# Why are the names of attorney's firms in the US so boring?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 25, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317 "2010-04-25T19:02:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/41 "2010-04-27T16:54:57Z")

</div>

Wonder where the spirits of the partners go when their names are taken off the door. Are Lybrand, Haskins, Sells, and Whinney having spectral swivel-chair races in the sub-basement? Chewing on ghostly Macanudos in the executive lunchroom? Blowing air up women’s dresses on the grates of Sixth Avenue?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/42 "2010-04-27T16:59:58Z")

</div>

> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#):
>
> A man decides to call a law firm called Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith. He asks to speak to Mr. Smith. The voice on the other end of the phone says, “He’s with a client.” He asks to speak to Mr. Smith. “Sorry, he’s at lunch.” Okay, can I speak with Mr. Smith? “He’s not in today, he’s out with the flu.” I’m sorry to hear that. Can I talk to Mr. Smith? “Speaking.”

That joke is funny for everyone who is not a lawyer. Lawyers know that the order in the list matters and that the guy on the phone knows his place. It does depend on the caller caring about that order, though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317/43 "2010-04-28T03:47:52Z")

</div>

It seems everyone in this thread is missing the _ **obvious** _ answer to the OP’s original question:

> [@](#):
>
> Why are the names of attorney’s firms in the US so boring?

Well, DUH! The _ **names** _ are boring because the _ **attorneys** _ are boring! 😃

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-names-of-attorneys-firms-in-the-us-so-boring/537317.md?page=2)