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The verdict is in: Many people aren’t fond of attorneys

It’s no coincidence that nearly everyone has heard a lawyer joke. While it’s difficult to admit or acknowledge the negative feelings that people have toward one’s own profession, the numbers don’t lie: in a Gallup poll from 2023, only 14% of respondents rated the “honesty and ethical standards” of lawyers as “high” and only 2% as “very high.” In that same poll, 22% rated attorneys’ honesty and ethical standards as “low” and 9% as “very low”.

A Bad Rap: Attorneys in the Popular Consciousness

It’s no secret that lawyers have a mixed reputation in the eyes of the public. While there are a great many ethical and upstanding attorneys, a few bad apples tend to ruin the bunch — at least as far as popular opinion is concerned. 

Sharing information on social media sites as well as personal and professional blogs, especially for those in the legal industry, is often a double-edged sword. Here are some important things to watch for.

As a college professor who regularly teaches (and who prefers to teach) foundational writing courses that every student is required to take, I’m faced with a lot of hostility—usually on the first day of class when I ask each student to explain why he or she is taking my class. While about half of them say, “to get an A” (that’s a criticism of our society for another day), I’m also met with my fair share of shrugs and plenty of students who simply say “because I have to.” Naturally, there are always a few Goody Two-Shoes who try to parade their virtue by saying, “to learn more about writing.” (In a writing class? You don’t say!)