Power Of Attorney: Not Happy Hour At The Bar

Law Firms are Changing

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 23:11:00 +0000

Law firms are seeing a drop in demand for services.

The recommendation here is that firms should get lean, cut costs, plan layoffs.

Firms should shrink in order to grow financially stronger.

Have a listen.

Source: Bloomberg Law

JD Oasis - A Place of Refuge for the JD

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:12:00 +0000

I recently spoke to Patrick Curtis, the founder of Wall Street Oasis, about being a contributing author to his new venture J.D. Oasis. I was thrilled to entertain Patrick not merely because unknown to him I was one of the lurking monkeys over at WSO but also because I loved the concept of a community of professionals giving career advice and support to each other - hence the oasis designation. Now he has extended it from finance professionals to legal professionals. And we all know from the myriad of surveys and commentaries about the decline in the legal job market, that anyone considering a career in law today will need a lot of support.

Why was I lurking over at WSO in the first place? I honestly don't recall how or why I got there but more than likely it had something to do with researching alternative careers for lawyers. The intersection between law and finance is not an unique relationship. Who ever heard of a financial institution that is bereft of its "bank" of lawyers or a law firm that doesn't "account" to its bankers? While both fields individually may seem to speak in esoteric terms - whether it's discounted cash flows or a writ of mandamus, the world of private equity analysis or investment banking is not the sole purview of financiers. Legal specialties such as Real Estate, Mergers and Acquisitions, Tax, Estate Planning and others do necessarily encompass finance principles. Further the influx of banking and accounting regulations demands research, interpretation and proper application to ensure compliance and enforcement. Consequently more and more lawyers and finance professionals have reason to work together and in some cases they even transition across fields.

With my background as a legal practitioner in a developing country with training in business administration from a US business school, I found the forums over at WSO most helpful to gain insight into the Wall Street work experience and approach to client service. But for the purpose of this blog, the discussions as quoted below, relating to moving from law to finance is the kind of discussion that I found relevant.

For the few JDs who move into IB, any idea what an IB looks for in those applicants -- general deal knowledge? Financial knowledge picked up along the way? Merely the ability to work 400 hours a month and accept having no non-work life? A combination?

While there can be some quibbling, sharp exchanges and racy language the volume of useful information gained from sharing on the forums is huge. Hopefully JD Oasis will take off and prove to be a similar wellspring of advice and opinions and a companion refuge for the frustrated, uninformed or curious JD or JD wannabe.

Apart from forums on legal career issues, as a research and information junkie, I am hoping to see some dialogue involving views and reviews of technological legal research tools. WSO forums offer some useful discussions on finance modeling/valuation tools, crash courses and other financial training solutions. One of my favorites was this fine analysis of commercial real estate valuation. In the legal research field, LexisNexis and Westlaw have been the two major market players for years. Google has entered and so has the financial information powerhouse Bloomberg. With Bloomberg's command of business data and financial information, their products ought to exploit the legal/finance alignment. Another newcomer Fastcase is taking advantage of the professional's fascination with mobile technology. These products are compulsory for the legal practitioner and law students. I anticipate hearing more about their functionality and efficiency at JDO.

Source: JDOasis.com

Lawyers on LinkedIn

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:35:00 +0000

Are you on LinkedIn? If not, why not? It seems the world and his wife are there and I think if you are serious about networking - which any job-seeker ought to be - then LinkedIn is the place to show yourself. Be seen on LinkedIn! You can go there and network with others of like minds or with others with skills in demand or with others who are looking for your skills. It's a place for professionals like you whether or not you are employed.

One thing I've noticed about LinkedIn is that I don't have many of the same connections there as I do on social networking sites like Facebook. That is not to say that my Facebook friends are wild, unemployable and unprofessional (OK maybe a few) but rather that I use LinkedIn to showcase more so my professional than my personal side. Also my connections aren't necessarily people I know but contacts I value as being a part of my industry or who share my passion, so we can mutually benefit for each other's experiences.

I've been a LinkedIn member for quite a while but I've only just started to understand its potential as a place to find out what's happening in your field or even outside your field but in the industry to which you hope to transition. It provides a platform to demonstrate your expertise in a particular area, to get advice from others and to, more than anything else, really really network. With the ability to join LinkedIn groups and make connections on the basis not only of being a colleague or classmate but through mutual group membership you can grow your network stratospherically. For example I only have 85 connections and through those 85 I am linked to 5,605,244+ professionals.

Among a sea of professionals, it may seem counter-intuitive but it probably is the ideal place to be found, if you know how to work the system. I'm finding out how to do that. It's all about building networks you see. Joining groups contributing and even creating your own groups is an exciting way to go about it. I formed a group yesterday called Law Firm AML (anti-money laundering) Risks and Compliance since that is an area in which I have developed some expertise. Of significance is how much work has been done in that field in the UK and the EU in regulating the legal profession but since lawyers in the US are not regulated under AML rules, the AML/CTF field is dominated by finance and banking firms. I am curious to see how this will develop in light of the evolving nature of money laundering tactics and the drive by the federal government to root out corruption.

Anyway so far I noticed that one of my connections has already posted 2 jobs to the group and since I do try to offer career resources and one of my themes here on leavethebar is alternative careers for lawyers (by the way there is a such a group on LinkedIn too) I am hoping to form relationships with recruiters who may be able to share information with readers who are seeking alternative careers. Hopefully all of us will benefit.

Speaking of which. To those lawyers here who crave more work/life balance have you checked out Bliss Lawyers. They are looking for lawyers just like you to work part time on projects Their website says that they offer health benefits and 401(K) opportunities too. Check them out here.

From Law to Finance

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 08 May 2011 06:59:00 +0000

Have you ever checked out FINS.com? It's a career site over at the Wall Street Journal that focuses on finance jobs and financial professionals.

Now why would I be referring those trained in the law to a finance jobs site? Well it's the economy stupid! You see according to FINS, 2011 will continue to see the finance industry rebounding. Of course the fact that the environment will become subject to more regulations spells the need to interpret and apply legalese.

So lawyers who spent time specializing in corporate law, real estate, compliance, contract management, M & A, due diligence, trusts and estates, anti-money laundering and others of similar ilk, should check out the job boards of companies like Deloitte, PWC and JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America to see how many jobs are available with these magic words:

J.D. degree a plus

Now if you are thinking of transitioning from the law firm to the finance company because work/life balance is a big issue for you then you might want to think again. FINS has been publishing a series of articles on Women on Wall Street and though not exceptionally encouraging, it is clear that there is some concern, discussion and even efforts around designing sustainable initiatives to not only retain women but also to improve flexibility and diversity in the world of finance.

Naming and Shaming Will Get More Women on Top - We need more women role models
The Most Flexible Jobs in Finance - The Freelance Contract Employee is worth a special look.
Lost Generation - Young Women Flee Finance - The old boys network is still going strong. Women are therefore creating other paths. Meanwhile American Express implements a special project to attract young women
What Do Women on Wall Street Want? Men? - No doubt a headline grabber but the content does not support men as the answer to women's desires. Are they ever? Well sometimes of course.:) The point is however that men and women must be involved in learning to accommodate and promote initiatives for women to return, stay and grow in the financial firm. The same of course would apply to law firms.

