CAVEAT EMPTOR...buyer beware!

Usually "caveat emptor" is the Latin for "let the buyer beware" and usually is applied to property purchased. In this instance I will use it to apply to the purchase of legal services: one might say "intellectual" property. I will admit the analogy is not perfect and some of the property might not be worth the price asked for it...especially in the long run to the client.

You may not know it but with the exception of three areas of the law,the State of Illinois does not certify any lawyers or law firms as specialty practices...they the law firm or lawyer advertises what he/she/it considers they are expert in doing.
So you are taking them at their word; that could be a dangerous and expensive proposition in some instances when you are dealing with an individual or firm with an operational philosophy that allegedly places their welfare ahead of their clients' welfare. Everyone beyond the age of reason (about 7 yrs. of age) knows that not all people are interested in pursuing "truth, justice and the American way". Not even Superman uses the phrase "American way" anymore...he also must be politically correct and not offend anyone.

The three areas of the law recognized as certifiable by Illinois are: Patent Law, Trademark Law and Admiralty Law. As is evident by looking through the yellow pages one does not see many of these individuals in McHenry County. McHenry County might therefore be considered somewhat of a general practice sort of a county as far as the practice of law. In other words, like the song that "dates" me says "you'd better shop around".

Enough background, lets get to the meat of the matter. Over the last few days several attorneys have contacted me and I have contacted a few others and requested their gut "feelings" about the underlying operational philosophy of firms that do a high percentage of their business in servicing the needs of villages, towns, cities, and other governmental units in McHenry County. Guess what I found out from these other attorneys? Not all are concerned about truth or doing the right thing; some are more concerned about winning, even if the cost of winning in bordering on the unethical or lets use a politically incorrect word now,the "amoral" but maybe technically legal. They know the average person living from paycheck to paycheck cannot always stand up to a prolonged legal battle and that is a tactic which is used by some to win and not to arrive at justice. Maybe its true what some say; on this earth you can buy all the law you can afford but the only place that justice will be dispensed will be in Heaven...I hope I am wrong...or this country has a very dismal future ahead of it.

In conclusion of this non-clerical homily I humbly ask that all units of government whatever their size ask and question the legal services they buy what their underlying philosophy is because winning is not the be all and end all. If you believe in a Creator like our Founding Fathers did then you at some time will stand in His presence and will give an accounting of yourself....and please forgive me for speaking for Him...He is not going to ask you how many times you have WON?