1 Legal heroes
What do we mean when we refer to ‘legal heroes’? There are a number of differing definitions of the word ‘hero’ and Activity 1 asks you to think about these.
Activity 1 Definition of a legal hero
Think about the following statements and identify the characteristics that you think would make a ‘legal hero’.
Comment
The word ‘hero’ has many different meanings, for example, it could be the central character in a film or book. The word ‘hero’ actually originates from Greek, its original meaning ‘protector’ or ‘defender’.
Certain words become associated with the ‘law’, and the professional conduct regulations of advocates use words such as: independence, trust, personal integrity, confidentiality, personal honour, duty of loyalty, eliminating discrimination.
What, though, makes a ‘legal hero’? There is no one correct answer and the words you identify reflect your own perception of the law and what the law should achieve. For the purposes of this course, the term ‘legal hero’ is used to mean an individual, organisation or institution who made a difference by seeking a change in the law.