Legal Reporter

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:40:00 +0000

From lawyer to journalist. That could be the ideal transition for the dissatisfied lawyer who is looking for a new job in a new field. Were you the student who always wrote for or edited the school magazine? Do you still have copies of your high school literary review or college newspaper? Do you blog about what's going on in your area of law?

Well the New York Law Journal is looking for a full time General Assignment Reporter. It's in New York and the ad doesn't expire until 1 April, 2011 - no fooling. So get over to JournalismJobs.com for what could be your perfect opportunity.

Yep they prefer that you have a law degree.

What are you waiting for? Go!

Lawyers Christmas Wish List - 8 Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:16:00 +0000

Approximately two years ago, I posted a list of gifts for lawyers to help them ~~celebrate the silly season~~ get through the rest of a challenging year. Well more than 700 days later I am betting that the challenge has grown for some, begun for others and perhaps subsided for a few.

So you've guessed it. I've decided to take the opportunity to create the 2010 lawyers' Christmas wish list for my lawyer friends, my reluctant lawyer comrades, my transitioned lawyers and those ever optimistic persistent lawyer wanna bees.

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 - Now once you see the word guerrilla you know we aren't taking about a soft sales pitch. No this is war. If you have been using the same old tired tactics to search for a job then it's no wonder you can't find a job; if you haven't updated your resume lately then how do you expect to get ahead if you are frozen in time? It's time to unleash these unconventional tactics, launch an attack on the employment industry if you will - to land your dream job. It's different, its proven and it's an eye-opener. Get this book for yourself, your cranky unemployed lawyer friend or your soon to be law graduate son. I own this book and can tell you without hesitation that it will inspire you to organize a never before tried job strategy that will help you to win the job search war.
Law Tunes - You'd better believe it's going to be a billable Christmas. That's just what my supervisor (God rest his soul) used to say when he cracked the whip and wouldn't yield on the no vacation at Xmas rule These guys over at law tunes have decided to take their experience in the courtroom added a twist of musical talent and a dash of humor to create tunes for the legal holidaze. Enjoy their season's briefings and more. I told you lawyers were as funny as hell.
Great Canon SD 1400 Camera - Do you like amazing things in small packages? Then this camera that can fit snugly in your pocket is for you. On top of that it takes great pictures. My hubby picked this up at B & H Photo. It's sleek. sophisticated and easy to use and the results are fantastic. I know it's great because it makes even my kitchen (yes lawyers can cook) look like a chef's delight. A camera fit for a ~~nitpicking~~ detailed oriented lawyer who believes in a genuine reproduction not the counterfeit stuff. The color reproduction will impress and who knows pretty soon you might have a new hobby.
ASUS Eee PC 10.1-Inch Netbook - Have you entered the netbook market? What the heck are you waiting for? If you think that the netbook isn't as versatile as a laptop you haven't tried the Asus brand. I'm writing this post with my very own and I haven't plugged it in all day. It gives me hours and hours of battery life. Small enough for a lady lawyer to take around in her pocket book, great for traveling when you want your carry-on to be more than a computer case and powerful enough to allow you to multi-task without freezing. And get this - it is under $400. Sweet.
Baggallini Handbag - This is the best handbag you can find for the super traveler.It's the perfect size, has the right amount of pockets, can hold your netbook and it's stylish too. It's ideal for that female lawyer on the move.
Why Sex is Fun - Come on now! We all know this answer to this. Do we? Do you harried professionals and depressed unemployed graduates really believe it is and understand why? With all those unpleasant late nights, maybe you need a little reminder. Some of you uptight pretenders who we know would love to wear a thong under those stiff black suits could lighten up a bit. It ain't only about procreation my friends. And to all of you non-believers the genesis (pun intended) has to do with evolution. Go figure! If you thought that Adam and Eve suddenly grew excited after biting that forbidden fruit, well think again. The third chimpanzee is in the ~~room~~ garden.
Naturally Speaking - Can't afford a secretary? Tired of typing you own briefs? Want to write that mystery novel to rival John Grisham. Since your favorite lawyer guy has the gift of gab, why not help him get those words down without the hassle of typing. Let the words flow from your mouth to the screen with the naturally speaking software. This will be my gift to my lawyer husband. I am truly going to scream if he asks me to type another opinion.
Eat What You Want and Die like a Man - This is for all the male lawyers out there who are simply tired of hearing that their cholesterol levels are too high. It's Christmas so live a little. You might need a little oral chelation therapy after, but the world's unhealthiest cookbook has some tasty mouthwatering recipes that will get you licking your lips and laughing too. And who can't do with a good laugh? If you are just fed up of all those politically correct healthy meals get this book and fill you house with cheer , your kitchen with humor and your dining room with those guests you want to re-invite (unless he's that partner who is a heart attack waiting to happen).

Happy holidays.

From Lawyer to Entrepreneur - It Ain't That Easy

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:02:00 +0000

Or is it?

That report of the lawyer who was so stressed out at having no success at her job search that she was reduced to offering her services as a cleaning lady, inspired me to examine cases of lawyers turned entrepreneur. Only last week Am Law carried a post by Vivia Chen who had had enough of the stories of moms who finally found the

"perfectly balanced life--particularly the fantasy that home and work mesh wonderfully once you hop off the legal or corporate track."

Despite the apparent harshness of Chen's criticism, it does have some validity, as it is likely that the account by Sarah Davis the lawyer in question - doesn't tell the whole story.

So there is Ms. Davis telling the world how she started out as a struggling law student (those loans you know) selling bags on eBay for profit and now she has a store in Beverley Hills, California selling high end luxury bags for thousands of dollars. Come on now! The initial investment in luxury bags isn't exactly cheap, is it?

There is a widely held view that there are more business failures than successes, both on and offline, which causes us to wonder about the apparent ease with which Ms. Davis switched careers to become a wildly successful entrepreneur.

The article doesn't give any details of the financing of the business, whether Ms. Davis needed to open a line of credit to move from eBay upwards, whether she felt the need to get outside expertise to help to market her business, whether she had a mentor or whether she had any pitfalls along the way. In fact one gets the distinct impression that it was a breeze, although she did go out of her way to emphasize her great customer service skills.

Apart from the fear of failure, we know that running a business - whether it is a small law office, a cottage industry enterprise or a home based office - is hard work. Is it any wonder that people who claim to be dissatisfied with their jobs stick with it as they take consolation in the fact that they will be taking home a regular pay cheque, not to mention health insurance! To be fair though some persons will confess that their reluctance is mainly grounded in ignorance. They tell you they have no business sense, they have no start up funds, they are technologically challenged, they have no ideas how to decide on a niche or some combination and without this they are prime candidates for failure.

But is it really that bad? The Small Business Association Office of Advocacy reports that..

