On earth so loved and trusted me

That ere he quit this worldly shore

He made me his executor.

He asked me through my natural life

To guard the interests of his wife.

To see that everything was done

Both for his daughter and his son.

I have his money to invest

And though I try my level best

To do that wisely, I’m advised,

My Judgement oft is criticized.

His widow, once so calm and meek,

Comes hot with rage three times a week

And rails at me because I must

To keep my oath, appear unjust.

His children hate the sight of me.

Although their friend I’ve tried to be.

And every relative declares,

I interfere with his affairs.

Now when I die I’ll never ask

A friend to carry such a task

I’ll spare him all such anguish sore

And leave a hired Executor.

- Anonymous

Available on 2nd Helping of Chicken Suit for the Lawyer’s Soul

The NBKTL Story
Many inspiring, breakthrough ideas have exciting and illustrious beginnings. The apple falling on Newton’s head. Hewlett and Packard tinkering in the garage. Reese having his chocolate bar “mishap” with the peanut butter.

National Be Kind to Lawyers Day shares this great tradition. Steve Hughes, a mild-mannered non-lawyer from St. Louis had been working with attorneys for several years in the presentation skills arena. He liked his job and the clients who hired him.

However, whenever Steve mentioned to friends and neighbors that he worked with lawyers he was met with crinkled-up faces, snide remarks and sarcastic sighs. They would say things like, “Lawyers? I bet that’s a treat.” Or, “Lawyers? You poor thing.” (Can’t you just feel the animosity?) Suddenly he found himself playing defense counsel for an entire profession.

Then one day as Steve was putting away the decorations from National Bubble Wrap Day (late January) his thoughts drifted to National Ice Cream Day (late July) and then it struck him. Why not a special day for lawyers? Lawyers are just as good as bubble wrap and ice cream; in fact, they’re better. Thus, the idea for National Be Kind to Lawyers Day was hatched.

After extensive planning, detailed research and countless reviews by a team of legal experts, National Be Kind to Lawyers Day was established as an annual holiday celebrated on the second Tuesday in April. This date was chosen because it is strategically sandwiched between April Fool’s Day and Tax Day April 15th.

So now lawyers of every stripe can be honored and treated like regular people for at least one 24-hour period every April.

How to Participate
The best part of National Be Kind to Lawyers Day is that you’re the judge of exactly how much you participate. Here is a brief list of idea starters to get your legal kindness flowing.

• Take your favorite lawyer out to breakfast or lunch (make sure it’s not billable!)
• Send your lawyer a “just because” greeting card or a bouquet of flowers
• Switch your ring tone to the “dah-dah” sound from NBC’s “Law & Order”
• Abstain from telling lawyer jokes for 24 hours
• If you can’t abstain, tell your funniest lawyer joke but switch out the lawyer with your profession (we bet it’s still funny)
• If you accidentally say something wrong or inappropriate on this day, just follow it up with the words, “Strike that from the record.” Then continue talking as if nothing happened.
• Salute the flag as you walk or drive by your local courthouse
• Watch your favorite legal drama and pretend you’re the one delivering the powerful closing argument. Some suggested films: “The Verdict,” “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “A Few Good Men” and “And Justice For All”
• Do some simple repairs around the house with a gavel instead of your trusty hammer.
• Try to slip words like “I object!” or “You’re out of order!” into your everyday conversations
• Try to write up your own Articles of Organization for an LLC or draft your own will. See, it’s harder than it looks.
• Take notes at a meeting on a legal pad. Don’t you just feel smarter looking at the glorious yellow hue of that 8-1/2″ x 14″ pad?

Go ahead, be creative. What are some ways you can be kind to lawyers today? Be sure to let us know so that we can add your ideas to our list.



Stu Rees. All rights reserved.

Miller’s will left his Jamaican vacation home jointly to three men who hated each other for a period of ten years.  After that, the home was passed onto the Canadian woman who had the most children during the ten years. 

The home passed jointly to four women, each of whom had nine children during the ten years.

Check out the whole story at TruTV, Weirdest Wills.