Laugh along with us as we explore the world of legal memes.
The legal profession is a serious one. Whether you’re representing a client in court, preparing a document package for an incorporation, or executing a mirror will, legal professionals have a solemn duty to faithfully execute the law. While law is indeed a noble pursuit, the world of law is not without its own eccentricities and lighter moments – and legal professionals & law students themselves have often poked fun at the profession in the form of memes. Here are a few of our favourite legal memes that bring some levity to the often serious world of law.
This one’s for the trial lawyers in the room, who no doubt know that hearsay evidence is usually inadmissible in court, with a few exceptions. While it may be tempting to want to “live dangerously”, clients typically appreciate a conservative approach – one that follows the law.
(Thanks to Clearway Law for this one!)
We’ve all had that moment in law school when we think, “Why did I do this to myself?”
(Answer: Because you wanted to make a difference in the world, just like your fictional legal heroes.)
While the practice of law is a noble goal, the realities of going to law school are a lot less glamorous than pop culture suggests. The endless exams, the group projects, the case studies…it can be overwhelming. Even for experienced lawyers, the memories of law school aren’t necessarily rosy. If your law school memories still send chills down your spine, you aren’t alone – the law school crucible scars everyone.
Speaking of law school: Those student loans just don’t stop chasing you. Ever. With the average law school debt amounting to six figures, it can take a long time to become debt-free.
No matter what kind of law you practice, it seems like the deadlines just keep coming. That’s why maintaining a strong mental health self-care practice is essential to maintaining your sanity.
This one’s for the pet owners. If you’ve ever missed a filing deadline, you’re probably familiar with the “my dog ate my documents” excuse. This meme series, Lawyer Dog, renders with perfect clarity the pitfalls of having a canine for a legal representative.
Interestingly, this meme has come into play in actual case law. In 2017, the Louisiana Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from a man who claimed his rights had been violated during police questioning after he asked for a “lawyer, dawg” and the police continued questioning him. The man was later convicted, and in declining to hear the appeal, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that “the defendant’s ambiguous and equivocal reference to a ‘lawyer dog’ does not constitute an invocation of counsel that warrants termination of the interview”.
In sum, the Louisiana Supreme Court interpreted the man’s words to mean that he was requesting a “lawyer dog”, which obviously does not exist. (Sorry, Lawyer Dog…looks like you’re just not licensed to practice in Louisiana.)
Nobody said being a lawyer was easy, but it’s easier when you have a canine companion to complain to.
The “lawyer dogs” are hip to your tricks, pet owners.
These and other legal memes keep reminding us that even though lawyering can be stressful at times, there’s always some levity to be found in the often-serious world of law.
What’s your favourite legal meme? Let us know on LinkedIn!
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