Law And More: Not Talking Like a Lawyer

Of course, so many need a cause. And one of those is lobbying for the legal sector to translate all legal discourse into peoplespeak. On that one, I would join in for those contracts franchisees have to sign. Here is my article published in ST Magazine on how the terms and conditions of those agreements usually are stacked in favor of the franchising organization.

KNOWING BETTER THAN TALKING LIKE A LAWYER

However, when not in that zone of legalities the majority of very very successful lawyers I have encountered make it their style to not talk like a lawyer. It could be that, just like the rest of us, they want to connect and be thought of as cool.

“WONDERFUL”

What dominates lots of their interactions – in all mediums – is the word “wonderful.” It does connect, especially if what they are referring to relates to us. That’s how a Paul Weiss lawyer summed up my recent accomplishment. What an effective human touchpoint. 

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”

Aso, the term is embedded with some of the best of pop culture. Just think about the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

That film is so part of our national ethos that when I used it to chastise a financial institution for a (minor) mistake – I blogged their banking practices were no “It’s a Wonderful Life” – two departments settled with me. One, on the spot through PayPal. The other with check, without all the usual attached sheet of legalities. No, I didn’t have to talk like a lawyer.

LANGUAGE IS SACRED

As a human institution, language is almost everything. In some traditions such as Hinduism, words are considered sacred.

Making others feel good through how language is used can be considered as a holy ritual during these upside-down times. Let’s find the wonderful to salute in others. 

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