MDBCs 08 Apr 2025

The unofficial holiday was created by Steve Hughes, an American communication expert as National Be Kind To Lawyers Day in 2008. He chose to celebrate the holiday on the second Tuesday of April because it falls between April Fool’s Day and Tax Day in the United States.

Like Your Lawyer

Be Kind to Lawyers Day, also known as International Be Kind to Lawyers Day, encourages people to be kind to all those who practice law and make sure that the legal system in a country works smoothly.

Even though the legal profession is one of the oldest professions in the history of humankind, lawyers have been a subject of jokes and have been seen as a necessary evil by the public throughout history.

Dispels the Myth

The reason for this hatred towards lawyers stems from a general perception that all lawyers charge more than they should from their clients, and are willing to abuse the legal system in order to get the judgment in their client's favor.

Be Kind to Lawyers Day attempts to dispel this myth and raises awareness about the constructive and important role lawyers lay in ensuring that a society functions smoothly.

How to Celebrate?

Send a thank you note to the lawyer in your life. It always helps to have a lawyer on your side!
Take your lawyer out for lunch and show them your appreciation for keeping you out of trouble!
Watch TV shows or movies with protagonists who are lawyers.
Use legal jargon during conversations with family, friends, and colleagues.

Did You Know…

…that a law in ancient Athens made it illegal for lawyers to charge fees for their services?

***

On my way to a picnic, I stopped at a fast food place to order a quart of potato salad. "We don't sell it by the quart," the clerk snapped.

"Okay, then give me two pints, please," I replied.

I'm proud to say I held my tongue when she asked, "Do you want it in one container?"

***

I am a deputy sheriff assigned to courthouse security. As part of my job, I explain court procedures to visitors. One day I was showing a group of ninth-graders around. Court was in recess and only the clerk and a young man in custody wearing handcuffs were in the courtroom. "This is where the judge sits," I began, pointing to the bench. "The lawyers sit at these tables. The court clerk sits over there. The court recorder, or stenographer, sits over here. Near the judge is the witness stand and over there is where the jury sits. As you can see," I finished, "there are a lot of people involved in making this system work."

At that point, the prisoner raised his cuffed hands and said, "Yeah, but I'm the one who makes it all happen."

***

My doctor friend moved his family to a small town in Montana. An Italian American raised in Philadelphia, he wanted his kids to enjoy clean the benefits of air and the outdoors. The locals were thrilled to have a doctor of their own, and were always inviting him and his family over for dinner.

During one visit, one of his daughters told a rancher's daughter, "We're Italian."

Somewhat confused, the little girl replied, "We're Ranch."

***

Four students walked in halfway through the American history test my father was giving at the local community college. "Sorry," they said, "we had a flat tire."

An understanding man, Dad said that if they could all answer just one question correctly, he would give them each an "A" for the exam. The students agreed.

So my father handed each one a piece of paper, placed them in four separate corners and said, "Write down which tire was flat."