"Seven out of 10 new employer firms survive at least 2 years, half at least 5 years, a third at least 10 years, and a quarter stay in business 15 years or more."

We have heard of cases where persons start a small business out of sheer desperation or of those who used failure and rejection as their inspiration and yet they succeed. Perhaps the success is out of a positive attitude and determination but more than likely that approach is supported by a well thought out plan complemented by well researched small business ideas.

We don't for one second buy into the notion that the work/life imbalance gets a healthy dose of stability once lawyers hop off the legal work track It takes a lot more than merely leaving; but we sure as hell believe that everyone - singles, moms and dads too - should strive to achieve some sense of balance in their lives.

There is nothing wrong with seeking job satisfaction and if that includes spending more time with family so be it. But if lawyers seeking a career change opt for the entrepreneur path, they (probably more than anyone) know that it ain't as easy as the account published in the Working Mother. And that's just it isn't it? It was published in a magazine for working moms and a place where the feel good quality of "Real Mom stories" enjoys a welcome audience. A lawyer who can now spend more time with or even grow her family as a result of the freedom gained by switching from being a professional to a business owner, is a topic that is appealing to moms. If she were appearing in another publication like The Careerist for example, it's highly probable that the journalists would approach it from a different angle.

As for lawyers thinking about a career change. They are probably struggling as they decide whether to leave. And while they recognize that the "Real Mom stories" do contain some amount of hype and that they are better off researching their options and getting sound business advice, they should also accept that success stories are always welcome as long as they keep it real. So keep them coming.

Featured Personality - Monica Parker

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:27:00 +0000

Today is the first in a series of posts we plan to do about lawyers who have made changes in their career. Some may have left the law completely, some might have transitioned from a particular specialty while others might have moved on from the BigLaw firm experience to something a little different.

Our first featured personality is Monica Parker who is a Lawyer turned Career Coach. She is the CEO of Leavingthelaw.com and was the first to answer our survey questions. We are so happy to have her not only because she gladly agreed to share her experience with our readers but also because as a career coach for for lawyers she is in the perfect position to give valuable advice on making the transition from law.

Describe your current occupation

I help unhappy lawyers find and pursue fulfilling work outside of the law. Once you're in the law, it can be hard to envision life outside of the law. My job is to help you see the possibilities, create your own vision, and then go after it.

Why did you choose to go to law school?

I wanted another degree. I wanted the prestige and the status associated with the J.D. I also wanted the big paycheck. Others said I would make a good lawyer and that you could do anything you wanted with a law degree. Not the greatest critical thinking ever, I know, but that's the truth!

What influenced you to detour from practising law?

I wasn't happy. I worked at two great firms, made some really good friends, made good money, but the nature of the work never engaged me. I truly do believe that life is short, and I wanted to make the most of it. That meant finding and pursuing work I loved.

Could you briefly outline the steps involved in making the change?

Dick Bolles, the author of What Color Is Your Parachute, says it best:

1. What do you want to do? What appeals to you? Make a list. It's OK if your ideas are half-formed.
2. What's getting in the way? Lawyers are good at this step. What are all of the reasons you can't do what you want? Evaluate them. Are they real obstacles or phantoms?
3. What are you doing about it? Take a good, hard look at the real obstacles and come up with ways to get around them. Do some brainstorming with a supportive friend. For example, "I'd love to own a flower shop but I don't know anything about but I don't know anything about arranging flowers or owning my own business." Take some flower arranging courses, apprentice yourself to a flower shop. Get a mentor with business experience. Take some business-building classes.

Obstacles too great? No problem. That's why you made a list. Circle back to your list, pick another possibility, and get going.

If you haven't left the law, what do you do to make your career satisfying?

[Although Monica has left the law, she gives her own advice to lawyers in this position]

Least drastic approach: Evaluate your life as a whole. Maybe it's not that you dislike law so much but you're not indulging your creative side as much as you like. Sign up for a pottery on the wheel class or take an online screenwriting course.

A little more drastic: Make a list. What do you like, what do you dislike about your work? Find ways to capitalize on the likes.

More drastic: Change practice groups, firms, the setting in which you practice law.

Describe any challenges you faced in making the decision

I worried about a few things: money, what others would think, what if I hated what I did after I made the shift.

Here's my advice on how to get around them.

Money: You have to find a way to make this one work for you. Maybe it's paying down your law school loans, asking family for financial help, cutting back on your lifestyle choices.
What others think: Are any of those naysayers sitting at the desk with you being miserable every day? No. That was the turning point for me. Since no one shared my pain, they didn't get to make the decisions.
What if I hate my next career? If you put some analysis into it (will it meet your interests, values, talents, etc.) it's not likely you'll hate it. But even if the worst case scenario came true, so what? If you hate it, you can do what you did before. Try something else!

What advice do you have for other lawyers who wish to leave the law?

Realize that you're not alone. There are lots of miserable lawyers around you. I'm not suggesting that we should be happy that people are miserable but it is comforting to know you're not the only one. Griping with friends at Happy Hour serves no purpose. It may make you feel better momentarily comparing horror stories but you and your buddies' time would be better served working through the steps I mentioned above for making a career shift. Start an underground support group!

What advice do you have for students who are considering applying to law school?

If law school is what you really want, go for it! Far be it for me to stand in someone's way. If someone had tried to stop me (and actually a few did), I'd be resentful. Going to law school and then deciding not to practice is not a disaster. If you have questions, do a bit of exploring. Talk to other law school students, talk to lawyers. Figure out what you want to get out of law school and what you want to do with your degree.

What advice do you have for other lawyers who wish to leave the law?

Thank you Monica.
If any of you would like to contact Monica you can send her an email at Monica@LeavingTheLaw.com

If there is any former lawyer out there who wishes to contribute and give other lawyers hope, please feel free to complete the survey at the top of our page under Featured Personality or send me an email at leavethebar@gmail.com

Law Gone to the Toilet

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:05:00 +0000

Ok it’s not that I’m dissing the practice of law but when I saw the headline screaming across the Daily News - Jobless lawyer has tough time finding new gig, so she's offering to clean homes ... even toilets!

I knew that something has gone horribly wrong.

For a brief moment I wondered whether it was a joke. Here we have a lady who has worked her a$$ off having trained for probably seven years, racking up a mountain of debt; then having gained experience as a litigator – no less - in that ruthless metropolis of New York city, she is now advertising for work as a cleaning lady! Did it have to come to this? Has this lady sold her soul to a malevolent marketplace? Is it that she has taken stock of the demand for services, assessed her skills and figured that she, a graduate of Fordham Law School, could not do better than to scour the streets of New York for the ripe opportunity to clean the effluent of the affluent? ~~Sounds~~ Smells foul to me!

Not that I am knocking house cleaning but seriously has that occupation become so intricate that it now requires a law degree? Do house cleaners need to read the fine print to ensure that their employer’s homes are so zoned to allow them to practice a commercial enterprise such as say…..house cleaning? Will house cleaners need to litigate on behalf of bed bugs that were uprooted from their homes by hotel hopping New Yorkers? Shouldn’t house cleaners raise a robust defence on little Benji’s behalf to permit scatological references at the dinner table? After all, if a graduate degree is a pre-requisite for such a messy calling then surely the necessary components of said calling, merit full and open consideration.

