The Shakespeare Project

Recognizing an increasing public criticism of the legal profession, The Foundation of the IADC published a white paper on the importance of lawyers and the law in America. Using as its premise the oft-repeated phrase taken out of context from Shakespeare's Henry VI, Pt. II - "First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." - the paper explored the tremendous negative impact on society following a hypothetical demise of the legal profession. The project involved a brainstorming session with an eclectic group of leaders in their respective fields of business, media, and academia, followed by research conducted at the University of Chicago and published by The Foundation.

The goal was to show how deeply the law and the legal profession has been woven into the fabric of American society, and what treacherous paths society might be forced to travel if the profession no longer existed. The white paper garnered national and international media attention and provided a different perspective on the changing role of the legal profession and its importance on daily life in the United States.