Nader Anise, executive director of the American Lawyers Public Image Association (ALPIA), said the impetus for pioneering the appreciation day is the incessant mean-spirited quips about lawyers that are so common. “I had gotten tired of hearing nasty lawyer joke after lawyer joke. I wanted to help shift peoples' understanding about lawyers. No, it's not crazy to use the word ‘lawyer’ and ‘love’ in the same sentence!” Anise said in an email.
As a result, during the first Friday of November, when Love Your Lawyer Day is celebrated, the ALPIA asks the public to refrain from telling offensive lawyer jokes, or at least make up for it some other way. “Is it too much to ask for people to refrain from lawyer bashing and telling tasteless lawyer jokes for a single day? Surely you can do it,” the association’s website reads. “And, if for some reason, you're unable to tame your tongue for that 24-hour span (like if you're a late-night talk show host), then donate $20 to charity for every joke you tell. Deal?”
Lawyers are also asked to offer one hour of pro bono work or donate to their favorite charity in order to reciprocate the good vibes coming at them during the day.
Prior to the appreciation day, Anise asked all those wishing to participate to practice “synchronized social media engagement” and post their messages at 11:04 a.m., since the day falls on Nov. 4, or 11/4.
Over the years, Anise said the day has yielded lots of good messages. “The vast majority [of responses the last 15 years] have been quite positive and supportive. Just look at #LoveYourLawyerDay on Twitter,” he said.
A small sampling of tweets shows the sentiment of those who took time to express their appreciation of those practicing law:
- Kristen Vander-Plas @KVPTexas: Thank you! Your friendship and encouragement means so much to me. Love you! #LoveYourLawyerDay
- Inner City Blacks @kahranasaurus: Shout out to the women & people of color who go into traditionally white/male spaces daily to fight for their clients #loveyourlawyerday
- wearelegalaid @wearelegalaid Happy #loveyourlawyerday! We love civil legal aid and pro bono lawyers. Thanks for changing the world!
- The NAPD @NAPD2013 Happy #loveyourlawyerday to all the public defenders out #tippingthescales towards justice & away from the oppression of the poor!
Founded in 2000, the ALPIA is the “only legal organization in the world formed solely to promote a positive public image of lawyers,” according to information from press materials. “ALPIA is the leader on attorney image issues and has received media coverage from all over the world.”
Last year’s celebration gained traction due to help from the social media arm of the Florida Bar as well as former appellate judge Simone Marstiller, and the New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas bar associations. It even appeared on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, according to the association. It is all done to highlight the great things lawyers do and make sure they know it’s recognized, Anise says.
“Lawyers often do some amazing things for people, for their community. And they are mostly vilified,” he said. “Lawyers want and need to feel appreciated just like any other group.”