Just what the dickens is going on?

Jobless Lawyers

The fact is more and more lawyers are being laid off in this recessionary climate. It behooves them therefore to plan for that eventuality rather than fall victim to a soulless bazaar that doesn’t give a hoot about their inflated qualifications. It is clear based on the news report that Ms. Lingo was anxious to continue in the field of litigation and so once she was laid off she tried to get similar work. Can’t blame her too much as that was her area of expertise. But in this unhealthy economic atmosphere one has got to be more flexible. She reduced her options by discounting work in corporate law, and after many failures, she lowered her expectations until she was competing for babysitting services.

Finally I guess she thought she’d get creative by promoting herself as a lawyer cleaning toilets; but despite her efforts to date, her failure rate remains at 100%. I suppose she really could try a little harder. With her background couldn’t she have spruced up the job title a bit?

Some thoughts:

The Clean-Up Counsel
The Janitorial Defender (JD)
The Flux Pundit
The Pettifogging Purifier
The Loo Suit Esq.
The Forensic Domestic
The Unclogged Advocate

Value of a Law Degree

Purifying arguments aside it could be that a law degree isn't worth crap anymore! But I'm not inclined to agree - although I have warned my son about the pitfalls of applying to law school. Despite sending out over 308 resumes and cover letters and failing to secure employment I think maybe Ms. Lingo does have more to offer than cob-webbing and scouring. The question is whether, when she applied to non-law jobs, her resume screamed lawyer/litigator or whether she sought to highlight her transferable skills and structured her application to match the requirements of the employer.

With two years out of law school she is not yet so steeped in the practice that her chronological legal experience should prove that much of an obstacle, then again if practising law is her only work experience she might have to do some more vigorous advocacy on her own behalf. Hopefully Ms. Lingo will recognize that with her intelligence, drive and ambition she can go places.

Some of her critics wonder whether she couldn't hang out her own shingle But with her loans, lack of experience and the unfriendly economy she is probably and quite rightly concerned about drowning in more debt. If she wants to work for an employer she perhaps should look at securing the services of a career coach who can help her to:

research jobs in which she could be employable,
identify and highlight her transferable skills,
gain insight through informational interviews,
make an application that has impact,
succeed in changing her career.

Lawyers' Transferable Skills

Her presentation, public speaking, analytical, decision making and problem solving skills are worthy, in fact, damn expensive and must be granted the respect they deserve. If however Ms. Lingo persists on the house cleaning track however, let us hope that she parlays her costly skills to great advantage. Apart from the title she needs a catchy tagline so here goes:

Battling for every (s)cent
Trusted bathroom counsel
Pleading the Decontamination Defense

Contest

Ok I could go on. But how about you?

What do you think Ms. Lingo could do to improve her chances or enhance her profile? We're talking about taglines here.

Leave you email address and your website if you have one.
.

Tips to Help Lawyers Put Themselves First

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:31:00 +0000

Some years ago when I was still obliged to attend Catholic classes we girls were visited by a Monsignor Dufour who – no doubt worried for our character as young Catholic girls - gave us a piece of advice. He said that we were never to love a man more than we love ourselves. I have always remembered that because I've had cause to apply it in a variety of circumstances. For example, I convinced myself by the end of college after many weird diets that I would not love food more than I love myself.

Similarly I don't love my job more than I love myself.

qSometimes we need to take a step back and examine our lives. Do we love ourselves? We are so caught up with keeping up -keeping up with the latest, the biggest and the most. We want to have the best cars, the biggest houses and the most money and in doing so lose sight of who matters. Some people are so stressed out by their jobs they don't realize that the work will be there tomorrow while they could be on the way to the mental institution or God forbid, the cemetery.

I knew something had to give when on the way to work, I'd have to take deep breaths to counteract the tightness in my chest. That scary feeling was being brought on simply by thinking about my upcoming day at the firm. In the end I left and gained employment at a firm where respect for staff was a bit better. Sometimes however it isn't so easy to leave. You need an income to pay the rent, the mortgage and the doctor who is keeping you alive barely. In circumstances like those it is important to have an outlet.

Go to the gym, the pool or the rink.

Talk to someone, even your parents (no you aren't too old).

Take a class online.

Consider leaving that particular position. For example:

If the firm is opening an office elsewhere try to escape to the new locale by promoting yourself as an adventurer.
explore whether you can get involved in marketing/rainmaking/business development for the firm.
Try working for the government or in-house.

Of course you could consider leaving the bar altogether.

Whatever you choose, remember that it is about loving yourself and it is less important to remain for the sake of saving a job than to leave for the sake of saving your life.

Remember too that sometimes all it takes is a bit of rejuvenation. The night is dark for a reason so turn of the lights and have a good deep sleep .

Help A Lawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:14:00 +0000

When I decided to start this blog, I wrote mainly to let off steam or to give vent to my frustration given the unfair practices I'd experienced and observed in the lawyer's workplace. However, it developed into something more, something much more. While it allowed me to show a little piece of me, especially through my A Day in the Life series, it allowed me also to meet some very inspiring people from all over the world, explore some interesting issues relating to:

challenges of balancing family life and work life,
the high rate depression among lawyers,
the sense of humour of lawyers who by the way, are funny as hell,
women in the law who fight back,
women in the law who are doused,
all around stellar women in the law

But it also led to something very exhilarating. Readers didn't find it destructive. They were coming here for not only information and entertainment but for support and encouragement. Now I'm not a coach - whether career or lifestyle - but I do think that if I discover something that can be of assistance then it does no harm to share.

So I have and will continue to explore alternatives for lawyers and at the same time would like to encourage others who would like to share their experiences good or bad as they have made or attempted to make a detour from life at the bar. If you haven't made a detour. How about sharing your handy tips on what to do to make life at the bar a little less tedious and a little more bearable. Are you a part time chef, designer, comedian or blogger. Can we do anything to make it better? Can we really have happy hour at the bar?

Please let us hear from you, just click Featured Personality at the top and answer a few simple questions. If you have a blog or website, fell free to let us know where it is.

All She Ever Wanted...

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:10:00 +0000

All she ever wanted to be was a lawyer. In fact her friends and family will tell you that it kept her alive. I'm talking about my friend who struggled with breast cancer for thirteen years. She was diagnosed at age thirty and ended her fight this summer, one month before her 44th birthday.

A lawyer to the end who loved her job. That was her. It took us all a long time to understand. the complexity of her situation. She argued fiercely against all advice to slow down, relax, de-stress. She knew more than everyone else that working meant that she was alive. For her living and working walked hand in hand and at her funeral someone remembered hearing her say that,

"the day I stop doing the work, is the day I'm outta here."

