Not good.

This post, from Legal Profession Blog, made me cringe.

Counsel shows up in court, woefully unprepared, and actually states at one point that he “[tries] not to read that many cases”.

I was reminded of an appearance I made once in Master Michael Funduk’s chambers, when he was sitting as a registrar in bankruptcy.

One poor lawyer showed up barely familiar with her client’s case, and started flipping through her materials furiously every time he asked a question.

At one point, he took the lawyer to task.  In front of a full courtroom, he stood the matter to the end of the list and told her to go outside and get prepared.  “It is counsel’s duty to be prepared!” he said abruptly.

He was right.

The least counsel could do is to try to deliver some value for his or her retainer and give the client’s case an honest effort.

Good enough never is.