Countdown to someone insisting the quote is actually recognition of lawyers as upholders of free society (10...9...8....)

(Actually, it simply amounts to a lawyer joke, told by a character whose contributions to the play are almost entirely one-liners. Shakespeare had his share of fun at lawyers' expense in other plays, too.)

1. What fo you call two dead lawyers? A start.
2. Why don't lice bite lawyers? Professional courtesy.
3. How do you save a drowning lawyer? You don't.
4. Why do people become lawyers? Because they can't meet the integrity standards needed to sell boiler-room shares.
5. Why is it best for laboratories to experiment on lawyers instead of rats? Some people actually care about rats.

aah, even typing the 'L' word that many times makes one feel grubby....

Lawyers will replace lab rats for three reasons:

1. No shortage of lawyers.
2. Lab assistants don't become attached to them.
3. There are just some things you can't get rats to do.