As lawyers we are often the subject of jest, too many to quote.  Most of us know the familiar phrase penned by Shakespeare in Henry VI, part 2 (circa 1590) where the character “Dick” says: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers”. The audience probably saw this as a joke and laughed.  However, context gives a different perspective. “Dick the Butcher” was a killer and a villain, part of a gang of henchmen.  Maybe Shakespeare’s true message is that social disorder/anarchy will prevail if there were no lawyers. Lawyers (as flawed as we may be) are the quintessential gatekeepers of the law.  Let us not forget that and take the jokes for what they are – JUST JOKES.