National Lawyer Group Warns: Fox's Empire Cranking Up Assault on Legal Profession with "Thirsty" Lawyer

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Meet Thurston Rawlings. He is a "win at all costs" defense lawyer, University of Guam graduate and proud owner of "discount suits." Rawlings personifies every lawyer stereotype out there: client-chasing, amoral, money-hungry, opportunistic. "What we have here is a pitiful portrayal of what lawyers supposedly do and how they act," said Nader Anise, Executive Director of ALPIA (American Lawyers Public Image Association). "With very few exceptions, lawyers are highly ethical, extremely professional, honest, and a client centric group who do a thankless job. You certainly couldn't tell that by watching Empire."

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The previous night's premiere of The Grinder on Fox wasn't exactly a love letter to lawyers, either, as Fred Savage's character (Stewart Sanderson), a lawyer with robotic tendencies, couldn't find a courtroom if it slapped him in the face. (ALPIA's press release on The Grinder can be found here.) "Between The Grinder and Empire, airing on back to back nights, Fox has successfully painted lawyers as being inept, awkward, insecure, unethical, without moral compass and possibly criminal. Congratulations Fox, you're batting 0 for 2, and the season has only begun," the leader of ALPIA said.

Rawlings was introduced as Lucious Lyon's new defense lawyer on Season 2, episode 2 on Fox's hit show Empire. "My friends call me 'Thirsty,'" Rawlings says, as he hands his business card to Jamal (Lucious' son) in an attempt to solicit Lucious' business. "Do most people realize that it's unethical for a lawyer to engage in direct solicitation of a client?" Anise asks. "Probably not," he replies. "Rather than use the scene as a teachable moment to educate the public on lawyer ethics, viewers, instead, are left with the impression that Thirsty, like all lawyers, must be hopelessly addicted to ambulance chasing."

To make matters worse, Rawlings, apparently, is not averse to resorting to blackmail. During Lucious' bail hearing, Rawlings hands the judge an envelope containing photos of the judge in various vulnerable, compromising positions. One glance at the freshly obtained photos and the judge orders Lucious' release on $1,000,000 bail. "Perhaps this makes for good TV; however, it is undoubtedly harmful to the image of lawyers," Anise says.

He adds, "We will continue to war against the harmful depiction of lawyers on TV and in the movies. The portrayal of 'Thirsty' in Empire is chilling and dangerous because it implies that winning 'by hook or by crook' applies to all lawyers. It doesn't. Not by a long shot. "

ALPIA's flagship initiative is National 'Love Your Lawyer Day on November 6, 2015.  ALPIA asks everyone to celebrate their favorite lawyers and refrain from tasteless lawyer jokes.

ALPIA is the American Lawyers Public Image Association, founded in 2000. It is the only legal organization in the world formed solely to promote a positive public image of lawyers. ALPIA is the leader on attorney image issues, receiving worldwide media coverage. The website is www.alpia.org.

CONTACT

Nader Anise., Executive Director
(800) 946-5298

SOURCE American Lawyers Public Image Association

Related Links

http://www.alpia.org