The Term Philadelphia Lawyer??
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
November 4, 2007 8:55pm CST
Admittedly this is probably a silly discussion to start, but I was answering a discussion as I mentioned I was filling out a bunch of forms, and kidded saying that to understand them you have to be a Philadelphia Lawyer to understand them...and it got me thinking.
Just where the heck DID that term come from? Why do we say one has to be a Philadelphia Lawyer to understand some kind of form to fill out whether it's a legal one or not? Why Philadelphia? Are lawyers only from Philadelphia?? LOL
Is there some kind of "history" for this saying, where did it originate? Uh, Philadelphia??
Okay, so maybe you could solve this puzzle for me.
7 people like this
9 responses
@brendakaya (2332)
• United States
5 Nov 07
I've never heard that saying, Pye, so I can't help you a bit. Maybe somone thinks that the smartest ones are in Philadelphia. Maybe a lawyer from Philadelphia started it, for that reason. lol I'll be interested to see if we find out.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Nov 07
I'm surprised, it seems no one has heard that expression before here. Beginning to wonder if it's just a New York saying...LOL
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Nov 07
I guess it means an above average lawyer with a lot of skills??
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
10 Nov 07
I've never heard of that term before.
Maybe because I've never had to really fill out a lot of legal documents before.
Great question though!
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
10 Nov 07
WOW that is weird. Maybe it's 'cause you live in such a large city?
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Nov 07
Seems a lot of folks here haven't heard that term. I've heard it all my life. LOL
1 person likes this
@Kowgirl (3490)
• United States
5 Nov 07
Pye I have heard that time after time....and I don't really know when it started or by whom. But when it was discussed in our law office it was said that a young lawyer in Philadelphia held a courtroom for 6 hours (for 3 days) quoting laws that covered abuse to animals and relating that to humans, trying to get a young girl clarified as an animal. There were no laws at the time that would cover child abuse. He did win the judgment and it was the first case of child(animal) abuse ever to be recorded at that time.
It was a joke to say "don't go to court and try to be a Philadelphia lawyer , we don't have that much time to waste."
Since court was only open 6 hours a day he must have been pretty dang smart to hold a courtroom captivated for 3 days.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Nov 07
Good! Finally someone else who has heard that term. You're the only one apparently. Mmm...a lot of lawyers can be long-winded though...hehee
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
5 Nov 07
This is a new one on me, pyewacket, because I had never heard the phrase before, that I can remember. I tried to think of all the things Philadelphia is famous for, and I am still clueless.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Nov 07
Gee, it seems I'm the only one that has ever heard of this term..I remember hearing it all my life
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
5 Nov 07
Hello Pye!
I have never heard this term before. But Im entertained by it and going to def remember it. lol
This is the dictionary meaning; A shrewd attorney adept at the discovery and manipulation of legal technicalities.
I read a couple of articles that said that it could be used either positive or negagive in manner. In some ways could be a compliment and most likely should be used that way, but it also can be used as an insult. However you would like to look at it I guess.
Bay xx
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Nov 07
I imagine it would be an insulting term for some reasons, just like sometimes some people will say a lawyer is a "shark" LOL --both meaning I guess shrewd?
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
6 Nov 07
Well yeah, prosecuting attorney's maybe! No, I guess both sides, a lawyer is a lawyer! They are supposed to be cunning and articulate and "shrewd" I would imagine.
This also got me to thinking of Elton John's Philidelphia Freedom song....this guy was from the UK, lol, what did he know about Philidelphia Freedom? I know its irrelevant to the discussion....just thought I would throw that in there lol
Bay xx
@keepermykitty (2573)
• Canada
5 Nov 07
When you get an answer let us all knnow , TYou got me wondering now LOL LOL LOL
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Nov 07
I just did find out about it, and did a new discussion about it...LOL
@BarBaraPrz (45475)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
5 Nov 07
I don't think I've actually heard that expression in real life (maybe once in an old movie) other than your discussion, so can't really help you with this one. But, I AM Canadian, after all, so we'd say something like Bay Street lawyer, if we said it at all. (Bay Street is the "financial district" in Toronto.)
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Nov 07
Ah now I've learned something...you call lawyers Bay Street lawyers..LOL..must mean the same thing, as in a shrewd lawyer
