Why would a LAWYER lie?

[DVCLiz]

I was kind of suprised how many were quick to respond more sarcastically to my sarcastic post, which kind of floured me....

OK, everyone, back off Grendalynn - she has just made me spit Diet Coke onto my screen with the image of her standing there dripping in flour....


Just kidding, Gren - I know some great lawyers, but I also know some sleazeballs, too. If all you've ever experienced are the bad apples, it's harder to appreciate all the great ones out there!!!

 

[TCPluto]

Well, how stupid is that statement? If it is second nature, why would they have to waste time teaching it?



So, in fact, he didn't say he was a lawyer, he just said he was with a law firm. Calling him a lawyer in order to tar him as a liar isn't exactly honest.

I'm sensing either: 1) someone has lost their sense of humor, or 2) it hits awfully close to home.

When Leno or Letterman (or anyone else for that matter) makes a joke about an attorney, do you respond so seriously?

 

[Grendalynn]

OK, everyone, back off Grendalynn - she has just made me spit Diet Coke onto my screen with the image of her standing there dripping in flour....


Just kidding, Gren - I know some great lawyers, but I also know some sleazeballs, too. If all you've ever experienced are the bad apples, it's harder to appreciate all the great ones out there!!!

That is so silly! I was worried about spelling it "Floored" that people would think I fell on the floor. Oh well - just show you can't win for losing! Glad to see a little humor here.... Oooooooh - Diet Coke!!?? I miss my Diet Coke! Damn Nutra sweet! Thanks for the laughs!

 

[Grendalynn]

I'm sensing either: 1) someone has lost their sense of humor, or 2) it hits awfully close to home.

When Leno or Letterman (or anyone else for that matter) makes a joke about an attorney, do you respond so seriously?

I second that!

 

[Tiziminchac]

Since this turned into a lawyer-lovefest I guess now would be a bad time to post my favorite lawyer joke.

 

[punkin]

Since this turned into a lawyer-lovefest I guess now would be a bad time to post my favorite lawyer joke.

Actually, I like lawyer jokes. They are just about as funny as jokes about blacks or hispanics or any other people which get maligned simply because they are part of some group. Hear any good Jew jokes lately?

 

[Tiziminchac]

Actually, I like lawyer jokes. They are just about as funny as jokes about blacks or hispanics or any other people which get maligned simply because they are part of some group. Hear any good Jew jokes lately?

I agree! And yes, I do have a good Jew joke. But lawyers make a better target.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Well, how stupid is that statement? If it is second nature, why would they have to waste time teaching it?



So, in fact, he didn't say he was a lawyer, he just said he was with a law firm. Calling him a lawyer in order to tar him as a liar isn't exactly honest.

Not dishonest either. I figured he was. His tone also made me believe he was. BTW, I have NOTHING against lawyers. I am a certified paralegal ( well, I was ) from Villanova Univerity Law. That certification is long past. I also applied for, and was accepted to Florida State University Law School. I changed my mind after moving to Talahassee.

See, actually, it was not a lawyer at all, though I thought it was one when I very first posted.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I'm sensing either: 1) someone has lost their sense of humor, or 2) it hits awfully close to home.

When Leno or Letterman (or anyone else for that matter) makes a joke about an attorney, do you respond so seriously?

So you are saying with your original comment about it being second nature and being taught to be a snake of a lawyer in the first year of law school that you were trying to be funny? Well, it sure didn't come off that way. And as far as lawyer jokes, as a family, we are constantly telling lawyer jokes. However, you and a couple of other posters seemed to be quite serious in your posts regarding lawyers so I didn't see your comments as "jokes". And with regard to your second comment, for me it does not "hit close to home". My husband is a very ethical, well respected lawyer. I guess that's what makes me so darn mad when I hear people bad mouthing lawyers. And believe me, I do know that there are some lawyers out there that are giving the rest of them a bad name, but in what profession does this not happen? Honestly, I can not understand why lawyers, as opposed to other professions, i.e. doctors for example, get such a bad rap.

 

[ford family]

Honestly, I can not understand why lawyers, as opposed to other professions, i.e. doctors for example, get such a bad rap.

Because most of us meet with doctors when we are ill and they help us whereas we usually interact with lawyers in the corporate world where they obstruct us.

ford family

 

[JPN4265]

Why would a lawyer lie?

 

[MSC]

I'm sensing either: 1) someone has lost their sense of humor, or 2) it hits awfully close to home.

When Leno or Letterman (or anyone else for that matter) makes a joke about an attorney, do you respond so seriously?

No, in fact, I tend to hate laywers too, and I AM one. I love a good lawyer joke. Did you hear the one about..... (oh, wait that's a whole other thread on these boards isn't it?............)

But branding them all as snakes and liars, if it's a joke, isn't funny. As another poster suggests, you can't make a joke about Jews and then hide behind the rationale that everyone makes them, so it's o.k. Because it's not.

I hate laywers because I have to deal with them everyday, and we're a pain in the ***. But I know very few who are liars and snakes. No more than there are teachers, doctors, mechanics, store clerks, etc, that are liars and snakes, anyway.

And for the record, Leno isn't funny, period.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Because most of us meet with doctors when we are ill and they help us whereas we usually interact with lawyers in the corporate world where they obstruct us.

ford family

I'm sorry I don't really understand what you mean by lawyers "obstruct" us, but I do sense you meant it in a negative way. Yes, we meet with doctors when we are ill, and I thank God for my kids' pediatrician and my husband and my doctors - I don't know what we'd do without them. God forbid all of you lawyer bashers get in some sort of situation where you really need a good lawyer but if and when that day comes, I think you'll be changing your tune.

