Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:44

From: Andrew Dickinson

Subject: Law Academics Query

Doesn't the word "colloquium" already serve to distinguish a gathering of academics from, for example, one of trade union representatives, politicians or insurance salesman? As lawyers are particularly fond of this ugly term, perhaps they could appropriate it. Call for papers, anyone?

Kind regards
Andrew

-----Original Message-----
From: Neil Foster
Sent: 11 July 2008 01:16
To: DAVID CHEIFETZ
Subject: Re: Law Academics Query

Dear All

Like others I suspect my first (lazy) response to such a question these days is to Google it. I came up with the following on "lawyers" generally, from an item in The Independent in 2007:

A quibble of lawyers

As in: "Rupert is one of that select quibble of lawyers whose earnings top £5mLawyers lie somewhere between MPs and estate agents in public esteem, being seen as prolix, tricky and exploitative. Hamlet's complaint about "the law's delay" also clearly still echoes. A litigation of lawyers was popular and had the virtue of alliteration, but what are lawyers for if not to litigate? Ditto for brief. We felt quibble got to the heart of what people felt. Other legal collectives included: a shyst; a haggle; a wallet; a slick; a slither; a greed; a connivance; a disdain; a grabbit; an extortion; a fleece; a leech; a cunning; a thicket; a wriggle; a twist; an adroitness; a wealthiness; a loophole; an honesty (there's always room for irony). per annum." (Winner: Paul Powney)

So obviously David has got his finger on the public pulse. But as for academic lawyers? Another website I went to suggested for "professors" generally "a pomposity of professors"! (We all know others who are like that of course!) Clearly there is more work to be done on this important issue. Can someone come up with something in Latin?

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