Lawyer’s Week Before Christmas

By: Joseph Justice 
Illustrated by: Salima Alikhan
Publisher: Pelican Publishing
Publication Date: September 2010
ISBN: 978-1589807396
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: October 2010

It’s a week before Christmas and the lawyers at the law office of Bluff, Bluster and Blunder are quite busy doing what lawyers do best – writing briefs and defending clients in court. But they’re also worried because as the Yuletide approaches, clients are sparse. People are more concerned with end-of-year filings and so the lawyers must hustle if they want their large fees to continue. But wait! Suddenly there’s a phone call from Polly Brown, a woman who suffered a terrible fall at a department store. Things are looking up for Bluff, Bluster and Blunder!

“The barristers bickered, then chose the best plan,
‘bout the percent of the fees to be shared by each man.
A file clerk was dispatched for more legal pads,
while Polly sat pondering the problems she had.”

Written in the style of Clement Moore’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Lawyer’s Week Before Christmas is written as a poem but differs from the origininal in that it is meant for adults, not children. It is the tale of three rather unscrupulous lawyers who see Polly Brown as their next meal ticket. They miss the true meaning of Christmas as they plan and plot their next move, hiring detectives, drafting affidavits and issuing demand letters. If you’re looking for a story that tells of lawyers getting into the spirit of Christmas and realizing the holiday is a time for family and reflection, this is not that book. If, however, you’d enjoy a spoof of the daily lives of three very driven, stop-at-nothing to get their fees, lawyers, then this tale is for you.

Quill says: A quirky tale about three very ambitious lawyers and one rather confused client.