For a brief moment I wondered whether those of us who complain about our jobs are ungrateful. Shouldn't we be happy that we have a job, that we are earning an income that can allow us to live in a nice home, send our kids to good schools, go on vacations? Isn't it that simple? Unfortunately not. Too often we hear stories of lawyers and other professionals whose suffering is so great that it results in depression, substance abuse and even suicide.

The fact is my friend loved her job. She always did, long before she became sick; and when she did fall sick, her job became a lifeline. When we were together in high school we both wanted to become lawyers. I never realized the extent of her seriousness until we were in college. She transformed from a good high school student to an outstanding law student and continued in like vein throughout her career. She worked at a top law firm, ignored the usual law firm politics and focused on growing as a competent professional. When she realized that she was being short changed she moved on to an in-house position where she excelled. It was a foreign firm so she travelled and learned about banking to complement her already strong background in commercial law.

She always had options in her professional life, because she was good. The year before she died she was made partner at a firm that grabbed her from the Attorney General's Department. The managing partner paid a genuine, heartfelt tribute to my friend. He told us that the week before she died she took on a new client (by then she was working from home). I was not surprised, because every time I visited she was sitting at the computer, working on a contract or drafting an opinion. In between x-rays, draining ascites or more harrowing procedures, she held her head high, fought with poise and kept on working to live. Or was it the other way around?

The Tuesday before she died I visited and found her in bed before midday. She awoke and told me she would be getting up at one. I just knew the end was near. By Sunday she'd stopped speaking, but she made eye contact with me. I wanted her to talk, to tell me about her latest opinion, the effects of the debt exchange, the problems facing a trustee. But it was not to be. She took her last breath on Monday, June 7.

All she ever wanted to be was a lawyer and when she stopped working she was outta here.

RIP my friend Nicole.

Leave the Bar but Stay at the Firm

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:02:00 +0000

When we express our exasperation with the treatment of women in the law we wonder whether by opting to leave the field, we give the perpetrators a sense of vindication. We know that there are still some who treat women as if they have no place in the practice of law: they belong in the restaurant, at home, at a secretary's desk, maybe in a hospital as nurses; but not in a law firm and certainly not in a courtroom.

By walking away are we giving them the opportunity to say, "I told you so"? Should we give our detractors the satisfaction of pushing us out or should we continue the struggle?

It's one of the issues female lawyers face as they labor to achieve that work/life balance in the face of chauvinistic opposition.

Apart from the obvious point that your first priority should be identifying and satisfying your own needs without being affected by irrelevant criticism, there are options. How about leaving your place of work if you are unhappy with your work environment? Haven't we heard all the success stories of practitioners who have effected a joyous job change within the practice such as abandoning the hectic firm life in favor of a government position.

I certainly exercised this option in favor of a firm where respect for my work overrode other considerations yet despite the improvement in the quality of my workplace experience, I still wasn't happy. I even tried the in-house counsel route. Still job satisfaction eluded me. Now a decade later as my husband and I work in our own firm, I have autonomy and freedom but am still searching for career satisfaction.

Am I not the perfect candidate to leave the law? In other words, if you find that you have pursued the practice of law at various places, in different fields and in different capacities and harbor strong feelings of discontent then it could very well mean that you need to get out of the practice of law.

Interestingly in a New York Lawyer article today, lawyers who are contemplating a career change are invited to consider switching to administrative roles within the firm, such as marketing, human resources, professional development or recruiting. Hmm could the business/management side of the law firm be the ideal career alternative for some of us unhappy lawyers?

Source: www.stus.com

Lawyers Start the Job Seach Now

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:29:00 +0000

As my readers enter the new year, I know you are continuing the struggle, slowly grinding through the days in your legal jobs. Those of you who are lucky enough to still be employed fear seeming ungrateful.

Euphemisms like "adjustments" and "cuts to match workload" are being bandied about and yes until you can find that alternative, that dream job, you are scared. However, the reality is, you hate your job but appreciate the fact that you can still pay the rent, eat out and even manage more than a staycation.

Ideally you'd love to have the money and the security of a satisfying work experience. And you can I'm sure but you just have to keep exploring opportunities, even taking risks and you will find your path.

So how about some help? Have you been honest about what you want? Have you been honest in your assessment of your skills and your goals? Have you been honest about what you are willing to sacrifice as you pursue your dream? Do you want to completely remove yourself from the legal field? You need to ask yourselves some of these serious questions because the next round of adjustments could affect you and left in the cold you mightn't know where to begin. On the other hand some of ~~you~~ might do well to be shocked into action.

We know that there are opportunities but are we really looking? Or is it that when we see what is out there just by clicking our newly installed Leave The Bar Search Engine above, we think we need something more than the internet. Take a gander.

For those of you who haven't quite decided to chuck the law, but you'd love to try it in a foreign country:

International Legal Career Opportunities

Hays Legal has been a market leader specialising in legal jobs internationally, for over a decade. Our clients range from international legal practices to ...
www.haysglobalinklegal.com

With an invocation to Expand your Legal Horizons, they claim to offer a network of Australian, New Zealand, UK and other international offices, who are on hand to assist with permanent and temporary law firm, in-house and public sector roles for both qualified and non-qualified lawyers.

You can explore where international offices takes you and try to head over to China where the boom is still on or make a beeline for down under which is probably as far as you can get.

Legal Analyst Jobs, Legal Research, Legal Analytical Support

Legal Analysts are expected to have high level of analytical thinking and use a high degree of independent judgment and make sound recommendations based on ...
www.lawcrossing.com

Offering the most quality jobs anywhere lawcrossing describes itself as a "job reporting site" that does not charge to post legal jobs, but there is the rub. It's focus is legal jobs.

Court Interpreters

California Courts: Programs: Court Interpreters: Advisory Panel ...

Court Interpreters Information Packet (PDF, 235 KB). Profiles of court interpreters. Search and apply for jobs in the superior courts: ...

www.courtinfo.ca.gov

In California, they are encouraging you to become a court interpreter and they are providing the resources for you to do so. Do you speak a foreign language? Do you live in a place with a substantial immigrant population. FYI American sign language is also included in the list of certified languages.

Forensic Animators

Forensic Animation, Legal Animation, Courtroom Presentations

We provide computer animations for courtroom presentations. Courtroom animation for criminal, medical, and civil cases.

www.3dcourt.com

Are you really a lawyer geek with a penchant to let your inner geek shine. This could be an alternative for you. At 3dcourt.com however they don't have any current vacancies.

The fact is one can identify several field where the skills you acquired in law school could come in handy. We have started to compile a list of Alternative Jobs for Lawyers here in our sidebar at Leave the Bar as we know several of you have landed here looking for just that.

Yet embarking on a random search won't cut it. We all have to engage our brain cells and employ the will to plan, identify, strategize, network and focus to parlay our skills into convincing a potential employer that despite earning a law degree and spending our working lives as lawyers there is convincing argument (use that degree at the interview) why you are perfect for the non-legal job. Others have made the transition so why can't you? You have power of attorney!

