Attorney General William French Smith, speaking to the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, in Chicago. Jan. 25, 1982: For the past year, as Attorney General of the United States, I have gained new insight into the role of lawyers in our society, and the public's understanding of that role. The Attorney General, like all lawyers, represents clients and is the advocate for their interests in the courts.

In addition, however, the Attorney General owes another allegiance, as do all lawyers, an allegiance to our Constitution and legal system, to the effective operation of the legal system and to its preservation and improvement.

Over the past year, I have often been struck, and sometimes bemused, by the confusion evinced in the press over those two roles. I can personally attest to the accuracy of what is called Knoll's Law of Media Accuracy: ''Everything you read in the newspapers is absolutely true except for the rare story of which you happen to have firsthand knowledge.'' Erwin Knoll is the editor of The Progressive.