And the [Philadelphia] Bar Association has forever been associated with the term “Philadelphia Lawyer.” The term actually predates the nation’s founding, having its origins in 1735 when Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Hamilton traveled to New York City to defend a poor printer, John Peter Zenger. Hamilton actually acted pro bono and accepted a case that no New York lawyer would take on. Defending Zenger against charges of sedition brought by the crown, Hamilton won the case and, in so doing, established the concept of freedom of the press more than 50 years before the First Amendment. It was said that when the jury returned its verdict those in the galleries exclaimed: “Only a Philadelphia lawyer could have done it!”

Philadelphia Bar Association: We’d Love To Tell You More, But Then We’d Have To Bill You
PhilaLawyer: I’m Not Bad, I’m Just Drawn That Way

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 at 11:55 am.