Peace on Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Courtesy of Paul

Magnanimous Lawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:49:00 +0000

One of the benefits of being self-employed is that I can go on vacation whenever I want and I want to go on vacation this Christmas.

Contrast this with the five years at my first place of employment AKA BigLaw, where we were prohibited from taking time off at this time of year. Such a rule was meant to put the firm in the advantageous position of cpaturing those poor souls in need of emergency legal services. In the context of fewer available lawyers you can imagine the extortionate fees that were extracted. Interestingly the rule never seemed to apply to Miss Thing whose surname was identical to that on the firm's letterhead.

Now I am free to relax and enjoy the spirit of sharing and good cheer that is Christmas - devoid of nepoptism and exploitation.

I can fly away from the humdrum routine of contracts and the scramble to avoid failing deals.
I can enjoy long early morning walks with my mother who is as fit as a fiddle.
I can monitor my son at intervals as he spends the night at the airport aiming to catch the first available flight.
I can read to my heart's content all kinds of literary genre: real simple magazines, foreign periodicals, mystery novels and more.
I can actually go shopping offline and I have the wonderful excuse of being abroad so gifts will be exchanged on my return home. So I enjoy the luxury of strolling the aisles as I explore the best educational toys and books for kids.
I can watch my favourite TV shows.
I can try out bold new recipes and even bake a cake from scratch.
I can devote more hours to my latest hobby - learning to build websites.

Yes I get to leave the law behind for the next two weeks. Yet there is one niggling inescapable fact: the law never quite leaves you. Whether it is when you are stuck for two hours on the tarmac, buying a new computer or returning a defective product; you find yourself thinking about liability, compensation, rights and protection from abuse and reading the fine print. Learning the law provides you with a grounding that is really a gift for life, so although I gripe and grab the opportunity to free myself from the tedium of life at the bar, I am grateful for the advantages gained by my training.

Of course today I can afford to be magnanimous, I'm on vacation and its Christmas. Next year I'll be making the effort once again to guess what? Yes, leave the bar!

Meanwhile, Happy Holidays!

Still More Alternative Jobs for Lawyers

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:19:00 +0000

Now I know that some of you are looking on the sly because you fear being perceived as ungrateful since many consider you "lucky" to be among the employed. Others of course are not so circumspect because like you they wish to find a way to earn a living outside of law. On the other hand unlike you they have probably been ~~dumped~~ laid off, blown off, downsized or reduced to pursuits hitherto considered embarrassing. Regardless of the reason, I aim to satisfy your urge to explore more ideas for alternative jobs for lawyers.

Alternative jobs

Interior Decorator: How many of you take pleasure in decorating your space? Whether its your work space, study or home office, some of you have displayed unbridled creativity as you engaged in this activity. Now come on don't express surprise at lawyer's creative talents. Who do you think devised those attractive contracts or ingenious defenses (depending on the angle from which you are looking of course)? If you think you can't make a living being creative, banish the thought as you take a look at this Censational part time attorney and this internationally renowned designer/former lawyer.

Educator: With the skills you learned and honed in the courtroom don't you think you could condition the minds of some lawyer wanna bees or paralegals or high schools students in a positive way? You have many options here (community college, law school, night school, high school, CLE, LSAT) although depending on your choice you may have to get certification. My son's high school teacher was a lawyer who in addition to using his expertise to impart his knowledge of ethics and philosophy to youngsters, trained the school debating team. So too was this former asst. district attorney and senior vice president at Merrill Lynch.

Political Scientist/Analyst: How many of you studied political science before entering law school? I bet there are quite a few. Even if you didn't, how many of you are sensitive to current events, workplace issues, work/life balance concerns etc.? Or how many of you have something else to say in this politically charged climate? While you may not want to jump on the lawyer turned politician train, you could transform that sensitivity and political awareness into a new career. Make your opinions known. Write letters to your local newspaper, guest columns for online magazines or blogs, articles in ezines or even a book. Call talk radio or make your own video blogs and let your name be known ,your voice be heard and hopefully a new job be offered.

Marketing Professional: Those of you who have worked in law firms (big or small) or as sole practitions know the value that is placed on soliciting new business. Marketing is key to building a law practice and while some of you might find it burdensome (you just want to do the work and go homw) others have a knack and love for it so much so they claim to only work 3 days per week. This has very broad potential you can actually have the freedom of leaving your law firm and still having a relationship with them by offering your marketing talents or you can leave completely and become a full time network marketer.

E-business Owner: Lots of you out there have been dreaming about having a business that you can run from home with no overheads, employees or boss to contend with. The E-business option is ideal for this. You may be racking your brains trying to figure out what kind of business you could venture in and succeed. You may have heard horror stories of trying to navigate the online world, of learning the myteries of SEO and of getting virtually no traffic. On the other hand you may already have a website or blog and haven't really treated it as a potential money earner. This could be a mistake as there are enough success stories and reputable businesses that could allow you to achieve your dream. With the right tools and attitude you can turn your hobby, your interests or even your area of specialty into a profitable and relatively stress-free work from home business.

Now with all the hours of learning to which you lawyers have subjected yourselves surely you recognize that you are among the most educable people on the planet. The above merely represents areas into which lawyers have transitioned successfully because they had the necessary drive, ambition, know how, support and will. You can do it, you already have the basic skills it is up to you to use them.

Source: The Ladders

The Day I Crashed the Car

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:13:00 +0000

The day I crashed the car in front of the law school was one I perhaps should have recognized as a communiqué from the gods, but no I resisted the implications and look at where I am today.

You see I was driving this Old Datsun 120Y which (due to my ignorance or my total devotion to all things legal – never mind traffic violations) boasted non-functional indicators. As I turned right to enter the law school (oh did I mention the absence of wing mirrors?) an equally ignorant non-law student who failed to recognize my swinging to the left for the superior driving skills they evidenced, plunged into my side. This brilliant piece of vehicular manipulation took place in full view of the occupants of the glass walled law library.

Covered in splinters, I negotiated my way out via the passenger door and proceeded to launch an attack on the ignorant sinner.

Didn’t she see me indicate to turn right? Didn’t she appreciate that I was priming myself to become a law(yer) against law breakers? Didn’t she realize that I was maneuvering to access the narrow driveway reserved for those putative righteous defenders of the law?

How dare she assume that I was turning left toward the Medical Faculty!

How quickly would I learn that lawyers-to-be weren’t anxious to don the robe of the Good Samaritan!

So as I performed the usual routine (identification, insurance, registration blah, blah) I realized that subconsciously I was expecting some support from my witnesses, my school mates, my future colleagues. Instead, those latent ~~ambulance chasers~~ jurists just watched. No doubt my self centered future money grabbing ~~rivals~~ friends were either too busy

curry favoring for potential recommendations or standing, or
lingering for my departure in the hope it would spark some enthusiasm for the upcoming Probate lectures, or if I am generous
being too befuddled by the recondite material congesting the library to recognize the potential case study before their eyes.

