Abraham Lincoln: Lawyer

Lincoln received his law license in 1836 and was enrolled to practice in 1837. He began practicing in 1837 with John Stuart, and in 1841 he joined William Herndon. He obtained a patent in 1849 for a device to navigate boats over shoals.

Lincoln had a lot of good advice for lawyers: "The leading rule for the lawyer, as for the man of every other calling, is diligence. Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today." His famous advice on litigation is still relevant: "Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough." Lincoln was an active lawyer who appeared before the Illinois Supreme Court 175 times, so he obviously had plenty of business despite his honest advice to clients.

As a lawyer, he understood that a "lawyer's time and advice are his stock in trade."

Lincoln summarized some important values for lawyers. In true lawyer fashion, Lincoln remarked, "The ballot is stronger than the bullet." Many lawyers should aspire to this ideal from Lincoln: "Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it." This is a classical quote, and one of his most underrated statements. It is the antithesis of "might makes right", that commonplace reflex that is so prevalent in this world.

Exactly what Lincoln said on some occasions is a question of significant debate, particularly on the quote, "...you cannot fool all the people all the time." In the Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, the following is attributed to Lincoln in a speech in Clinton, Illinois on September 2, 1858: "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." This has become one of Lincoln's most famous sayings.

Perhaps it was this advice from Lincoln, offered during his Second Inauguration Speech of 1865, that all attorneys should remember: "With malice toward none; with charity for all..." In fact, that's a wise way to proceed for anyone.