International Be Kind to Lawyers Day (2nd Tuesday in April)

International Be Kind to Lawyers Day falls on the second Tuesday in April, and honestly, it’s not one most people plan for.

But it’s one of those easy ones to use if you want a quick conversation about fairness, rules, or how problems actually get sorted out in real life. Most kids only see lawyers in movies, so this gives you a simple way to make it feel a bit more real without overcomplicating it.

When is the Holiday?

It falls on the second Tuesday of April each year.

Who Invented It?

Steve Hughes created this holiday in 2008 as a way to encourage kindness toward lawyers.

He recognized that legal professionals often face unfair criticism and wanted to establish a day dedicated to acknowledging their hard work and dedication.

The History of the Holiday

The holiday was strategically placed between April Fool’s Day (April 1) and U.S. Tax Day (April 15), two days associated with legal complexities.

Another theory links the date to April 11, 1900, when the U.S. Navy accepted its first commissioned submarine, symbolizing innovation and legal regulation.

Over time, the holiday has gained popularity as a reminder to appreciate legal professionals.

Fun Facts About Lawyers

• That Shakespeare line about “kill all the lawyers” is often taken the wrong way, it was actually said by a villain who wanted to remove the people protecting the law.
• Harvard Law School (founded in 1817) existed before many of the legal systems we rely on today were fully shaped.
• Some legal cases drag on for decades, the Guinness Trust case lasted over 50 years, involving multiple generations of lawyers.
• Lawyers have been involved in some of the biggest moments in history. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution didn’t just appear out of nowhere, people trained in law helped shape them.
• In the 1800s, one lawyer reportedly avoided a case by challenging his opponent to a duel…which worked because the other person backed out.

Coloring Page

If you just want something simple to start with, the coloring page below works well, especially with younger kids.

It gives you a way into the topic without needing to explain everything upfront, and you can build on it as much (or as little) as you want from there.

Activities to Celebrate

Writing a thank-you note is probably the easiest place to start, especially if you’ve ever needed a lawyer yourself. It doesn’t need to be anything formal, even a quick message is enough to make the point.

If your kids are a bit older, it can be interesting to talk about real examples of lawyers making a difference. Sometimes just mentioning a well-known case or story is enough to get them thinking differently about the job.

Watching something like To Kill a Mockingbird works well too, but only if you actually pause and talk about what’s going on. Otherwise it just becomes background noise.

You could also look at how legal aid works. Most kids assume lawyers are only for big cases or courtrooms, so it’s useful to show how they help people day to day, especially those who wouldn’t otherwise have access to support.

And if the conversation goes that way, it naturally leads into careers, what lawyers actually do, how varied the job is, and why people choose it in the first place.

Even if your kids have zero interest in law, the idea of fairness and how decisions get made is something they’ll come across again and again.

Links to Resources

If you want to go a bit further with this, these are worth a look:

If your kids are interested in history, reading about Cicero is a good place to start. He wasn’t just a lawyer, he was also a powerful speaker, and a lot of what he wrote still influences how laws are explained today.

The American Bar Association site is useful if you want a clearer picture of what lawyers actually do day to day. It’s also a good one for older kids who are starting to think about careers.

If you want to show how lawyers help in real life (not just in courtrooms), the National Legal Aid & Defender Association gives a better understanding of how people get support when they can’t afford it.

And if this topic sparks questions, the Legal Services Corporation site lets you see how people are matched with free legal help, which can make the whole idea feel a lot more real.

Related Holidays

Celebrating kindness and appreciation isn’t limited to lawyers.

• National Fun at Work Day on January 28 encourages a positive workplace culture, making work enjoyable for everyone.
• National Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17 is a great reminder to spread goodwill and generosity in unexpected ways.
• International Safety Pin Day on April 10 celebrates the simple yet useful invention that has helped people in countless situations.
• Lastly, Social Media Day on June 30 recognizes the impact of social platforms on communication, advocacy, and awareness, something that can also be used to show appreciation for legal professionals.

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