E-Poll

What does it mean to practice law "in the spirit of public service"? Here's what our readers say.

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	45% Agree 55% Disagree	1.Admission to the bar imposes a duty of public service. Comments: "There seems to be a tendency to overestimate the importance of being a lawyer. The lawyers charging exorbitant fees are usually the ones extolling public service in order to cover their rears."
	30% Agree 70% Disagree	2. Practicing law "in the spirit of public service" by definition entails being involved in political issues.
	80% Agree 20% Disagree	3. What constitutes public service, like art, is in the eye of the beholder.
	35% Agree 65% Disagree	4. By virtue of their education and experience, lawyers have a special ability to discern the public good.
	45% Agree 55% Disagree	5. To practice "in the spirit of public service," it is sufficient that a lawyer be well-intentioned.
	70% Agree 30% Disagree	6. Diversity of views about what it means to serve the public serves the public interest.
	65% Agree 35% Disagree	7. A common understanding among lawyers of their role as public servants is unlikely to be achieved in today's complex society.
	55% Agree 45% Disagree	8. The status of the legal profession would be enhanced if lawyers evinced a common understanding of their public service role. Comments: "It is incumbent upon law schools and the Bar to encourage careers in public service and to highlight the importance of contributing to society rather than encouraging money and salaries as being the yardstick for success."
	60% Agree 40% Disagree	9. Questioning what public service means is as important to its pursuit as acting on a particular understanding of its meaning.
	50% Agree 50% Disagree	10. Lawyers best serve the public by serving their clients, one at a time.