Law
Cicero wanted to develop his career in law, which began with his study of law under Scaevola’s tutelage. Scaevola provided Cicero with unparalleled training and knowledge which gave him the information needed to pursue a career as a jurist. In his early years, work was slow - even though he was well connected, many men wanted someone with experience to defend them. This is shown by James D Williams, an associated professor of history, who states that, “Even though Cicero was well connected, it is unlikely that he was able to plead any significant cases when he began to practice as a jurist.” (Williams, 2009)
Cicero’s first well known case came from Sextus Roscius who was accused of murdering his wealthy father in 80 BC. Using pathos and ethos, Cicero cultivated sympathy for the accused and destroyed the characters of the accusers as a way of closing the case, with the outcome of Roscius’s acquition due to Cicero, allowed for him to become a famous lawyer. This is shown by John Hostetter, a legal biographer and historian who verifies that, “By accusing the accusers he obtained a brilliant victory. When the jury acquitted Roscius and Cicero immediately became a foremost lawyer and orator of Rome…” (Hostetter, 2013).
Cicero's Orations assisted him in the Law Courts
"By accusing the accusers he obtained a brilliant victory."
Cicero’s second case against Caius Verres was well remembered, as not only did Cicero defeat Hortnesius, the best orator and lawyer at the time, but his own positioning became renowned, as Verres’ defensive counsel withdrew from the case, and the he fled the country. Cicero’s passionate positioning toward Verres is shown in his speech ‘The First Pleading of Cicero in the Gaius Verres Trial’; “We say that Caius Verres has not only done many licentious acts, many cruel ones, towards Roman citizens… but especially that he has taken away four hundred thousand sesterces out of Sicily contrary to the law.” (Cicero, cited in Crane, 2014). This was supported by Douglas O Linder, professor and well published author in fields of law with a joint degree from Stanford Law School endorses that,“Even though tactical considerations prevented Cicero from delivering a closing argument against Verres, he nevertheless saw to it that Verres’s wicked acts would receive all the notoriety they deserved.” (Linder, 2008) Cicero’s short stint in law led to his passion and pursuit of a political future, as he became more involved with the senate.
First Oration against Caius Verres
Sources
Cicero, M. T. & Yonge, C., 1903. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero. London: George Bell & Sons.
Hostettler, J., 2013. Twenty Famous Lawyers. Sussex: Waterside Press.
Linder, D. O., 2008. The Trial of Gaius (or Caius) Verres: An Account. [Online] Available at: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrial/verres/verresaccount.html [Accessed 4 May 2014].
Williams, J. D., 2009. An Introduction to Classical Rhetoric. United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers.
Hostettler, J., 2013. Twenty Famous Lawyers. Sussex: Waterside Press.
Linder, D. O., 2008. The Trial of Gaius (or Caius) Verres: An Account. [Online] Available at: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrial/verres/verresaccount.html [Accessed 4 May 2014].
Williams, J. D., 2009. An Introduction to Classical Rhetoric. United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers.