"A Higher Standard of Rectitude"

I came across this quote today:

"The profession of the law possesses extraordinary powers. Lawyers can make the arrogant humble and the weak strong. In control of the course of litigation and armed with the knowledge of right and wrong, they are most able to abjure illegal or tortious conduct; it is their duty to do so. As occupants of a high public trust and as officers of the court, they are expected to conform their behavior in legal affairs to a higher standard of rectitude and spirit of obedience than those who are willing to endure the dust of the transgression. Guided by oath, duty and obligation, the lawyer's path avoids the vices from which the virtuous abstain."

--Kimmel v. Goland, 51 Cal.3d 202 (1990).

Call me a young, starry-eyed dreamer, but I think there are lawyers in the world (including me!) who strive for this. We're not all crooks and villains. ;)