The Cincinnati Bar Association recently asked me to write an article reflecting on what it was like to practice law when I began my career more than half a century ago, compared with the profession today. They prefaced the request by noting they were looking for a “seasoned attorney,” a gracious way of saying they wanted someone who is “old.”
I graduated from the Chase College of Law Evening Program in 1968. At the time, the law school was located in downtown Cincinnati in the YMCA building at the corner of Parkway and Elm. During the day, I served as a law clerk in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, first for Judge Carson Hoy and later for Judge William R. Matthews. I was in distinguished company. Among my fellow clerks were Simon Leis, Nick Nadel, Ron Panioto, and John O’Connor, all of whom went on to become judges. My ambition, however, was simply to practice law.
The law clerks would meet for lunch every other Thursday at Arnold’s. Every fourth Thursday we would invite one of the judges to join us. Those gatherings gave us the opportunity to get to know the judges outside the courtroom, relationships that proved invaluable later in practice. It made going into private practice easier because those assignments gave me a financial base for my criminal practice. 
At that time, there was not a Public Defender’s Office, and there were no CLE courses on professionalism. We did not need them. Civility and mutual respect were simply part of the culture. We respected judges, not necessarily because we agreed with every ruling, but because we respected the office they held. We would fight vigorously in the courtroom, then go to happy hour afterward.
When I entered practice, it was easier than today. There were fewer lawyers and only ten criminal statutes. Everyone knew each other. Criminal cases were not assigned to an individual judge, except for capital cases. The cases would all go to one judge who would rotate as criminal judge once a month. That judge would call all the criminal cases for the day. An assignment commissioner would then go and dole the cases to judges that were free that day. It was very helpful to make friends with the assignment commissioner, as it was our way of “judge shopping.” 
My years as a law clerk provided an education that augmented my legal education. I learned by sitting in the courtroom and observing remarkable trial lawyers in action. Attorneys such as Bernie Gilday, Foss Hopkins, Bob Stachler, Bob Bernie, and the MacIntosh brothers were legendary advocates and unforgettable personalities. Just as importantly, they were generous with their time and wisdom. If a younger lawyer had a question, they were always willing to offer guidance. There was a genuine sense that members of the profession looked out for one another.
One experience has stayed with me throughout my career. After a client of mine was sentenced to a lengthy prison term, I walked into the hallway and started to cry. Foss Hopkins saw me, put his arm around my shoulder, and walked with me down the hall. He spoke to me with the kindness and reassurance of a father, helping me regain my composure. I will never forget his kindness or his compassion.
I recognize that every generation of lawyers faces different challenges. The law has become more complex, technology has transformed the practice, and the demands on attorneys have increased. Perhaps there is something to be learned from those earlier days. We can advocate zealously for our clients while still treating one another with respect, generosity, and professionalism. Those qualities not only strengthen our profession, but they also make the practice of law a far more rewarding calling. 
Today, the comradery seems to have disappeared. I think we should all take a deep breath, relax, and practice professionalism.

Martin Pinales is a founding attorney at Pinales Stachler Young & Burrell Co. LPA in Cincinnati, where he has represented individuals and businesses in complex state and federal criminal matters for more than five decades. A nationally recognized trial and appellate advocate, he is a past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, a frequent lecturer on trial advocacy and legal ethics, and a longtime member of the Cincinnati Bar Association’s Ethics Committee and Inn of Court.