Nevertheless dear departed Dee was not to be. I knew deep down that I did make a contribution to my predicament but despite that fact I avoided looking like a sheepish Bill Clinton, instead I guess I looked like a crazy ~~Hillary~~ termagant who just yearned to one day drive European.

By the time I parked the Japanese trick I was exhausted. I sat for a while to let the shock wear off and to harvest the glass from my leg hairs. Lo and behold I heard an exclamation, it was a man, an actual law student someone who was actually willing to commiserate. Could this be for real?

I married him.

I Should Have Gone To Med School

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:06:00 +0000

As I shared over at my other blog, my son will be starting his freshman year at college next week. One of the many topics of discussion we've had this summer relates to his possible major. It is early days yet and so his admission to ~~wanting to become a lawyer~~ not having a clue is met with ~~stern disapproval~~ appropriate sounds of parental understanding.

To be sure, the first and second semester at this gorgeous institution of higher learning will be taken up with satisfying certain mandatory subjects such as a foreign language requirement and the like, but surely this child whose education is no cheap undertaking needs to understand early that an education is all about learning to think, learning to understand life and of course learning from the triumphs and mistakes of ~~his parents~~ others. Surely he needs to take stock of the state of the economy. Surely he needs to read my blog.

How can I blame the poor child however? Our house has the unmistakable flavour of a court room. Virtually every discussion is conducted like a rowdy debate. There is never one side, especially since his father's favourite word is "NO". There is the need to define, prove and convince and eloquence is admired and commended. I often find myself playing several roles at a time most often arbitrator and/or prosecutor because the father is usually unyielding and in many cases inconsistent or even hostile. The technique of cross examination therefore comes in quite handy and of course my formidable memory gives me an advantage allowing me to score a point or two, but really after a day in my life in the law I'm not exactly thrilled to think my son could end up re-living same.

So when I saw a bright red star in the college course book beside the course "Public Speaking" I caught myself plotting some miserly revenge - no food, no money, no return fare - unless the child who views himself as a modern day Clarence Darrow immediately registers for engineering or pre-med. My husband sought to restore some balance however. He reminded me that Public Speaking was an excellent course. It builds confidence, helps one to communicate clearly and would be useful in any field. He reminded me that this college experience was just a first degree and it would give our offspring the opportunity to think, to grow, to appreciate different disciplines and to truly become an independent individual with his own ideas and opinions. He reminded me that this would take four years.

Thank God for small mercies. Four years to remind of the horrors of the bar exam, the tediousness of preparing briefs, the long long hours of slave labour expected of associates, the layoffs and dismissals, the limitations of precedents, the unfairness of loopholes and more. Of course if he grows to like that "thinking thing" he's supposed to be learning at college he just might decide to ignore my reminders and find out for himself. The thing is, law school is one of those places where learning is an unparalleled experience and he might truly enjoy the preparation it offers.

So I can only wish him well and if he chooses to ~~self inflict pain and suffering~~ practise law, I can only say, thank God he won't have to tell the senior partner or associate or anyone else that he's pregnant.

Source: Stu's Views

What Would Dexter Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Lots of us who have worked in law firms have probably met a lawyer, whether it is a fellow associate or partner or mentor who stirred in us our basest instincts. Of course we wouldn’t act on these primordial impulses nor would we advocate it but we have harbored the dirty little notion because we couldn’t help but think, that without the offending fiend life would be so much more pleasant.

Consider if you will life in a law firm with no dirty looks or recrimination when:

You arrive late, say 9:30 am after a morning or tears and promises (your husband admitted to having an affair)
You leave early, say 5:00pm in order to meet certain family obligations (your husband’s punishment)
You refuse to go in on a Sunday due to religious reasons, evening you don’t actually go to church and pray. Your religious observation is limited to the He rested part.
You produce records (including notes and tape recordings) to demonstrate the extent of your participation and your crucial contribution to resolving that matter for which the senior partner is taking credit.
You draw ~~smiley faces~~ frowns on the archaic time sheets that you are compelled to complete
You declare brightly that you are pregnant
You announce fearlessly that you wish to take 3 months maternity leave.

In my experience, the law firm environment is not one where sensitivity usually governs staff relations and so these fanciful thoughts will likely remain a figment of the imagination, forever a dream requiring more than a MLK Jr. type to transform the dated law firm orthodoxy. This system has existed for years and it will require a revolutionary kind of disturbance to effect any real change.

As I take pleasure in my latest addiction I ask myself,

“is it any wonder that we root for fictional characters that beat the system?”

My latest addiction is Dexter, the show about the blood splatter specialist for the Miami Metro Police who moonlights as a serial killer, a one man vigilante who rids the tropical paradise of bad guys. I an officer of the court, who was taught to respect the justice system, love this show. I find myself with my heart in my throat praying that the murderous Dexter never fails to honor the 1st rule of the Code taught by his adopted father:

"Don’t get caught!"

This summer I watched every single episode of the 3 seasons and am waiting eagerly for Season 4 which begins in September. Could it be that I - like so many who have experienced various frustrations in “the system” - find it irresistible to see someone taking things into his own hands.

Dexter with his unimposing and almost placid manner at work in the police department and then as the fiancé of a sweet divorcée, never fails to impress. His ability to fake being normal as we know it and then transform into a murderous beast is scary and gripping. Sure he gives us some insight into his chilling childhood experiences which contributes to our feelings of empathy but on the other hand the guy is seriously lovable. Weird I know but this isn’t like those evil guys on death row whose lawyers (got to stick with the theme here) fall for them. I think this character has a following because he is perceived as having noble objectives which he achieves in an unconventional manner, never mind that such is illegal. True he could lead the authorities to the criminals but then the system wouldn’t necessarily work and anyway his urge to kill wouldn’t be satisfied. Oh yeah, did I mention that he is a sociopath?

If you have Showtime, you have got to tune into this show. You can watch the episodes online too. Then when you encounter one of those evil lawyers at work just smile and ask yourself:

“What would Dexter do?”

Fertile Imagination or Mom Foolery

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:07:00 +0000

One of the benefits of having my own practice is that I don't have to answer to a senior partner or anyone else for that matter. So when faced by a prospective client who in my opinion is on the far side of sane or who just freaks me out I can just say with minial explanation: "thanks but no thanks".

Now I have had my share of weird clients. I have had clients who:

refused to deal with me yet remained affixed to my office chair - I fled
reminded me gleefully and in writing of the murder of fellow counsel - Yes it was a threat
despite my reluctance but since I fear suffocation, drove me to instruct [her] in a course on personal hygiene - Secret strong enough for a man but made for a woman.

So when I read about wacky lawsuits I sometimes wonder whether the client is unrepresented or if the lawyer involved just couldn't get out of it. I so pondered this notion as I read this:

Is this just another Polish joke? I can understand Magdalena Kwiatkowska's anguish on discovering her 13 year old daughter's pregnancy but to sue the Egyptian hotel on the basis that her daughter was impregnated by a stray sperm floating is likely to have the same result as a sterile man claiming paternity of the octomum's kids: unfruitful, unproductive take your pick. You would be more successful getting a dead man walking off death row than a stray sperm floating in a pool declared a putative father. As one poster asked,

"Is this mother in De-Nile?"

