{"id":4452,"date":"2006-03-24T12:54:16","date_gmt":"2006-03-24T16:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2006\/03\/24\/inadvertent-neglect\/"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:54:03","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:54:03","slug":"inadvertent-neglect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2006\/03\/24\/inadvertent-neglect\/","title":{"rendered":"inadvertent neglect"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Since 2006 began, I’ve been forgetting to update my favorite SideBar feature — <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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The Inadvertent Searchee<\/EM>.  In a week when your Editor has been accused<\/FONT><\/A> of being <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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old and over <\/FONT>the hill, intellectually lazy, and — gasp! — a writer of both gibberish and <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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poetry, I’m happy <\/FONT>to make up for that neglect with a few new entries.  They suggest <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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that the major <\/FONT>search engines like us a lot more than p\/i lawyers do:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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weblog culture<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>>  #1 and #2 of 44,500,000 Google results went to our page <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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on <\/FONT>Weblog Culture & Ethics<\/FONT> <\/FONT><\/A>page. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"sleuthSm\" <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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As for legal profession issues dear to our heart and important <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to consumers:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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lawyer client self fool<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>> We had the #2 and #3 of 1.6 million results in this <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Google query.  <\/FONT>In <\/FONT>one<\/FONT><\/A> post, we spoke of George <\/FONT>Fool in the Forest<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A> Wallace and <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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self-regulation on the same <\/FONT>page.  In the <\/FONT>other<\/FONT><\/A>, we quoted a NYSBA brochure <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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that was discouraging self-help by con<\/FONT>sumers. <\/FONT>Google should have featured<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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our quote<\/FONT><\/A> from Edward Day Parsons: <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“He who <\/FONT>pleads his own case may have a fool for a client; but it’s <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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more probable <\/FONT>that he who employs a lawyer will have a knave for <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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an attorney.”<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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 <\/DIV>
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lawyer value billing<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A>>  The first two results out of 17 million in this Google search.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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came from f\/k\/a<\/EM> (the internet’s lone voice of caution on this issue). For example,<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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see <\/FONT>Value Billing and Legal Ethics<\/FONT><\/A> — honest, guys, clients want to pay less<\/EM>, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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not more, in lawyer fees when they seek better value.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                               not<\/FONT><\/EM>  \"one<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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What Is An Appropriate Contingency Fee<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A>> The first two of nearly 4 million results <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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for this crucial Google query were <\/FONT><\/FONT>here<\/FONT><\/A> and <\/FONT>here<\/FONT><\/A> at f\/k\/a <\/EM>(despite<\/EM> the <\/FONT>insults<\/FONT><\/A> of a <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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certain dignified<\/FONT><\/A><\/EM> <\/FONT><\/FONT>p\/i lawyer).  Now, if only the good-guy tort lawyers would read <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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up and take it too heart.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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lawyer telling clients when they are damned fools<\/EM><\/A>> The first two of almost half a <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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million <\/FONT>Google results came from f\/k\/a<\/EM>, for this very important concept.  We <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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were quoting Sol <\/FONT>Sol Linowitz<\/FONT><\/A>‘s book <\/FONT>Betrayed Profession<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A>:   <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“Elihu Root . . . put the matter more simply: ‘About <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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half the practice <\/FONT>of a decent lawyer,’ he once said, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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‘consists in telling would-be clients <\/FONT>that they are <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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damned fools and should stop.’<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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“Today there are too few lawyers who see it as <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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part of their function <\/FONT>to tell clients (especially new <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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clients) that they are damned fools and <\/FONT>should stop: <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Any such statement would interfere with the marketing <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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program. The public pays, because the rule of law is <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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diminished.”<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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\"honest\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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fiduciary obligations of attorneys<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>> #1 of 2.5 million Google results, on <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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a topic that doesn’t get enough discussion in the legal profession, was <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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this post<\/A>, which focused on the obligation to better inform clients when <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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setting fees.  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Of course, some of the search engine results seem to be a bit <\/FONT>inadvertent <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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(or inauspicious):<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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haiku perspiration<\/FONT><\/A>> #4 of 15,000 in the Google search, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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which lets me repeat the poem in question from my alter <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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ego dagosan<\/EM>:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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perspiration rolls<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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across flat abs —<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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her innie<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Stop buying expensive coffee and save<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>>  #3 of 3.8 million Google results<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 was our <\/FONT>commentary<\/A> about law students spending far too much on luxuries <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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and adding <\/FONT>needlessly to their law school debt.  (Sometimes, we sound like <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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old fuddy-duddies<\/FONT>around here.)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                              \"coffeeCupSN\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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how big is a F cup<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>> #1 of almost 9 million Yahoo! search results. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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As usual, old Master Issa is the culprit (along with the “f” in our name):<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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evening<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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in a big <\/FONT>sake cup. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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moon and a flea <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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We were only the 9th result for men with spiked hair<\/A>>, but it’s a good <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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excuse to re-post two ed markowski follicle poems:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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           late day showers…<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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                   my hair gel<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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                      reactivates<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                       winter pines…<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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                             the ski instructor’s<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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                                  spiked hair<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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          <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>ed markowski<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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owen wilson erection in speedo<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>> –  Yesterday, we were #1 out of 309 in this <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Yahoo query.    That’s what I get for featuring the book <\/FONT>Taboo Haiku<\/EM><\/FONT>. Go here<\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to see the provoking poems.  [Oddly, the same Yahoo! search today doesn’t <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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even show f\/k\/a in the top 40.  Talk about inconsistent performance.]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"witchBrewSF\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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update<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/EM> (5 PM, March 24):  I don’t know who’s looking up halloween sex<\/EM><\/A>> in <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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March, but <\/FONT>our post on pols vs. sex offenders<\/FONT><\/A> was the #2 result out of 5.3 million <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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in a Yahoo! <\/FONT>Search today.  Meanwhile, our own attempts to find out more about <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the Smith v. Peterson<\/EM> <\/FONT>“early bather” case, revealed that the f\/k\/a<\/EM> post<\/A> of the subject <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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is the #1 result when <\/FONT>Googling “Sheldon Smith” lawyer<\/EM><\/A>>. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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just one glass of wine<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Google keeps asking<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“Did you mean _____?”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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blind date <\/FONT>tomorrow —<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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will she<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Yahoo! me tonight?<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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  <\/FONT> <\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/FONT>dagosan<\/STRONG><\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>  <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>
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                                                                                                                                                  \"computer<\/FONT><\/P>
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<\/FONT> <\/P>
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 <\/P><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since 2006 began, I’ve been forgetting to update my favorite SideBar feature — The Inadvertent Searchee.  In a week when your Editor has been accused of being old and over the hill, intellectually lazy, and — gasp! — a writer of both gibberish and poetry, I’m happy to make up for that neglect with a few new entries.  […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2926],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-06-2006"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-19O","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4452"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12719,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4452\/revisions\/12719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}