NIL ILLEGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM

Future Lawyer Rick Georges has an interesting little post today concerning with the ability (or inability to say "no" to clients), but which also brags about his Catholic school background and Latin studies in regard to his ability to communicate.  Well, my Catholic background is certainly not as extensive as Ricks, but what I remember are all of the more useful Latin terms.

My favorite is, of course, NIL ILLEGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM, or Do not let the bastards get you down.  A little crude, but when dealing with the clients of the sort to which Rick refers, this is an important Latin phrase to remember.  It is also helpful when thinking of all of the other problems you face in and out of court.

A few others you should remember are:

TANTA STULTITIA MORTALIUM EST, or What fools these mortals be.

On legal strategy:  QUANDO OMNI FLUNKUS MORITATUS, or When all else fails play dead.

Defense attorney:  NON RAPE ME SI PLACET, or Please do not rob me.

Listening to the arguments of the defense:  MEUM CEREBRUM NOCET, or My brain hurts.

TUA TOGA SUSPINA EST, or Your toga is backwards.

In Ricks case:  VAH! DENUONE LATINE LOQUEBAR? ME INEPTUM. INTERDUM MODO ELABITUR.  Or, Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out.

When asked to join someone else's law firm:  NIHIL CURO DE ISTA TUA STULTA SUPERSTITIONE, or I am not interested in your dopey religious cult.

Would make a nice bumper sticker:  CUM CATAPULTAE PROSCRIPTAE ERUNT TUM SOLI PROSCRIPT CATAPULTAS HABEBUNT, or When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults.

At the conclusion of a trial:  NON PLAUDITE. MODO PECUNIAM JACITE, or Do not applaud. Just throw money.

Looking for opposing counsel at trial:  DEMUM VENIUNT PORCI, or At last, here come the pigs.

When the judge enters the courtroom:  RECIDITE, PLEBES! GERO REM IMPERIALEM!  Or, Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.

After the judge has absolutely poured you out:  HABETIS BONA DEUM, or Have a nice day.

After court:  CLAMO, CLAMATIS, OMNES CLAMAMUS PRO GLACE LACTIS, or I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

When you ask the judge to repeat what he said:  TE AUDIRE NO POSSUM. MUSA SAPIENTUM FIXA EST IN AURE, or I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.

And, the best frat boy one of all:  SUPPEDISNE, or Did you fart quietly?

Comments

[Rick Georges]

Chuck:
You seriously need to get a life. :-)
Carpe diem.
Rick

[Mary]

All I can do is laugh quietly to myself. =)