Usually it had little to do with law.

Rather it was sound, practical advice as to the best thing to be done under the circumstances.

These circumstances, as may be imagined, varied widely.

Whatever they were and however little they justified apprehension on the part of the client we always made it a point at the very outset to scare the latter thoroughly.

"Conscience doth make cowards of us all." But a lawyer is a close second to conscience when it comes to coward-making; in fact, frightening people, innocent or guilty, became to a very large extent our regular business.
The sinners most of them live in daily terror of being found out and the virtuous are equally fearful of being unjustly accused.
Every one knows how a breath of scandal originating out of nothing can wither a family and drive strong men to desperation.