A Philadelphia Lawyer in the London Courts

D CHANCERY BARRISTERS-BARRISTER PARTNERSHIPS NOT ALLOWED-ENGLISH LITIGATION LESS IMPORT

s, about which he will get little reliable information,

ee, in gold, as to which the barrister is presumed to be quite oblivious. This, however, is not always the experience of the modern barrister, who may have some relative occupying the position of chairman of a railway, or of a large City company, the solicitors of which will be apt to think of this particular man when retaining counsel. In such fas

ing three guineas for the trial and one guinea for the "conference" with the solicitor. Whe

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settlements at intervals, is not uncommon. Contingent fees are absolutely prohibited,

ommon law barristers and their business is of a quieter and less conspicuous character. At the fireside in chambers in Lincoln's Inn, if the conversation drifts to fees, one may

ty-five years later-in 1894-just before he was elevated to the bench, his fees for the year were ￡22,517. For the ten years preceding he had averaged ￡16,842, and, for the ten years before that, ￡10,903. The biographer of Sir Frank Lockwood, a successful barrister, relates that he earned ￡120 his first year and th

ted 30,000 guineas. It seems to be the general opinion of those well informed that the most distinguished leader may, at the height of his career,

le, for real professional services in litigation, but for success in promoting, merging or reorganizing business enterprises. The fees of English barristers are practically all gain, as there are no office exp

late only to the application of the principle to different circumstances. In order to appreciate the abhorrence of partnerships, it is necessary to bear in mind the fact that the great science of the law is to the barrister strictly a profession, having no affinity to a business or a trade. No barrister can have the slig

as particularly large, remembering that the recipients are at

he daily routine of the London courts, in the tight little Island with its dense population and well-settled rights, there seems to be a complete absence of those far-reaching litigations which arise in America, involving enormous sums

cceptance of judgeships by the most eminent barristers; still, judicial salaries in England are high-￡5,0

ered that his clerk would receive a retainer of 500 guineas on behalf of the K. C. who would be missing upon the cause being reached. The clerk would then tell the solicitor's clerk that the K. C. was overcrowded, and he did not believe he could get him into court unless 250 g

irms, and, if men of ability, either rise in the firm or form their own associations. They are not hampered by the same considerations of delicacy and etiquette as the b

e transaction of business which is not of the profession at all, such as the promotion of enterpris

ient in advance, but it must be in writing and is subject to review by a Master as to its reasonableness. For an appearance in court the charge runs from 6s. 8d. to ￡1. 1s. 0d., a

t to the client's town or country house, is charged for; while incidental outlays and expenses are carefully detailed, including the fees paid the barrister for his opinions, for the drafting of pleadings and for appearance in court. If the matter has involved proceedings in court in which the solicitor's client has been successful, then various costs are a