DID YOU KNOW?
RAPT REPORT
by W. Seaborn Jones
Of Counsel to Owen, Gleaton,
Egan, Jones & Sweeney LLP
The Atlanta Bar Committee on
Reputation and Public Trust (RAPT)
was formed in response to several
surveys which revealed a serious
decline in public respect for law-
yers. In the 1960's and 70's, lawyers
were regarded as trustworthy and
wise and ranked alongside doctors
in public opinion. By the 1990's,
lawyers dropped in the rankings
to a level previously reserved for
auto mechanics.
Those surveyed think most of us
charge too much for our services
and that our litigation process takes
too long and costs too much, ef-
Bring your
fectively depriving some of access
to our courts. They think some of
us are unethical or dishonest and
care more about money and win-
ning than we do about playing by
the rules. They think that our self-
administered disciplinary process is
not very effective. They think some
lawyers file frivolous lawsuits and
that others undertake matters be-
yond their competence.
While we know that the public has
an exaggerated notion of how many
lawyers are ethically challenged, can
we afford to ignore these criticisms?
The Atlanta Bar's response was the
creation of a standing committee on
Reputation and Public Trust. The
committee was initially chaired by
Ben Weinberg and has been com-
posed of trial and appellate judges,
law school deans, representatives
from the State Bar’s disciplinary
office and lawyers committed to
the task.
Members of RAPT have present-
ed four programs to the Georgia
Councils of Superior Court Judges
and State Court Judges. The judges
were surveyed, and their responses
substantiated many of the public’s
complaints. Many judges cited
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