Tired legal metaphors + clichés
Readers have suggested these tired legal metaphors and clichés:
- slippery slope
- it is axiomatic that
- abundance of caution
Well, the term "slippery slope" is the formal name for a type of logical fallacy, so I don't think it's a cliche when people are using it (correctly) in this fashion to debunk a fallacy.
Wayne says:
Agreed. Not a cliche so much as an overworked type of policy argument.
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It is axiomatic that we observe abundance of caution lest we get on slippery slope.
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I agree that they are cliche. But if those are arguments are there, and they are among the most persuasive arguments you've got, I'd argue that you are professionally obligated to raise them.
A lawyer's job, as I understand it, isn't necessarily to win every case. It is to ensure the client that, if he does lose, it wasn't because he overlooked an argument that he shouldn't have overlooked. I think that's about all you can realistically guarantee your client.
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