Yes, I'm a lawyer. Please don't hold it against me. Many people don't like lawyers. They say they seldom return phone calls. Others complain that they charge too much money. Many say they don't speak plain English, and instead speak what is sometimes called 'legal gobbledegook.' Some even think lawyers are all crooks.
Many people think lawyers should be eliminated altogether. But America loves lawyers. We have more lawyers, per capita here, than any other nation in the world. When I passed the bar and started law practice, the registration number I was assigned was 2,386. That's how many lawyers there were in Colorado, USA. If I were to tell you how many Colorado lawyers there are today you wouldn't believe me and you would think I was lying. By the way, you do know how to tell if a lawyer is lying don't you? If his mouth is moving.
Again, many people think lawyers should be eliminated altogether. Shakespeare, in Hamlet, has the line, "The first order of business should be to kill all the lawyers." Heaven forbid! Pogo, our cartoon philosopher friend, gave us an alternative: "Let's just shorten their legal pads." This sounds like a much more realistic idea to me. Doesn't it to you too?
I write different types of articles: business, spiritual, and human development. I call myself 'The Lawyer Business Coach,' and 'The Gospel Coach.' Most people can understand me writing law-business articles. But many can't understand me writing spiritual articles. I've had people say, "How can you be a lawyer, and a Christian too? Isn't that a contradiction in terms?"
At a funeral service the minister said, "Here lies a lawyer, and a good Christian man." One fellow asked the minister: "Did they bury two men in the same grave?" But, yes, I do write spiritual articles. My focus is living daily life in the power of the finished work of the gospel of Jesus.
My purpose in these humor articles is simply to give you a greater fondness for us lawyers. Maybe just a greater tolerance for us? Take your pick. Don't forget to hug your lawyer today. On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea. Ignore that counsel.
Remember, lawyers are people too. Well, at least most of us. And at least most of the time. Whichever is greater. Or least. Or perhaps both.
Those Legal EAGLES (or is that 'BEAGLES'?)
Lawyers are the legal eagles of society! We are the custodians of liberty!! We are the protectors of the people!!! We are the stalwarts of justice!!!! We are the upholders of the Constitution!!!!! And if you believe this, then I also have some ocean-front property in Denver, Colorado I want to sell you too.
We all know what an eagle is. It's a large, gorgeous, strong bird that is the symbol of America herself. We lawyers like to consider ourselves legal eagles. We also all know what beagles are. It is defined as a dog who is a small hound, with a smooth, lavish coat, short legs and drooping ears. They also have a wide throat, and produce a deep growl or fierce bark. This describes a lot of lawyers I know.
It's Hard For Lawyers To Stay Motivated
It's especially hard for us lawyers to stay motivated because of all the negative lawyer jokes we hear all the time. I wish people would go back to Pollock jokes. But then I'm not so sure about this either, because Sir Frederick Pollock was a famous English lawyer barrister, and jurist.
I feed myself this stuff because it's so hard for us lawyers to stay motivated. That is, unless we are suing someone. Why? Because we lawyers are the most enthusiastically negative people in the world. But it's not without cause.
In defense of lawyers (most of whom need a lot of defense), do you have any idea how difficult it is to stay motivated, enthusiastic, or 'up' when you face one negative person or situation after another, hour after hour, all day long?
Law offices are negative, because they consist of lawyers. Also, a lawyers' secretary is often down in the bumps because of her boss. After all, how would you feel if you were a legal secretary and you were ready to leave work for the day. You pop your head into your bosses' office and say, "Hey boss, have a good day!" He snarls back at you: "Don't tell ME what to do!"
That's how it is in most lawyers' offices. Wouldn't this negative atmosphere rub off on you too if you had to work in it constantly?
Of course, clients are usually negative because of the things they are facing - criminal matters, traffic violations, divorces, bankruptcies, corporate problems, contract breeches, and many, many other types of things. When you're a lawyer, you must handle those negative clients - and then fight with other lawyers and judges on top of that.
At the end of the case you often have to fight your client to collect your fee. Especially if you lose! What a business. It is no wonder lawyers are negative people.
Practicing law is a lot like practicing prostitution. In both cases, the value of services rendered drastically declines - once those services have been performed. It's because clients don't like to pay once services have been performed that makes many lawyers collect their fees in advance.
So, we lawyers spend all of our days fighting with everyone we come into contact with. Then we spend our nights worried about the next day's activities. And you thought being a lawyer was just a lot of fun and games, didn't you?
Next time we'll talk about the mixed messages that lawyers often give people.
