Part I: Regular readers of this weblog know just how hard I struggle to avoid taking
cheap shots at the legal profession or otherwise annoying my valued audience.
Nonetheless, time and again, I am drawn into temptation by search engine queries
that send visitors to this weblog. Today, alas, my curiosity got the better of me, and
one link led to another, until — well, until this post happened.
An unknown querist came to f/k/a today, after Googling national hug a lawyer day>.
This site had the #14 result, due to this post, where I stated that “I was particularly
inspired to go hug a lawyer” by a lugubrious Public Relations radio spot from NYSBA,
entitled “The Rule of Law.” The query immediately made me wonder whether there
might actually be a Hug a Lawyer Day (and, if so, just who sponsored it).
Here’s what I learned:
Google was not able to locate a Hug a Lawyer Day, despite
the existence of Hug Your Cat Day.
However, “Hug-a-Lawyer Day” was #9 in David Letterman’s
“Top 10 Legal Holidays in Hell” (August 2, 1991).
Less surprising, April 12 has been designated “Vote Lawyers
Out of Office Day” (see Important Dates to Remember)
Somewhat suspicious (can you say A-T-L-A) is the celebration
on August 31st of Love Litigating Lawyers Day. However, that
day must be shared with a number of other celebrations, including
National Box Car Day, Trail Mix Day, Eat Outside Day and Mutt’s Day.
Update (March 26, 2005): July 14 is Shark Awareness Day.
We apologize, if you came here after listening to a podcast,
hoping to find out about Mug a Lawyer Day. Please ask
your friendly podcaster to enunciate better.
Because we once wrote a post questioning the grassrootedness of a rally on
behalf of litigators in Madison County, Illionois; and because we discovered the
existence of Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, I have scrupulously attempted to
ascertain if there were any “Lawyer Appreciation Days” being celebrated in the
USA. Our results:
Humorix predicted that — after lawyers sue to have calendar
equality for February (30 days instead of 28) — the new Leap
Day (Feb. 31) will be designated “Lawyer Appreciation Day.”
Mike Veeck (author of Fun is Good: How To Create Joy And Passion
In Your Workplace And Career) created a Lawyer Appreciation
Day for baseball (all attorneys pay double)
The law office of I. Ben Chasinbucks, of WhipCash Game fame, closes
for National Lawyer Appreciation Day– apparently a floating holiday.
One site lists the following non-lawyer Appreciation Days:
Squirrel Appreciation Day (Jan. 21)
Bubble Wrap Appreciatin Day (Jan 28)
Armenian Appreciation Day (April 3)
National Hair Stylist Appreciation Day (April 30)
Cow Appreciation Day (July 18)
Elephant Appreciation Day (Sept. 20)
Sunday School Teacher Day (Oct. 20)
I know these findings will hurt the feelings of many of my brothers and sisters at
the Bar. But, I’m rushing to get this post up before the end of today, March 23,
because — no kidding — today is Make Your Own Holiday Day. So, go ahead,
lawyers. Just for today, put your own interests first. Start that parade, we’ll whip
up a crowd and be right over. Honest.
so quickly they join
the human devils…
fireflies
a long night–
the devil in my heart
torments me
blooming mountain–
come out and play
devil in me!
Part II. Those search engines have gotten us into trouble before. We just updated
our Inadvertent Searchee page, for the first time in 2005, and you’ll see that sickos
have landed at this website looking for Mellow Yellow, farting contests, naked
cheerleaders, Scarlet Pimpernels and more. How are we ever going to uphold our
reputation?
ain’t a devil
ain’t a saint…
just a sea slug
the day is devilishly
long!
long!
March 23, 2005
the doogle made me do it
flying solo
a field of wildflowers
I recall the courtship
not the marriage
their gravestones
hers newer and taller
than his
treeless downtown street
two spring robins
on a window box
George Swede from Almost Unseen (Brooks Books, 2000)
by dagosan:
the duckling
skirts the ice floe —
our river rendezvous
mom’s voice long distance:
who-died-and-when-did-I-last-dust?
[March 23, 2005]
potluck
Ben Cowgill at Legal Ethics Blog and Carolyn Elefant at MyShingle have
started a lengthy correspondence about legal ethics weblogs, pedagogy,
and enforcement, with a focus on solo practitioners. I think you’ll get the
gist of the issues from my quick comments here:
Legal ethics is definitely important enough to deserve its own weblogs
and it should be a part of virtually every law school course and every
practice-oriented weblog.
Legal ethics is about far more than micro-rules. As Prof. Schiltz says:
First, a lawyer has to comply with the formal disciplinary rules
. . . . . But you should also understand that the formal rules
represent nothing more than ‘the lowest common denominator
of conduct that a highly self-interested group will tolerate.’ . . .
But complying with the formal rules will not make you an ethical
lawyer, any more than complying with the criminal law will make
you an ethical person.
Second, a lawyer must act ethically in his work, even when he
isn’t required to do so by any rule. . . . For the most part,
this is not complicated. Treat others as you wish to be treated.
Be honest and fair. Show respect and compassion. Keep promises. . . .
Third, a lawyer must live an ethical life outside of work. . . . But
being admitted to the bar does not absolve a lawyer of his
responsibilities outside of work — to his family, friends, community
and, if he is a person of faith, to his god. To practice law ethically,
he must meet those responsibilities, which means he must live a
balanced life.
I do not believe that Bar Council are out to get solo and small-firm practitioners.
There are plenty of non-conspiratorial reasons why so many disciplinary actions
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