It’s difficult to be an attorney representing an unpopular client. Our system of government mandates legal assistance for those unable to find an attorney, but what about the highly paid defense lawyers who worked for O.J. Simpson? Or Bernie Madoff?
Or, one must now add to the list, Faisal Shahzad? The arrest of Mr. Shahzad yesterday, and the civilian trial he is entitled to as a U.S. citizen raise some thorny questions. What will be the level of his defense given his lack of money and the nature of his crime? Will his defense attorney’s name live on in infamy? What do you think about the legal argument regarding O.J. Simpson trying on the infamous glove, “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit?”
Our system of justice and equality before the law is sometimes difficult to execute. And any defense attorneys representing unpopular clients before the bench need an elementary knowledge of public relations, if only to get a fair trial for their clients.
How does the A.B.A. view public relations for attorneys? Apparently with reluctance. There is an unspoken animus between the legal and public relations professions because their advice to their clients often conflicts. The lawyer is concerned with the jury’s opinion while the PR practitioner is concerned with the public’s opinion or the client’s potential customers.
However, sometimes the two spheres intersect. When you’re dealing with a prominent civilian trial as a lawyer, you must be concerned with poisoning the jury pool. You need to get your arguments out before the public, and that’s the province of public relations. You also need to defend yourself because after the trial’s over, you’ll still need to make a living.
It will be interesting to observe how the trial of Faisal Shahzad takes place in all its aspects.
