What did William Shakespeare say about lawyers?

[thermodynamic]

Clearly Wussident Shrubbypants* never bothered to read up on this historical writer who was not rather fond of lawyers... Bush said he has lawyers looking into how 'best' to resolve the issue of marriage and gay couples and all that...

That is where I agree with William Shakespeare... Heck, I know a lawyer who'd want me dead if he found out I was gay...

I'll narrow it down for you, look up HENRY VI to see what I'm talking about...

"Law is ludicrously complex and only leads to lawlessness anyway..." - me!

[displacedtexan]

1. Is that...?

First, kill all the lawyers!

?

[DrBB]

2. "First, let's kill all the lawyers"

The rebel, Jack Cade--an authentic historical figure. Cade's rebellion is a fascinating event in its own right. Shakespeare gets it wrong, of course. Portrays Cade as an anti-intellectual, anti-literate book burner. But in fact, the rebellion and much of the foment in 15th century was coming from the cracking of restricted literacy and wider access to books. (Vid. The Lollard Movement)

[papau]

3. Context: A plot to end freedom needs lawyers killed first.

Not exactly anti-lawyer.

Although used in the US as such.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. That's correct.

Back in Shakespeare's time, the government was strongly influenced (read: controlled) by the church. Lawyers actually offered an alternative justice.

[thermodynamic]

9. Okay, so I took Shakie out of context, except...

Which is a pity because lawyers seem to be stifling freedom for all except for those who have tons of money.

[GumboYaYa]

13. You are painting with too broad of a brush.

There are a lot of really nasty characters in my profession, no doubt, but there are a lot of us who live to fight for the little guy.

Where would they be without us? I can tell you, SCREWED and big time.

I'm fighting to save a lady's home from a large corporation today. I guarantee you when I am done she will not have a negative impression of me.

Shakespeare got it exactly right, without lawyers there would be anarchy. Unfortunately, the ones who get the most press are the bad ones.

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. The legal field should have always remained a profession.

It's when it became viewed as a "business" that it stopped serving the public. I personally believe that our democracy has been compromised because everybody does not have access to equal and competent representation.

And I'm tired of hearing lawyers and judges say that they're protecting the public. That is simply not true. What they're doing is serving their individual clients. What precedent comes out of the cases is secondary.

We do need a non-lawyer, public grievance board that can challenge the Bar Association's monopoly on disciplinary action against lawyers. Despite their assurances, lawyers protect each other -- to the detriment of the public.

That's all IMHO, of course.

[LawDem]

17. You're speaking way too broadly

Like every other group, lawyers come in all shades. But the bottom line today is that lawyers are one of the most important funding sources for the Democratic Party. And lawyers -- can anyone say "card carrying member of the ACLU" (I can) -- are on the front lines in the fight to preserve civil liberties in this country.

It ain't a perfect profession by any means: But then, can you name one that is?

By the way, protecting the rights of an individual client is no small thing. Just ask someone in trouble how important they think it is.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. Someday I hope to earn enough money to

know that I can afford a lawyer, if I need one. Until then, there's a huge gap between the rights that this country claims I have a right to, and the ones that I can personally defend in court. (Speaking broadly, of course.)

[northernsoul]

18. well, I hope you're never thrown in jail at 2 AM on bogus charges

a good lawyer might not seem like such a bad thing about then.

Who do you think got the Supremes to make the Lawrence decision last month?
Who made abortion safe and legal in America?
Who got rid of segregated schools?

A lot of good, dedicated, hard-working lawyers - who did the work because it was the right thing to do, not for the $$$

Yes, I'm biased as I'm starting law school in two weeks. I intend to go into labor and employment law so I can help workers organize and to sue the pants off of bigoted employers like Wal-Mart (who recently had to cough up mega$$$ for their sex discrimination practices). Of course, I'll be happy to represent you if you're ever in need of counsel and advocacy!
:-)

[MrMonk]

20. Closer Context

It's a lawyer joke.
The entire Jack Cade scene is played as low comedy.
Cade is laying out his program for a better England.
"A chicken in every pot and kill all the lawyers!"
(Read the scene out loud and listen for the rim-shot.)

[cherryperry]

4. What's 6,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?

a good start :hi:

[regularguy]

7. Hey, my moms a lawyer!

Actually, she's not, but she could be, no? :evilgrin:

[bleedingheart]

5. ah...everyone hate lawyers until they need one

and then they want the best.

My husband's family is full of attorneys and all of them are really nice people...and most of the attorneys are Democrats!

[thermodynamic]

11. In American society, what else should we expect?

I've just said a mouthful... trouble is, I have a nasty habit of talking in riddles...

[BOSSHOG]

6. A lawyer up to his neck in cement.

What's wrong with that picture? No enough cement.

[GAspnes]

10. I prefer "A Man for All Seasons"

Sir Thomas More: "Would you cut down the law to catch the Devil, Richard?"

Richard: "I would cut down every law in England in that pursuit."

More: "And when you had hewn down every law, and the Devil turned on you, where then would you hide?"

[LawDem]

12. Bashing lawyers is pure Bushspeak

I don't mind lawyer jokes, but I gotta tell you, bashing lawyers is just sooooo . . . Bush.

[thermodynamic]

14. Ouch, now I'm the freeper!

:cry:

I promise I won't do it any more! I did go rather overboard this time...

[BigMcLargehuge]

16. If you want something done right, kill Baldrick first...

Oh wait...

[noonwitch]

19. "Why may that not be the skull of a lawyer"

From Hamlet's graveyard bit. He was lamenting that it was the skull of his beloved clown, Yorrick and not of a lawyer.