[Ads-l] Media inquiry: "Law Offices of", why always plural? (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill CIV (US)]

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

I think the same applies to real estate agents.  Huntsville has the --

Matt Curtis Real Estate Team
Kier Real Estate Team
Ricky Robinson Team
The Cook Team
3 Generation Team: Jerry, Carmen & Alex
Brent Beavers Team

But if you look at them in detail, the "team" often seems to be the named person + his family member that does clerical work for him at night.

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Media inquiry: "Law Offices of", why always plural?
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> More is better.
> 
> JL
> 
> On Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 3:57 PM, Cohen, Gerald Leonard <gcohen at mst.edu>
> wrote:
> 
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       "Cohen, Gerald Leonard" <gcohen at MST.EDU>
> > Subject:      Media inquiry: "Law Offices of", why always plural?
> >
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > I've just received the media inquiry below and don't have an answer.=0A=
> > Would someone on our listserv perhaps have a suggestion?=0A=
> > =0A=
> > Gerald Cohen=0A=
> > =0A=
> > *   *  *   *   *=0A=
> > =0A=
> > From: Philip Johnson [Philip_Johnson at dailyjournal.com]=0A=
> > Sent: Monday, August 10, 2015 1:29 PM=0A=
> > To: Cohen, Gerald Leonard=0A=
> > Subject: Media inquiry=0A=
> > =0A=
> > Sir,=0A=
> >  =0A=
> > I write for a legal publication and have a question on the origin of the
> > te=
> > rm =93Law Offices of =85.=94. Why is it always law officeS, the plural?
> > Wha=
> > t if it is just one room? Wouldn=92t that make it a law office? A lot of
> > so=
> > lo attorneys advertise as having Law Offices, and I imagine them going
> > back=
> >  and forth between dimly lit rooms to read legal texts and ponder deeply.
> > I=
> > =92m wondering if there is a story behind that plural form?=0A=
> >  =0A=
> > Phil Johnson=0A=
> > Reporter, Northern California Superior Courts=0A=
> > 415-296-2445=0A=
> >  =
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> 
> 
> 
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
> 
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

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