A new reader contest from Above the Law poses a simple, chilling challenge: send in four words that would scare a lawyer. The publication framed the request as a way to tap into the profession’s collective anxiety, though it did not reveal any example entries or judges’ criteria. Entries must be submitted by Wednesday, October 21, at 11:59 PM.
The contest’s premise plays on the idea that certain short phrases carry outsized weight for legal professionals — phrases that evoke missed deadlines, ethical violations, or client catastrophes. By asking readers to supply the words, Above the Law turns a common workplace fear into a shared, creative exercise.
Since only one source was available, there is no independent reporting on the contest’s outcome or participation. The piece itself is primarily an invitation, not an analysis, so its significance lies in the cultural conversation it prompts about what lawyers find uniquely unsettling.