[Voices of the MZ Generation Column] A Lawyer's Work Means Understanding Others

[Asia Economy] When working as a lawyer, one must understand almost every perspective in the world. Even if there is someone you do not want to understand, if they are your client, you must try your best to consider their position. Even if they are a criminal, you need to listen to the parts the prosecutor ignores and inform the judge. At the very least, to ensure they receive a fair punishment rather than an unjust one, a lawyer must first become the person who ‘understands’ their client’s words.

Seen this way, the work of a lawyer somewhat contradicts the communication style that dominates today’s era. To put it simply, today is an era of ‘malicious misunderstanding.’ The attitude of believing that others have good intentions or trying to understand others’ positions is gradually disappearing. Instead, the most widespread phenomenon in our time is to first criticize, doubt, and target others.

Comments on internet news are filled with ridicule, condemnation, and stigmatization. Social networking services (SNS) are full of criticisms directed at others who belong to different groups or sides. People talk about what they ‘geukhyem’ (extremely hate). Politically or ideologically, those who hold different views are all considered demons. YouTube is filled with various targeting videos and phenomena where groups attack someone together.

However, to work as a lawyer, you must understand all kinds of perspectives. Even in similar criminal cases, sometimes you stand on the defendant’s side, and other times on the complainant’s side. Likewise, in similar claim cases, sometimes you take the plaintiff’s position, and other times the defendant’s. Even if there is a side you emotionally sympathize with more, a lawyer must thoroughly understand and persuade the position of their client.

I believe that a lawyer’s ‘justice’ is not about hastily deciding who is more right between this side and that side. Rather, a lawyer’s justice is about deeply understanding whoever the person is. Even if someone seems difficult to be understood by society at first glance, the lawyer’s role is to understand that person first and strive to make society and the judge understand them until the very end. A lawyer is not the one who condemns or judges but the one who understands.

Perhaps in our society, ‘understanding’ is the most important task. In an era where people are quick to criticize each other, claiming they cannot understand one another, an era lacking the will or desire to understand each other, and an era where everyone is busy focusing only on their own interests, what is most needed is understanding others, considering their positions.

Recently, dramas featuring lawyers such as ‘Strange Lawyer Woo Young-woo’ and ‘The Thousand-Won Lawyer’ have become popular. The lawyers in these works all have excellent understanding and empathy skills, deeply immersing themselves in others’ positions. Sometimes, they show a spirit of sacrifice by worrying about and helping others more than themselves. Although not all real-life lawyers may be like this, it is true that such effort and mindset are necessary for the work of a lawyer.

I think such a mindset is needed not only in my work and life but also in our society. Becoming a good lawyer is not different from becoming a good citizen of society. At the core of this work is the heart to ‘understand’ others’ matters. Even when criticizing someone, it is necessary to first understand that person before discussing their faults. Understanding and criticism are not contradictory. Rather, better criticism, healthy criticism aimed at creating a better society and life for all, can only be possible on the premise of understanding.

Jung Ji-woo, Cultural Critic