Buying a pig In a poke is never a good idea. In this article, Mr. Stewart warns about two situations where this maxim applies. The first concerns making threats of criminal or regulatory action to gain an advantage in civil litigation; lawyers who believe there is a simple straightforward answer to deal with such a situation will be surprised. The second concerns attempts to restrict a lawyer's future conduct through the settlement of a matter; again, those who believe that there is a consensus view on this subject are in for a surprise.