--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can’t a lawyer take his client out to…" description: "\"“Can’t a lawyer take his client out to dinner to discuss the case? Haven’t you ever heard of the two-martini lunch?” “Yes, but this is dinner,” she cor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/693/mark-m-bello-37175_abuse-of-power_can-t-a-lawyer-take-his-client-out-to-di_1988644.jpg" --- # Can’t a lawyer take his client out to dinner to discuss… ![“Can’t a lawyer take his client out to dinner to discuss the case? Haven’t you ever heard of the two-martini lunch?” “Yes, but this is dinner,” she corrected. “It’s the same thing. I looked it up in my Etiquette and Tax Deductions for Lawyers handbook . . .” quote by Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/693/mark-m-bello-37175_abuse-of-power_can-t-a-lawyer-take-his-client-out-to-di_1988644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/693/mark-m-bello-37175_abuse-of-power_can-t-a-lawyer-take-his-client-out-to-di_1988644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/693/mark-m-bello-37175_abuse-of-power_can-t-a-lawyer-take-his-client-out-to-di_1988644.jpg) > ““Can’t a lawyer take his client out to dinner to discuss the case? Haven’t you ever heard of the two-martini lunch?” “Yes, but this is dinner,” she corrected. “It’s the same thing. I looked it up in my Etiquette and Tax Deductions for Lawyers handbook . . .”” [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously highlights how lawyers try to turn ordinary meals into deductible business expenses, blurring professional and personal boundaries. **In simple terms:** Lawyers may claim meals as work costs, even when they’re just social. Key Takeaway Be aware of tax rules and ethical limits on deductions. Themes ethics tax law professional conduct Mood witty critical Type humorous ethical When to use this quote - client meetings - networking dinners - travel meals Key Concepts deductible expenses conflict of interest legal humor Questions to Reflect On - Is the expense truly business related? - How do you balance networking with compliance? A Different Perspective Tax authorities may challenge questionable deductions, risking penalties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse of power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse-of-power/) [Child abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-abuse/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Client Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/client-dinner-3435969/) [Cover up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cover-up/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Dinner Corrected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-corrected-3435970/) [Dinner Discuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-discuss-587795/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Martini Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martini-lunch-3295523/) [Peadophilia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peadophilia-141581/) [Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sexual abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-abuse/) ## Related quotes > [“These were children. Gerry was their priest. Who could disagree that these children were not justified in trusting their priest? Nobody!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/these-were-children-gerry-was-their-priest-who-could-disagree-that/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) > [“Abuse is never contained to a present moment, it lingers across a person’s lifetime and has pervasive long-term ramifications.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-nilon/abuse-is-never-contained-to-a-present-moment-it-lingers-across-a/) [Lorraine Nilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-nilon/) > [The three-martini lunch is the epitome of American efficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-three-martini-lunch-is-the-epitome-of-american-efficiency/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [The three-martini lunch is the epitome of American efficiency. Where else can you get an earful, a bellyful and a snootful at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/the-three-martini-lunch-is-the-epitome-of-american-efficiency-where/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [I like being able to talk about work while we're making dinner. I'd rather discuss it at that moment while it's fresh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-faris/i-like-being-able-to-talk-about-work-while-we-re-making-dinner-i-d/) [Valerie Faris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-faris/) > [It's a wonderful time when you sit down around the table for dinner and discuss life. 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When artists get together for dinner, they discuss Money”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/when-bankers-get-together-for-dinner-they-discuss-art-when-artists/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The mass of your visions depends on the size of your dreams and distance they can cover within a given period of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-mass-of-your-visions-depends-on-the-size-of-your-dreams-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“The major goal of the Cold War mind control programs was to create dissociative symptoms and disorders, including full multiple personality disorder. The Manchurian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/the-major-goal-of-the-cold-war-mind-control-programs-was-to-create/) [Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/) > […You make me glow, but I cover it up, won't let it show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-make-me-glow-but-i-cover-it-up-won-t-let-it-show/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“I was amazed, shocked, and sickened by what I heard throughout the day, over and over, by many victims' stories. I can think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-bailey-jr/i-was-amazed-shocked-and-sickened-by-what-i-heard-throughout-the-day/) [Charles L. Bailey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-bailey-jr/) > [“Some readers may find it a curious or even unscientific endeavour to craft a criminological model of organised abuse based on the testimony of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/some-readers-may-find-it-a-curious-or-even-unscientific-endeavour-to/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [I say, 'I'm bi, my love knows no gender,' and the straight community says, 'Oh right, that's just a cover-up - you're gay!' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-say-i-m-bi-my-love-knows-no-gender-and-the-straight-community-says/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [It isn't the original scandal that gets people in the most trouble - it's the attempted cover-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petri/it-isn-t-the-original-scandal-that-gets-people-in-the-most-trouble-it/) [Tom Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petri/) ## More by Mark M. Bello > [“If Jack Dylan was Captain Ahab, Bart Breitner was Moby Dick. Jack felt exhilarated, as Ahab must have felt when he finally encountered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/if-jack-dylan-was-captain-ahab-bart-breitner-was-moby-dick-jack-felt/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) > [“Then let’s get to work. Sarin…shit! We must stop these guys…again.” The men nodded, stone-faced. Was it really déjà vu all over again?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/then-let-s-get-to-work-sarin-shit-we-must-stop-these-guys-again-the/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) > [“Change was, indeed, possible, one person at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/change-was-indeed-possible-one-person-at-a-time/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) > [“Twenty-five elite law enforcement officers against six racist assholes. 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Smart, hiding in plain sight. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/look-at-that-asshole-not-a-care-in-the-world-today-i-fish-tomorrow-i/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) > [“These were children. Gerry was their priest. Who could disagree that these children were not justified in trusting their priest? Nobody!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/these-were-children-gerry-was-their-priest-who-could-disagree-that/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) > [“A traitor to both sides, the ultimate asshole…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/a-traitor-to-both-sides-the-ultimate-asshole/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) > [“Out of two different and distinct traditions, Jennifer and Zachary have come together to learn the best of what each has to offer, appreciating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/out-of-two-different-and-distinct-traditions-jennifer-and-zachary/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) > [“Your friends dress like your enemies, and your enemies dress like your friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-bello/your-friends-dress-like-your-enemies-and-your-enemies-dress-like-your/) [Mark M. Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) [Explore all 12 Mark M. Bello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-m-bello/) ## More Abuse of power quotes > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The abuse of power takes happiness away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-abuse-of-power-takes-happiness-away/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When authority is total, so too is the madness of the man who declares it, and the potential for abuse of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/when-authority-is-total-so-too-is-the-madness-of-the-man-who-declares/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [When you love a person, you are giving him the power to hurt you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-love-a-person-you-are-giving-him-the-power-to-hurt-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. 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It happens in our own country if we're not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/abuse-of-power-isn-t-limited-to-bad-guys-in-other-nations-it-happens/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [The idea that Donald Trump committed an abuse of power by bringing politics into a foreign relationship is a joke. They all do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/the-idea-that-donald-trump-committed-an-abuse-of-power-by-bringing/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [The allegations against Harvey Weinstein are clearly deplorable. 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