Practice Law With Humor

We are living in very dark and heavy times. Humor is one tool that may work for your practice.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: a lawyer, a polar bear, and a mallard duck are sitting at a bar … OK, that’s all I have so far, but when I create the punchline, it’ll have you in stitches!

We are living in very dark and heavy times. From maintaining our sanity during a global pandemic to navigating the unending news cycle of the political divide to supervising virtual school — and don’t forget managing a law practice. Many lawyers are sad, worried, and anxious. We also see the effects of our harsh world in how some of our clients show up for legal services. This article is a little bit unconventional because I’m going to propose that there is one way that we can help combat the darkness in our world and many of our lives: humor.

[Disclaimer: In no way is the following article suggesting that humor is the antidote for serious mental health issues that an attorney or client may face. Instead, it is one tool that may work for your practice. Always consult a mental health professional to evaluate and support your mental health needs.]

I don’t consider myself the funniest lawyer or even a humor writer, but I find myself infusing humor into how I choose to practice law. So many opportunities exist for providing joy to people who encounter your practice, especially if they are coming to you with the heaviness and seriousness of a legal matter. I’m an estate planning attorney, so I often have to talk to people about how they can plan for death or a possible incapacity. Seventy percent of Americans choose not to have a will! I think that is because most people don’t want to consider, talk about, or even plan for their death, demise, or incapacitation. We are not a culture that celebrates aging and death. Who wants to sit down and discuss when you have minor children or a spouse who would be devastated if you could no longer provide for the family?!

So, what do I do? I insert humor into the entire planning process:

  • I wrote my website copy with humor; rather than showing old wrinkly hands, I described how a client would go to an expert rather than microblade her own brows, so why not go to a professional for estate planning? 
  • My preconsultation emails speak to people’s fears about estate planning with humor and fun. 
  • During a consultation, if a potential client tells me about losing sleep at night because they haven’t gotten an estate plan, I know I have an in. I might throw in a joke about how I have young children and how, for the first seven years of parenting, I couldn’t sleep in a bed without a child’s foot in my face.
  • Talking about final disposition instructions is awkward. So, I give clients “interesting” examples of what people choose to do when they die. Imagine people propped up on a card table with a deck of cards in their hands playing poker, or seated in a kayak, or suiting up for a boxing match in a ring. I am not making this stuff up. Check out more weird scenarios. This death humor diffuses awkward conversations and lets clients know that other people have found humorous ways to customize their end-of-life choices. 
  • I create corny Instagram reels about estate planning mishaps or things that people say to jeopardize the creation of an estate plan. I sometimes use my children as extras who provide silly dance moves. Some lawyers use TikTok videos to make great content full of pop culture and have grown their business this way.  
  • I write in a very easy-going and humorous style to disarm readers; I want them to know that I don’t take myself too seriously.

My efforts may seem unnecessary (and desperate); maybe they are. But relating to a client’s struggles with appropriate humor can break the ice and let people know that you are a human being who chooses to see the humor in difficult situations. As always, use your professional judgment and discretion when trying to be funny. Sometimes the situation doesn’t call for any humor. Don’t make it weird with a “lawyer” joke (see above).

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In this sometimes dark, dark world, let’s skillfully use some lightheartedness and humor to describe our practice, how we choose to show up, and how we provide professional services. No matter what we do, we can exude joy because not everything has to be serious. Take it from me — I work with terminally ill people and those who have lost loved ones — embrace the opportunity to make people smile and brighten their day.

Did I make you chuckle? Even a little bit? Please share any comments or a funny anecdote with me at iffywrites@ibekwelaw.com.


Iffy Ibekwe is the principal attorney and founder of Ibekwe Law, PLLC. She is an estate planning attorney evangelist for intergenerational wealth transfer with effective wills and trusts. Iffy is writing her first book on culturally competent estate planning, available in 2022 (prayers up!). She graduated from The University of Texas School of Law and has practiced law for over 14 years. Iffy can be reached by email at iffywrites@ibekwelaw.com, on her website, and on Instagram @thejustincaselawyer.

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