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Uncovering the Mystery: Top 8 Unexpected and Entertaining Fun Facts About Lawyers You Never Knew!

illustration of lawyers
Prepare to be entertained and enlightened as you delve into the captivating world of legal eagles with these amusing and intriguing fun facts about lawyers.

1. Shakespeare's Lawyer Conundrum

When Shakespeare's muse struck and penned "First thing we do is kill all the lawyers", little did the bard know the eternal conundrum he was creating for future scholars and law students alike: The famous quote, treading the fine line between satire and sly commentary, has puzzled generations with its true intent. Whether jabbing at the misunderstood guardians of law and justice or illustrating the bureaucracy that chokes the system, this cryptic zinger remains a staple in lawyer humor and a delightful source of confusion for those attempting to unravel its meaning.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. D.C. - The Lawyer Capital

If you ever thought about hosting a massive lawyers-only soirée in the United States, you might want to consider the District of Columbia as undoubtedly the coolest venue for your barrister bonanza: The nation's capital has the highest concentration of lawyers per capita, boasting an impressive 803.28 legal eagles for every 10,000 residents, according to the ABA's National Lawyer Population by State count.
Source => lawyersofdistinction.com

3. Dickens' Legal Detour

Well, twist my Dickens! Turns out that Charles Dickens, the renowned wordsmith, once dabbled in the legal world before his heart took a "Great Expectation" leap towards literature: Starting as a lawyer's apprentice at 15, he eventually became a court reporter for the Court of Chancery, only to realize that his true passion lay in writing and the English language, leading him to become one of the most celebrated novelists of his time.
Source => vqronline.org

4. Coffeehouse Lawyer Meetups

Move over, happy hour: there was a time when lawyers swapped their whiskey for whiskers, trading their watering holes for coffee-filled cups! As legal eagles, they made sure the grounds were secure in England's 17th and 18th-century coffeehouses: these caffeine havens served as crucial meeting, networking, and gossip spots for law professionals, cultivating an alcohol-free and serious environment where knowledge was passed and verdicts brewed. Contrary to popular myth, the first recorded coffeehouse – The Angel – was never reborn as the London Law Society, standing trial as a testament to the sober socializing of legal minds past.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Latin Pop Star Lawyers

5. Latin Pop Star Lawyers

When lawyers aren't busy billing you like a Latin pop star, they're sneaking in some smidges of ancient Rome into their lingo to sound extra fancy: Specific Latin phrases carry hefty legal power and principles that date back to Rome's judicial heyday, with examples like "res ipsa loquitur" translating to "the thing speaks for itself" (relevant in negligence cases), and "in loco parentis," denoting "instead of a parent" (when a school steps into a parent's shoes during their students' education).
Source => outsidegc.com

6. Castro's Law Degree

Before trading briefcases for bazookas and suits for fatigues: Fidel Castro, the former leader of Cuba, earned his Doctorate of Law from the University of Havana in September 1950, focused on a legal career but failed due to lack of clients, ultimately leading him to join leftist political groups and kick-start the Cuban Revolution, holding the Prime Minister's position from 1959 to 1976.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Lincoln's Hat Storage

He had a trunk and nobody knew: Abraham Lincoln, the ultimate multitasker, used the crown of his high top hat to store important papers and threw them down to express his ire at generals, while his iconic silk hat, size 7 1/8 adorned with black mourning bands, currently resides as a prized exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution, having been left behind in Ford's Theatre on the infamous night of his assassination.
Source => americanhistory.si.edu

8. Gandhi and Elle Woods' Connection

Here's one for the bar exam: What do Mahatma Gandhi and Elle Woods from Legally Blonde have in common? They're both lawyers who defied expectations in pursuit of justice! The serious reveal: In June 1891, Mohandas K. Gandhi was admitted to the bar in England, practiced law in India for over 20 years, and then became a prominent figure in Indian independence, using his legal expertise to effectively champion nonviolent resistance and inspire his countrymen.
Source => crf-usa.org

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