‘Got a text’ = a new brief has arrived in chambers
The return of Love Island means it’s time to brace yourself for a raft of bizarre but catchy lingo thrown about the Majorcan villa. We’ve already heard iconic catchphrases, ‘I’ve got a text’, ‘my type on paper’ and ‘grafting’ crop up in convo with a couple of new additions such as ‘bev’, ‘it is what it is’ and ‘factor 50’.
For lawyers unacquainted with wacky words as such, one barrister has created a handy translator for some of the hit dating show’s most popular phrases.
Love Island for Lawyers is the fun and light-hearted dictionary put together by Carmelite Chambers criminal silk and chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), Chris Henley QC. Despite claiming he has “never watched” the reality TV show in the CBA’s ‘Monday’ Message, Henley’s list is sure to raise a chuckle among members of the legal profession.
What the Islander says |
Lawyer translation |
| “Got a text” | A new brief has arrived in chambers |
| “If there’s one thing I am, it’s loyal” | I’m going to cut your throat |
| “Grafting” | Doing an overnight skeleton argument |
| “It is what it is” | Response to an unanswerable bad character application |
| “Casa Amor” | The Court of Appeal |
| “Recoupling” | A successful application to transfer the representation order |
| “Pied” | Sacked by your client |
| “My type on paper” | I’ve never met the client |
| “Putting all your eggs in one basket” | Serving a defence statement |
| “Can I pull you for a chat” | You should be pleading guilty |
| “Being a total melt” | Applying for an adjournment |
| “Cracking on” | Moving chambers |