Influences part 3
^ TOPIvo Fuchs
Another person who had an impact wider than he could have realised was Ivo Fuchs, the father of a friend.
He was a successful millionaire businessman, not a lawyer. I was a law student and aspiring barrister, soon to go on the Bar course. He said that had his life been different he would have liked the opportunity to become a barrister. I have no doubt had he done so he would have been an outstanding success.
Having come to this country as a very young Jewish refugee from Hitler's devastation of Europe, he had not had the advantages that he might have had had circumstances differed. This had not stopped him being outstandingly successful, but it did mean that business rather than a professional career was more viable.
^ TOPAccident
To understand his kindness, and why as a young man I was very much inclined to listen to him (apart from the fact that he was very interesting), one tale will suffice. It was a social evening. Young people (friends of his children), so he was not part of it. At his amazing house. I can't remember how it came about, but someone was suggesting that once they adopted a particular pose they were solid as a rock, and it was impossible to push them over or throw them. I said that wasn't right, and promptly proceeded to do it. They went flying across the room and unfortunately into a display set, knocking off and breaking a couple of plates. Goodness knows how much they cost. I was expecting World War 3.
^ TOPHave a brandy
Mr Fuchs came to see what the problem was. "Not to worry" he said. "Accidents sometimes happen". Then he said to me "You've probably had a bit of a nasty shock with this. I know just the thing to sort it out. Come with me." We went into his study, and he proceeded to pour me a glass of fine Napoleon brandy. "This will make you feel better". It was an amazingly thoughtful response and one I have never forgotten.
^ TOPThink from the client's perspective
It is the advice which he gave me one day when we were talking which is relevant to this point. He told me when I was a barrister I should always think of the perspective of the person I was working with, the client. He told me that if he listened to his lawyers and accountants, he would never make any money, because he would never do any deal. There were always risks in deals. It was a question of assessing which were acceptable, which were not. He made me realise the importance of putting legal considerations into the commercial or other context of the person receiving advice.
^ TOPEnable the client to make an informed decision
That is a hugely valuable lesson, and one I have borne in mind from the first day I started as a barrister, and will continue to do so until my last day. Whatever the nature of the case the client needs to understand the law, the options, the risks. However it must be put into the realistic context of their position, what they are seeking to achieve, what they are seeking to avoid, what they can realistically expect. Law does not operate in a vacuum. It operates with real people, real problems, and in a real context whether commercial or personal. Legal advice that does not ensure that the answers are put into that context will not really help clients make the decisions that ultimately they alone can make.