Publication Date
Fall 6-25-2026
Abstract
Lawyer jokes occupy a unique position in popular culture because they are remarkably violent, strangely normalized, and deeply revealing how society regards a profession it simultaneously fears, needs, and resents. This paper uses such humor as a lens to examine the ethical failures that have eroded public trust in the legal system, with particular attention to how nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) are weaponized to shield serial misconduct. Drawing on Freudian theories of tendentious humor, disparagement humor research, and the growing literature on conscious capitalism, the paper argues that the legal profession is overdue for a values-based transformation. It identifies collaborative law as one promising model for reorienting lawyers from "hired guns" into the healers of conflict envisioned by Chief Justice Burger and practiced by Gandhi. By situating this shift within the broader corporate move from shareholder primacy toward stakeholder accountability, the paper suggests that purpose-driven law is both a practical possibility and a growing demand from clients, employees, and society at large.
Recommended Citation
Friedman, Hershey H. and Zeng, Xianfang
(2026)
"Beyond the Hired Gun: Lawyer Jokes, NDA Abuse, and the Promise of Purpose-Driven Law,"
North East Journal of Legal Studies: Vol. 47, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/nealsb/vol47/iss1/5