

Since the 1977 Supreme Court decision legalizing lawyer advertising, the commercialization of legal practices has continued apace. Besides being sleazy in the traditional sense, Hutz represents the ultimate “consumerization” of law. He offices under the name “I Can’t Believe It’s a Law Firm!” in the Springfield Shopping Mall, an indication that legal services are really no different from groceries.
Similarly, his marketing efforts are akin to those of the shopping mall. In seeking Bart’s personal injury case, he tells Homer, “You’ll be getting more than just a lawyer, Mr. Simpson. You’ll also be getting this exquisite faux pearl necklace, a $99 value, as our gift to you.”
- self-enforcing ethical rules, in the context of Rule 7.1(b) and creating unjustified expectations.
- “the real problem of applying guild-like ethics to a consumer culture. Although both practiced law in a town called Springfield, the modern-day Hutz is a far cry from “Honest” Abe Lincoln.”
“our culture’s belief, based upon our TV lawyers, that the practice of law is really not all that complicated and that anyone could manage to maneuver the law.”
- the difficulties for laypersons of appearing before an unsympathetic judge, and of cross-examination (e.g., of the Devil).
- “the popular fear that in the legal process one’s future may be in the hands of lawyers like Hutz.”
The author concludes, “While there are not many Lionel Hutzes practicing, there is at least some of Lionel Hutz in too many lawyers. Moreover, with its ability both to attack targets like legal consumerism and incompetence and also to engage in Hyper-Irony, “The Simpsons” requires constant reexamination of all verities, including legal ones.”
.. (semble)
Marge: Do you want your son to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or a sleazy male stripper?
Homer: Can’t he be both, like the late Earl Warren?
For comprehensive materials about lawyer Hutz, see The Lionel Hutz File at The Simpsons Archive, which includes personal information, academic history, business ads [e.g., “Don’t wait, Litigate!”], and much more. Also, see The Best of Lionel Hutz from OirishTimes.com ; and the Hutz listing in Encyclopeida4U.
Update (03-25-04): Even the tasteful and culturally-astute Fool in the Forest is using Simpsons tie-ins to pump up his page hits. Hey, it works, even when we webloggers don’t. As an added bonus, Fool Wallace educates and elucidates while expounding.