For those who don't know, I
have been a fan of comic books pretty much my entire life. And much like
anybody who is a fan of any type of fiction, be it Harry Potter, Twilight
or D.C.'s line of comics, you begin to pick up on the character archetypes
and see them appear in your world. So it's not at all surprising that I
would see different types of superheroes everywhere I go. So here's my
take on the lawyers I have met and which superheroes they reflect.
- Green Lanterns
The rules are there, they just need to be enforced! Work within the
system; deal with the criminals directly. Green Lanterns are, literally,
cops. But in the lawyer's world, they are prosecutors. Green Lanterns are
driven by sheer will power to uphold the law. And the law is the law, fair
or unfair. "Believe in the system" is the Green Lantern's mantra.
- Green Arrow and Black
Canary
Direct action, advocating social change. Social justice isn't created by
following the laws that are on the books but by changing those laws
to reflect what is right. Both Green Arrow and Black Canary practice
public law. They might be public defenders or they might work in-house for
nonprofit organizations like the ACLU, PETA or the Comic Book Legal
Defense Fund.
- Superman and
Supergirl
Supes is a big deal. Justice is of utmost importance. S/he is a shining
example of how a superhero should behave. Meet strength with strength,
meet gentle with gentle. The bad guys are born bad guys, and they should
be locked away. Forever. But supes does not work with or for the police.
Oh no! Supes is a shark who normally works defense but has been known to
represent plaintiffs.
- Batman and Batgirl
The Bats want you scared straight. Bats work with the police but are not
trusted. The Bats are district attorneys who believe that being a
criminal, for most, is a choice. Batsie wants to help you make the right
choice and will even cut you a break if you seem scared enough. However,
there are a few out there who are sick and cannot make the right choice.
So they get put into a hospital where doctors work to cure their
illness.
- Wonder Woman and Wonder
Man
The Wonders are that indeed! Physically and mentally powerful individuals
who are willing to fight to the death. They are passionate about what they
do. But their first line of attack? Alternative dispute resolution:
mediation, negotiation and arbitration. They want to come to an agreement
and understanding first. Words before weapons. They are expert negotiators
and will do what they can to make sure everyone gets what they need before
dragging cases through a lengthy courtroom battle, which they are fully
capable of.
So what kind of superhero
lawyer are you or do you think you would be? Do you have any to add? Leave
a comment or e-mail me! I'd sure like to know!
W. Blake Wilson,
Instructional & Research Services Librarian
Labels: Jayhawk, KU Law, law school, legal career, library, University of Kansas