Charlotte Readers Podcast: JD DuPuy

In this episode, author JD DuPuy reads from Poetic Justice: Legal Humor in Verse.

You guessed it. We poke a bit of fun at the legal profession, which is perfectly acceptable for J.D. and me to do since we are both lawyers.

With a sly grin and a few belly laughs, J.D. waxes poetic about the stages lawyer life, starting with law school and continuing through what he jokingly calls the final stage, disillusionment. Along the way, he rhymes about the brand-new attorney, the courtroom, the deposition table, ethics, and law firm life.

From Haiku bursts of snark to rhymes that make nods to the famous poets, J.D. and his co-author, ML Philpott, find the funny in the law.

As a bonus, J.D. and I role play some actual “you won’t believe they asked these questions” in a real legal proceeding. And really, you won’t believe the stupid questions these lawyers asked and the surprising answers given by the witnesses.

J.D. starts the show by reading “Time Warp,” about some of the nonsense that permeates law school.

J.D. and his co-author Mary Laura Philpott say that their book is not a book where you will find the answer to the question: “What’s the difference between a lawyer and a catfish?” They also say this is not a book about laughing at lawyers but about laughing with lawyers. They assume, of course, that lawyers have a sense of humor. Their humor book is available on-line and in book stores.

When JD is not thinking of how to poke fun at his own profession from his small law firm in Charlotte, he says he loves listening to music, catching up on reading classics that he missed out on in his youth, and fostering baby hippos.

And if you believe even part of that, think twice before having JD write your obituary, unless, of course, you like being the punchline.

The poem, Time Warp, starts with the gossip, insecurity, competition and other shenanigans of law school, and then finishes with:

“Why did I think there would be no nonsense of this kind?

Clearly there’s a lot we grownup kids can’t leave behind.

They say, ‘Look left and then look right. One of you won’t make it.’

I think I may nominate myself. I’m not sure I can take it.”

And from the Haiku segments of the show, a few samples:

Measuring Time

Remember sun, moon,

day, night, week, year? Now it’s all

six-minute increments.

Employment Rates

Well-meaning friends ask,

‘What time of law will you practice?’

Any type that hires.

Conference Call

‘This guy’s a dumbass,’

I said after hitting mute

Oops. Didn’t hit mute.

Join us for more poetic justice on the show.