Sadity Esq

The Rule of Law and the Erosion of Agreement from the Perspective of a Real Estate Attorney

Every year on May 1st, America observes Law Day — a national day to recognize the role of law in the foundation of our country and the critical role it continues to play in safeguarding freedom, justice, and civil society.

Law Day was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in part to highlight the contrast between American democracy and the rule by force seen in other nations.
In 1961, Congress formally designated May 1st as Law Day U.S.A. — a day for reflection, education, and appreciation for the rule of law.

The vision was simple yet profound:
The law, not individual will or brute force, should govern our society.

But today, as a practicing attorney, I see the cracks forming in that vision.
We are witnessing a cultural shift — one where the rule of law is honored only when it serves personal interests or feels emotionally satisfying.
Agreement has replaced obligation.
Personal feelings have replaced legal duties.

The Critical Distinction: Righteous Resistance vs. Lawless Convenience

Let me be clear:
This is not about righteous resistance to injustice.
History is full of brave individuals who resisted unjust laws — from abolitionists to civil rights activists — and their resistance led to a better, more just society.

What we’re seeing now is something altogether different:
A casual refusal to adhere to lawful edicts, processes, or protocols simply because they don’t serve immediate personal preferences.

It’s the tenant who believes they can ignore court orders because they don’t like the landlord’s behavior.

It’s the landlord who believes they can skip formal notice requirements because a tenant is late on rent.

It’s the citizen who believes that unless a law perfectly matches their worldview, it can be disregarded without consequence.

This isn’t principled resistance.
It’s a dangerous erosion of the structures that protect us all.

How It Plays Out in the Landlord World

In landlord-tenant law, I see the effects almost daily.

Instead of following eviction procedures, some landlords attempt “self-help” evictions, believing that the inconvenience of legal processes excuses their shortcuts.
Conversely, some tenants treat lease obligations as suggestions, refusing to pay rent or comply with lease terms simply because they disagree with them — not because of true hardship, but because they don’t feel the agreement serves them anymore.

Both sides harm themselves and the broader community when they abandon due process.
When emotion replaces procedure, legal protections become meaningless for everyone.

The Larger Impact on Society

The rule of law was never designed to operate only when convenient.
It exists to create order in the midst of disagreement, to protect those with less power, and to ensure that we all play by the same rules even when it feels uncomfortable or slow.

When people treat laws as optional:

• Courts lose authority.
• Contracts lose meaning.Trust in basic societal structures dissolves.
• Trust in basic societal structures dissolves.

Ultimately, when enough people decide that the law matters only when it benefits them personally, freedom itself becomes fragile.

Law Day: A Call to Reflect

This Law Day, I’m reminded that the rule of law is not a matter of convenience — it’s a commitment.
It’s the difficult but essential promise we all make: that even when the law frustrates us, even when it challenges us, we respect it, uphold it, and use lawful channels to change it if necessary.

Because the alternative — a society where only agreement compels obedience — isn’t freedom.
It’s chaos.

The law protects all of us — but only when all of us agree to be governed by it.

Join the Conversation

Law Day is not just for lawyers — it’s a moment for everyone to reflect on the kind of society we want to live in.
I invite you to share this post, leave a comment, and tell me:

What does the rule of law mean to you?

Have you seen examples where following (or ignoring) legal processes has made a real difference?

How do we restore respect for the law without abandoning the pursuit of justice?

Let’s start an honest conversation about what it truly means to live under — and not above — the law.