Origins of the Barefoot Lawyer

Why are we the Barefoot Attorneys? The term has a long history, and it encapsulates the ideal of fairness for anyone, however humble. It means that attorneys should be devoted to justice rather than to its trappings.

In China, humble local villagers are trained to give medical assistance in underserved rural areas. The heroes who take on this noble task are called “barefoot doctors.” They look no different or better than their neighbors. They are only distinguished by their training and devotion to service.

In Indonesia, legal practitioners of modest backgrounds and means have taken on the Jakarta administration and the billionaire Suharto family in class action suits, and they have been winning. These courageous underdogs are called “ghost lawyers“ or “barefoot lawyers.” They often literally come to court in sandals or bare feet.

In 1999, the Goa Foundation and the Indian Institute of Public Administration launched an intensive program of legal training for ordinary citizens. The goal has been to build up a cadre of trained “barefoot lawyers” to pursue “public interest suits” and protect the interests of the common citizen.

The Marcus Family Law Center, PLC, has embraced this concept, bringing expert justice to its clients at affordable rates with a minimum of frills or red tape. These days, our “Barefoot Attorneys“ may wear shoes to court, but we follow a centuries-old proud tradition.