Why do lawyers sign letters "Very truly yours,"?

[Anonymous]

honestly, OP, who cares? why are you even posting such drivel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a lawyer and not entirely sure. It is just the way that every lawyer I know closes their letters.

There are a few attorneys who write that and the last sentence of their letters include something odd like "with best regards, I remain" which just sounds weird to me.

A lot of practicing law is following style and procedure that takes a long time to change.

"Remaining, as ever, thy humble servant" is what I like to see. But my lawyer is uppity, so all I get is "Very truly yours". Given the size of his retainer I really thought I would merit the former.

[Anonymous]

I just had an exciting and reliable attorney say that in a letter and I am glad that I read this thread, as in my response letter I was going to end it with "I hope so": and then sign my name.

[Anonymous]

Why not “Cordially”?

[Anonymous]

I always thought they were flirting with me…

[Anonymous]

I use "May God Have Mercy on Your Soul, Marvin"

[Anonymous]

I have signed my letters this way for 20 years because when I began practicing law the sample letters I looked at from other attorneys all closed with "Very truly yours." And I think I had a template that did that. So I used it, and I've never changed it because I'm lazy. Most of the correspondence I get these days has "Regards," or "Best," or something. I don't know -- I'm not paying close attention to that part of the letter, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:honestly, OP, who cares? why are you even posting such drivel?

NP but I for one enjoyed reading through this old thread! Still confused about the wax thing. But I have resolved to end my work emails with “I remain your humble servant” from now on, especially to people I detest.

[Anonymous]

Billable hours.

[Anonymous]

When lawyers are on the ACLU payroll
they are required by law and the ACLU
to used Very truly yours for a closing when they
write very professional business letters or
very personal formal letters to their clients
who are card carrying members of the ACLU.
The ACLU is a national organization whose
primary purpose is to help enforce and
preserve individual rights and liberties
guaranteed by federal and
state constitutions.
The ACLU was founded in 1920
by a attorney named Roger Nash Baldwin
the ACLU has 1.6 million members.

[Anonymous]

This thread cracks me up. As a lady attorney, I'm a pass on being anyone's "very truly yours" and use "Sincerely" - it's definitely an old school phrase but I see it going away with younger generations.

[Anonymous]

Don’t truth in advertising laws apply? Shouldn’t they be required to sign off “The money-grubbing douche who just cheated you”?

[Anonymous]

It's a mannerly way of ending a missive, OP, and the law profession is one of the last bastions of tradition and good breeding - for good or ill.

The English-speaking world has a very curt way of talking and writing, FYI. Many cultures are much more elaborate in their greetings and expressions.

Here's the French way to end a formal letter:

"Je vous prie d’agréer, Madame/Monsieur, l’expression de mes sentiments respectueux"

which translated literally means:

"I pray you approve, Madam/Sir, the expression of my respectful sentiments"

Want to hear a funny story? When I applied as a clueless French student to US grad schools, I translated this phrase literally in my cover letters because I didn't know what else to write. I got into every grad program I applied to. They must have laughed their heads off!

[Anonymous]

Because they like to be personable before they f*** you in court.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I now exclusively use Best Regards. VTY is a relic of bygone client correspondence.

+ 1. Though I generally use “sincerely” in an actual letter and “Regards” in an email. On occasion when it’s a warm-ish kind of email, I might use “Best Regards.”

I saw VYT when I was a young appreciate all the time. Not anymore.