Legal aid gets a bad press. Some rail against handing taxpayers' money to criminals; others attack fat cat lawyers, while some argue that we spend far more on legal aid than other countries. But let's get some facts straight: saying that legal aid is just about criminals is wrong - most goes to people before any decision is taken on their guilt.

I have never pretended to be a legal scholar, but when scores of lawyers are lining up to agree with the Supreme Court that the president has the power to make choices when it comes to whom to deport and whom to let stay, then I tend to agree with them.

Unless you have a perception of who you are as a lawyer, you will never be at ease in dealing with legal matters, clients, or courts. But if you know who you are and why you're there, all you need is the expertise and the information.

As a lawyer and a former prosecutor, I know the limits of the power and authority of the president. I know what is legal and what is not.

The only people who benefit from lawsuits are lawyers. I think we made a couple of them rich.

I'm afraid I talk a lot, too much, perhaps. I should have been a lawyer or a college professor or a windy politician, though I'm glad I am not any of these.

I have been surrounded by some of the smartest, brightest, most caring lawyers, by agents who are willing to risk their lives for others, by support staff that are willing to work as hard as they can.

I decided I wanted to be a lawyer when I was 11 years of age.

As a rule lawyers tend to want to do whatever they can to win.

To force a lawyer on a defendant can only lead him to believe that the law contrives against him.

Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.

To some lawyers, all facts are created equal.

As a private lawyer, I could bill $750 an hour, but I don't.

I used to want to be a lawyer, but I didn't want to have half my brain sucked out.

I'm not sure I can say there is a clean line between me as an individual and me as a lawyer.

I wouldn't pretend to tell you we don't pay our lawyers well.

All the libel lawyers will tell you there's no libel any more, that everyone's given up.

People are getting smarter nowadays; they are letting lawyers, instead of their conscience, be their guide.

We are led by lawyers who do not understand either technology or balance sheets.

They don't need a lawyer, they need a toastmaster.

I come from a profession which has suffered greatly because of the lack of civility. Lawyers treat each other poorly and it has come home to haunt them. The public will not tolerate a lack of civility.

As for lawyers, it's more fun to play one than to be one.

The trouble with law is lawyers.

Unfortunately, what many people forget is that judges are just lawyers in robes.