 

[Maleficent13]

I'm sorry I don't really understand what you mean by lawyers "obstruct" us, but I do sense you meant it in a negative way. Yes, we meet with doctors when we are ill, and I thank God for my kids' pediatrician and my husband and my doctors - I don't know what we'd do without them. God forbid all of you lawyer bashers get in some sort of situation where you really need a good lawyer but if and when that day comes, I think you'll be changing your tune.

Here's how I took ford family: you get sick, you go to the doctor, he/she helps you. They make you better, or they find someone who can.

For most "common people" (ie, non-lawyers), we only come into contact with lawyers when they are working for someone who is trying to penalize us in some way. Collection agencies, divorce lawyers, etc...so we associate them with negative things. (Note: I am not saying it is the lawyers' fault!)

Also, I find (in my experience!!!) that lawyers talk "legalese" to people whom they know can't understand it. It is my personal opinion that no one likes anyone who makes them feel stupid.

JMHO on why they get such a bad rap...I personally have no opinion of lawyers as a group...I know some good ones and I know some who don't thrill me. But I could say that of any profession.

 

[TCPluto]

So you are saying with your original comment about it being second nature and being taught to be a snake of a lawyer in the first year of law school that you were trying to be funny? Well, it sure didn't come off that way. And as far as lawyer jokes, as a family, we are constantly telling lawyer jokes. However, you and a couple of other posters seemed to be quite serious in your posts regarding lawyers so I didn't see your comments as "jokes". And with regard to your second comment, for me it does not "hit close to home". My husband is a very ethical, well respected lawyer. I guess that's what makes me so darn mad when I hear people bad mouthing lawyers. And believe me, I do know that there are some lawyers out there that are giving the rest of them a bad name, but in what profession does this not happen? Honestly, I can not understand why lawyers, as opposed to other professions, i.e. doctors for example, get such a bad rap.

A couple points:

For the record I never called them a snake and I only made one point referencing their second nature to lie, not multiple posts. That the typed word can't express tone and delivery has to be taken into account.

As if on que, and I swear I had nothing to do with it, Leno did his "man in the sreet" bit last night and he was asking people about lying. He stopped a guy who turned out to be a lawyer and Leno made a joke that lying was his business. The lawyer laughed and said yes, that's what he does and that he was good at it!

I think the defensive folks in this thread need to relax.

 

[MSC]

Well, I can only speak for myself. I never lie; everything I say has some truthiness to it.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

A couple points:

For the record I never called them a snake and I only made one point referencing their second nature to lie, not multiple posts. That the typed word can't express tone and delivery has to be taken into account.

As if on que, and I swear I had nothing to do with it, Leno did his "man in the sreet" bit last night and he was asking people about lying. He stopped a guy who turned out to be a lawyer and Leno made a joke that lying was his business. The lawyer laughed and said yes, that's what he does and that he was good at it!

I think the defensive folks in this thread need to relax.

Yep, I admit I got a little defensive. I guess I'm a bit protective when it comes to my husband & brother mainly because I know how honest & ethical they both are. And reading the generalizations of how ALL lawyers are snakes & liers just irritated me. I will admit, just like any profession, you will have your good, honest ones as well as some dishonest sleazy ones. I can also honestly say that at the law firms I have worked, I never knew of a lawyer to lie, that doesn't mean they didn't, but I was never aware of it.

 

[TCPluto]

Yep, I admit I got a little defensive. I guess I'm a bit protective when it comes to my husband & brother mainly because I know how honest & ethical they both are. And reading the generalizations of how ALL lawyers are snakes & liers just irritated me. I will admit, just like any profession, you will have your good, honest ones as well as some dishonest sleazy ones. I can also honestly say that at the law firms I have worked, I never knew of a lawyer to lie, that doesn't mean they didn't, but I was never aware of it.

I have several close friends who are lawyers, and they know all the best jokes about their profession as I'm sure they are purposely told them all.

Having worked around literally hundreds of attorneys,, largely in criminal matters, I can say that I have run into an inordinate number who were no better than the clients they were representing. Many were the most unethical people I have ever met. Not just as attorneys, but in any profession.

That certainly doesn't paint everyone in the profession similarly, but they are the ones that are thought of when the topic comes up.

I think alot of people are put off by the image of ambulance chasing we see many times a day in TV advertisement as well.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Like with anything, there are good and bad in every bushel. I have worked for attorneys and I continue to work with attorneys. Some I like, others I never want to deal with again. But it's more their personality than their profession. I am sure they would be jerks even if they were flipping burgers.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I have several close friends who are lawyers, and they know all the best jokes about their profession as I'm sure they are purposely told them all.

Having worked around literally hundreds of attorneys,, largely in criminal matters, I can say that I have run into an inordinate number who were no better than the clients they were representing. Many were the most unethical people I have ever met. Not just as attorneys, but in any profession.

That certainly doesn't paint everyone in the profession similarly, but they are the ones that are thought of when the topic comes up.

I think alot of people are put off by the image of ambulance chasing we see many times a day in TV advertisement as well.

I've never worked around criminal lawyers at all (and my dh and db are not criminal lawyers either) so that may make a difference. I always worked at defense firms and my dh does a lot of insurance defense and employment law. My db does estate law. I admit I am against all of the ambulance chasing and all of the advertising. I believe that is mostly done by plaintiff firms.