WORDS TO LIVE BY

     Long ago, Abraham Lincoln set forth the following advice for his fellow members of the legal profession:

     Discourage litigation.  Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can.  Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser--in fees, expenses, and waste of time.  As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man.

     Honest Abe's words are just as true today as they were then.  Any attorney who does not adhere to this maxim does a tremendous disservice to both his clients and the legal profession.  Undoubtedly, most lawyers know this advice to be true, and utilize it in practice, although there will always be a few who just don't get it.  

     In my years of legal practice, I have found that a willingness to compromise can often save people time, money and heartache.  It is the attorney's job to point this out, even though it may cost him or her a fee.