
Here’s another lawyer joke:
A mathematician, an engineer, and a lawyer were each asked the question, “What is two plus two?”
The mathematician answered, “It’s four. It’s exactly four.”
The engineer answered, “It’s four, give or take a little. It depends on the precision of the numbers.”
The lawyer answered, “What do you want it to be?”
Lawyers are supposed to be zealous advocates for their clients. That’s not just customary; it’s a formal provision in the American Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct – the ABA ethics rules.
This practical custom and ethical duty result in lawyers having a certain dexterity with facts. Lawyers spin the truth.