Lawyers were once among the most trusted professionals in America. In recent decades, however, public opinion of the legal profession has steadily declined. According to Gallup poll results released at the end of last year, only 18% of survey participants rated the honesty and ethical standards of lawyers as “High” or “Very High.”  Compare that with the 37% who rated them “Low” or “Very Low.”

This decline did not occur overnight. Indeed, the results of the Gallup poll, which has been administered since the 1970s, show that public confidence in the legal profession has waned considerably.

Certainly, television and comedians are partially responsible for the decline. The days of Perry Mason have been replaced by courtroom dramas and television advertisements aimed at accident victims, spouses considering divorce, and many others who might have a claim based on a defective product or failed investment.