Chaucerian Legal Ethics

I have sometimes thought that somebody should write an article about the Man of Law in The Canterbury Tales, and in particular what his character, and his tale, suggests about certain...perennial issues in legal ethics.  Rob?  Here is the description of the lawyer in the Prologue (in modern English):

A sergeant of the law, wary and wise,

Who’d often gone to Paul’s walk to advise,

There was also, compact of excellence.

Discreet he was, and of great reverence;

At least he seemed so, his words were so wise.

Often he sat as justice in assize,

By patent or commission from the crown;

Because of learning and his high renown,

He took large fees and many robes could own.

So great a purchaser was never known.

All was fee simple to him, in effect,

Wherefore his claims could never be suspect.

Nowhere a man so busy of his class,

And yet he seemed much busier than he was.

All cases and all judgments could he cite

That from King William’s time were apposite.

And he could draw a contract so explicit

Not any man could fault therefrom elicit;

And every statute he’d verbatim quote.

He rode but badly in a medley coat,

Belted in a silken sash, with little bars,

But of his dress no more particulars.