Ezekiel C.

Biter
February 24, 2020
3-Manresa

The Rainmaker

“I’m just another lawyer. Just another shark in the dirty water.”
MATT DAMON-Rudy Baylor

This line at the last scene struck me the most as I watch the film. As they said,
practice of law is a noble profession. However, it is undeniable that this kind of profession,
to survive, requires creativity, vigilance and most of all wit.

What differs from one lawyer to another is its intention. May it be for money, glory
or charity, but they all use the same means. Hence, does the end justify the means or the
means justify the end? It really doesn’t matter, after all, we all are sharks in the dirty water.

The very clear problem of practice of law in the film was the so-called “ambulance
chasing”. Ambulance chasing, sometimes known as barratry, is a professional slur which
refers to a lawyer soliciting for clients at a disaster site1. Literally, lawyers follow
ambulances to the emergency room to find clients.

This activity is considered illegal because it violates a person’s freedom to reach

out and contact an attorney after an accident, not the other way around. Also, it
undeniably influences the client’s action in consideration of the lawyer’s personal
advantage. Lawyers must uphold the best interest of their clients. As the Code of
Professional Responsibility provides, that lawyers are imposed with the duty to respect
the law, the courts, their clients and the legal profession.

At first in the film, Rudy Baylor is guilty of such malpractice for he was ordered by
his boss to do such. However, as Rudy had the opportunity to practice independently, he
chose not to continue this kind of malpractice. Rudy upholds the integrity of the profession
and to the best interest of his client.

If I am the lawyer, I will still do the same as Rudy did. That all my actions must be
in consideration to the best interest of my client. Sad but true that I will be employing the
same means as of my opponents, but it is the only way to survive and to uphold the truth.

While it may be true that “we are all sharks in the dirty water” but the only thing that keeps
us going is our personal integrity and intention.

1
Garner, Bryan A. (2011). Garner's Dictionary of Legal Usage (3 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-
538420-8.
 Primal Fear

“I believe in the notion that people are innocent until proven guilty. I believe in that
notion because I choose to believe in the basic goodness of people. I choose to believe
that not all crimes are committed by bad people. And try to understand that some very,
very good people do some very bad things”
RICHARD GERE- Martin Veil

These lines struck me the most as I watch the film. Because as we are taught in
law school, that our own opinion doesn’t matter. What only matters is the law. I realized
that anyone is innocent and of the same way, anyone can be a criminal.

In the film, Aaron committed murder, and everyone puts verdict on him. There are
hard evidences that would lead to Aaron’s conviction. Obviously, this is a losing case for
any lawyer that would try to defend Aaron. In practice of law, it is inevitable that a lawyer
is confronted with such situation. However, as a lawyer we hold the principle that
everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

As embodied in our Philippine Constitution, “No person shall be deprived of life,

liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal
protection of the laws2.” Everyone has rights including criminals. What the lawyer is
upholding is the truth and justice that it must prevail over everyone’s prejudices despite
the client’s innocence.

If I am the lawyer of Aaron, I will still do the same thing as Martin Veil did. Once a
lawyer appear as counsel of the client in court, it is his duty to fight for the rights of his
client regardless of its innocence. Not to the point of twisting the facts for its own benefit
but to the fact that each and every one has the right of due process which cannot be
denied.

“If your case is strong on the law, pound on the law. It it’s strong on the facts, pound
on the facts. It it’s neither, just pound the table” –Atty.Montejo

2
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-
1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-iii/