Rudy The Rainmaker

Although Rudy Baylor, in The Rainmaker, is a new and unaccustomed lawyer, he certainly has his strengths and weaknesses, and with taking a case for the first time, his complexion as well as his professionalism is shown.
Rudy’s jurisdiction or in other words, his area of authority, in which he’s practicing in, is Memphis, Tennessee. He studied at the University of Memphis Tennessee Law School. Rudy, who has an interest in social justice and civil rights, practiced Criminal Law and Civil Law. In other words, he would help someone sue and go through court. Desperate for a job, he goes to a corrupt but successful personal injury lawyer, who makes Rudy an associate. To earn his fee, Rudy was required to hunt for clients at a local hospital.

He finds and proceeds to help three clients, Miss Birdsong, Donny Ray, and Kelly Riker. Miss Birdsong, is an elderly woman that refuses to pass on her will to her family and relatives when she dies. She always says “Cut. Cut. Cut”. His other client is dealing with a more brutal and critical situation. Donny lives with his parents and is dying from leukemia. He’s very sick and his mom is nursing him in bed. Donny Ray would most likely have been saved by a bone marrow transplant, had his medical claim not been denied by Great Benefit, the family's insurance carrier. Rudy ended up taking Donny’s case and bringing that to court. Meanwhile, Rudy’s last client, Kelly Riker, who he gets to know, is a young woman who was beaten with a baseball bat by her husband, who continues to abuse her.
The original judge assigned to the case, is set to dismiss the case. He was very stubborn about the case and wouldn’t cooperate. He thought it was non-worth while case. So he seemed to be very nonchalant and carless about it. Yet, all of a sudden the judge suffered a fatal heart attack. Quickly afterwards, a far more sympathetic judge, took over the case. However, the new judge was very assertive and didn’t mess around. He didn’t budge on changing the court date when asked. He wasn’t stubborn, however he looked to see both sides of the situation and saw to what was fair and of course what was the truth.
The company Rudy is going up against in court, Great Benefit, violated Rudy illegally.

To get ears on Rudy’s case, in terms of his discussions, Great Benefit’s lawyer planted a hidden live feed mic in Rudy’s office. That was an illegal, unfair, and unprofessional violation by them listening in. Rudy eventually found out about the mic and instead of reporting the evidence of them listening in or using the evidence against Great Benefit in court, he used the evidence to make it seem like one of the members of the jury had to do with it (jury tampering). Yet, he used it against the lawyer in court to get back at the lawyer and humiliate him. Though that was kind of clever and hysterical, it wasn’t very professional and responsible for Rudy to do. Henceforth, it was also a violation by Rudy. One other violation Rudy made was the approachment towards the victim, in which he accidently did in the court

room.
Rudy has definitely shown both positive and negative sides of his professionalism throughout this case in terms of his job and his personal life outside. Rudy had a consistency of mixing his job with/into his personal life. In my opinion, those two things, and especially with having a serious and independent job, shouldn’t correlate what so ever. For example, he became really close to Kelly and they formed a gentle and reserved kind of relationship. In fact, Rudy got too close to all three of his clients. He rented Miss Birdsong’s garage for a place to work and sleep. He even spent some of his free time with his clients. Personally, I wouldn’t want that unless I knew my lawyer well enough in some circumstance. But even that, it is still strange and unprofessional. Non the less, on the positive side his attitude is very good professionally. Overall, in consideration of both sides, I would rate Rudy very low at a professional level. Maybe it’s because he’s just starting out and it will all come in time. Inexperience is definitely and excuse though.
Corresponding to his good and bad professional ways, Rudy surly has many strengths even though he has some weaknesses.

Overall, Rudy is a very likable guy; he’s caring, he’s friendly, and he’s sensitive. He’s a sociable person. Those characteristics in general are strengths that are influential. A couple of weaknesses he has is inexperience and his confidence, particularly in the court room. I would not hire Rudy Baylor, just starting his first case. I can understand why his clients needed his help because they were already at rock bottom. However, if Rudy continued to be a lawyer and proceeded to take many cases to court, after years of gaining experience, and he’s still a great guy yet he’s good at what he does, I’d hire

him.
The law does provide justice to the victims in this movie. More in particular, Donny Ray and his parents were justified at the end when the jury made their decision that Great Benefit was guilty. My general statement and opinion on the U.S. legal system is that it’s essential and imperative. Laws do need to be enforced and cases should be looked upon and taken to court. It is very effective in its process. It is the Judicial Branch and that is one of the three branches of government we have. Without it, the whole world and society would be unbalanced.