B’s post, we
are skeptical that lawyer greed can be overcome by
the forces that long for more leisure and family time.
“UKB” –ku
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