New Book – Lowering the Bar: Lawyer Jokes and Legal Culture

In the mood for a good laugh? Check out “Lowering the Bar: Lawyer Jokes and Legal Culture,” a new book by UW Law School’s own professor Marc Galanter. From Channel3000:

Galanter says lawyer jokes seem to be oddly American, and his book traces legal history trends back to the 1950s.

“Law was seen as a liberating thing that gave more remedies to individuals ranging from school children to minorities to prisoners who were now able to use the law,” Galanter says. “Suddenly, the managers of society were held to account by lawyers.”

However, jokes about lawyers gained momentum in the late 1970s, when lawyers were portrayed as greedy sowers of chaos and corruption. Lawyers are also seen as economic predators, Galanter says.

The book is available at the UW Law Library. Or comparison shop at AddAll.