Mr. Goldart, the deputy attorney in charge of Legal Aid's criminal-defense division, said lawyers would retain "the prerogative" of requiring direct meetings with clients at the courthouses.

There, lawyers retain a more noble reputation, the legacy of the truly heroic role many played in the years before Nelson Mandela came to power.

Ms. Jones's lawyers have retained private investigators to bolster their contention that Mr. Clinton's treatment of Ms. Jones was part of a pattern of unwanted advances toward women.

It can be argued of course that, by withholding an admission of his obvious perjury, the lawyers are retaining a hole card to be played in a plea bargain with Congress.

The doctor's lawyer, Richard Asche, said Dr. Schwartzman is in private practice and retains admitting privileges at Brooklyn Hospital.

Another inconsistency in the case did not come to light until after Crowell's recantation in 1985 when Dotson's new lawyer retained a forensic serologist to look at the trial evidence.

Her lawyers would retain one-third, but receive nothing if she loses.

In the years since 1976, one lawyer has retained his own counsel, a second lawyer passed the case to his partner's son and a third lawyer died and is being represented by his estate.

Although many estate planning lawyers will assure clients of their ability to perform this specialized work, parents should be extraordinarily cautious in deciding which lawyer to retain.

To help with jury selection, Mr. Williams's lawyers have retained Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, a jury consultant who helped the defense choose the jury in the O. J. Simpson murder trial.