Why Do Lawyers Lie? One Word: Narcissism

How many of you have deliberately misstated important facts to a court? Attorney Arthur Burger has wondered what opposing counsel were thinking when they've lied in court. Even from a Machiavellian standpoint, how could they expect to gain anything from such easily rebuttable distortions? So Burger talked to psychiatrist Richard Ratner, who said that lawyers, generally, and litigators, in particular, tend to "have generous helpings of narcissism," which he says can be both good and bad.

How many of you have deliberately misstated important facts to a court? Silence. Mmm hmm.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

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Why Do Lawyers Lie? One Word: Narcissism

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