This just boggles the mind. If Kwiatkowska has a lawyer he or she should advise her that she would be better off getting in touch with the police and another lawyer, namely a prosecutor as it is highly probable that a male had sex with a minor and while I know nothing about Poland's or Egypt's criminal law I'd like to believe that is a crime. Instead the mother is claiming negligence against the hotel and so wants compensation. For what? Did this so called sperm commit an act of trespass preventable by the hotel? Was the temperature of the water too warm mimicking body temperature and providing the ideal conditions for conception? Was the chlorlne too weak to combat super sperm?

What should the hotel have done? Maybe they should have erected a disclaimer:

and then the small print.

In consideration for your participation in swimming, soaking or even hanging your feet over the side of the pool or merely dipping a toe (hereafter called "the activity"), even if you are alone for as long as 60 minutes you do hereby release and forever discharge [insert name of hotel here] and its officers and employees jointly and severally from any and all actions, claims and demands upon or by reason of any loss of hymen, virginity, (even if hymen is intact) wholesomeness, sanity or otherwise or other injury not limited to but including pregnancy which may hereafter be sustained by the participating in the activity.

Any judge who does not strike this out for abuse of the process of the court should be forced to pay costs, take a course with the mother and child in biology 101 or better yet how about if he accepts paternity?

The Day I was Disorderly at the Office

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:20:00 +0000

In light of the articles and commentaries regarding the clash between Dr. H. Louis Gates and Sgt. James Crowley I have decided to divulge my own story about the day I was disorderly at the office. Why not join the fray? Seriously, tumultuous behaviour ought not to be reserved for Ivy League professors. Surely lawyers are entitled to be elite too. Indeed it is for many what is so attractive about the profession. We are losing our six figure incomes and our year end bonuses anyway, so we simply cannot let our hard earned status as the cream of the crop professional fritter away. So I’m reminding lawyers to watch it, your reputation is at stake. If all else fails however you can try your hand at a professorship (add to alternative jobs for lawyers); it can’t be that hard after all seeing as Dr. Gates himself dropped out of law school.

Some background: You see parking at my office - as it is at so many commercial places in the city – is limited. However my spot is my spot. I paid for it, it is right there in my lease and by God I am going to defend my right to park there like a black man his right to his white plantation house in Martha's Vineyard.

There is however a sense of decency among tenants. If one tenant rushes in and parks in my space, I can park in his and vice versa. And you jokesters thought that civility was an aberrant quality among lawyers:). As long as there is reciprocity, there is no problem. Let selfish self-importance enter however and civility ends. Effrontery is thereafter allowed to roam freely.

You will recall that I said decency among tenants. Employees of the landlord company are not tenants. They therefore are not allowed to park in my paid for space and surely they are supposed to know this. If not, one reminder is all that it should take, shouldn’t it? That is what I thought until I met a lady I will call “Puffy”. This is not due to any relationship or resemblance to Sean Combs previously known as Puffy, but rather as a consequence of her hairstyle. Don’t get me wrong, some of you would think Ms. Puffy hot. She has a predilection for black spandex and a body as voluptuous as J-Lo’s – hey maybe there is a connection – so she gets attention. But the hair is her identifier for me. You know women and hair. Some days she blows it or otherwise straightens it but most days she doesn’t and lets it puff out in a huge arc on the top of her head, hence Puffy.

So one day Puffy parked in my spot and as drove in I asked the attendant firmly to call her down to move her vehicle. This she did with not a word to me. I however gave her a hard stare. I noticed that she had moved her car to another tenant’s spot but I didn’t regard that as my problem. Hey courtesy only goes so far!

I was incensed a few months later to find Puffy once again in my space. This time I did not get out of my car, I merely honked my horn for an extended period until the attendant got Puffy to descend, spandex and all, rather quickly. I noted that her manner was somewhat pissy: long mouth, cutting eyes and words thrown at the attendant (about me I’m sure). What amused me however was that once again she purported to move to another tenant’s spot just at the time that the tenant drove in. She then had to manoeuvre her vehicle without hitting mine (as I had not given her much room) all the way around the back of the building where the employees are supposed to park.

By this time I figured that Puffy would have realized that I was unyielding when it came to defending my territory. Did she seriously think that I would just surrender my spot? Apparently she did. Subscribing to the “if at first you don’t succeed try try again” school, Puffy was about to score a 100% failure rate. When I saw the black Toyota Rav 4 ensconced snugly in my space a few months later, well gentle readers I simply lost it.

I barely heard the excuses of the attendant who claimed she reminded Ms. Puffy as I positioned my car and blocked the single entrance. No one in, no one out, this was war! Puffy was summoned quickly and by this time I was out of my car. Dear readers I would have been prepared to climb on top of my ~~vehicle~~ soapbox and orate on the merits of honoring the sacred parking space of female lawyers but seeing Puffy caused me to make a beeline. Was I about to jump her? No, no, there was no cat fight, she was just a tad too quick. I did however lash her with my tongue and it wasn’t pretty. Sgt. Crowley would no doubt have found cause to detain me for tumultuous behaviour in a public place. Puffy meanwhile was getting the heck outta Dodge as my less than ladylike language sliced the already tension filled air. A small crowd gathered but heck if I cared. At least I would have witnesses to the lesson - no one messes with my parking space.

Don't you know who I am?

Now don’t be bothered with the educated professional who should know better bit. I don’t drink and don’t smoke so allow me to enjoy my little vice. Warning her among other things to “cut out this sh*t or else” felt just right that day. I doubt whether an explanation of the mathematical impossibility of finding a free spot when every single tenant was in office would suffice. On that day profanity superseded reason and won. As for Puffy I see her sometimes but never has she set foot again in my inviolable spot.

Source

Some Happenings in (and out) of the Blawgosphere

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:58:00 +0000

It's been awhile I know but I've still been taking note of the happenings around here. My readings alerted me to many changes that have taken place: upheavals, departures, losses and gains here in the blogosphere. To be sure too, I made new friends and lost a few too.

Former Law School Sucks now Tranny Head passed the bar in one go, welcomed home her military hubby and got pregnant. Her insight and approach on dealing with the cost of higher education is worth a read.

David continues to inspire us with his adventures. Yes we grappled with him as he struggled through cochlear implant, moved with him from Life in a Cone of Silence to a Five Stringed Guitar, cried with him as he and his beloved Janet fought valiantly and in the end futilely against leukemia and stuck with him as he is still here keeping us hooked on the adventures of a deaf guy... in liminal space. Can't wait to hear about the Dominican Republic.

Women Lawyer remained on Track by branching out and taking new paths giving us a peek into her other interests: technology, food and teaching. Lawyers are an eclectic bunch. and Nicole the Epicurean Esquire is no exception.

Wicked Legal shared her unemployment woes and her wedded bliss to JB and opened up about her Disturbed Universe . Then she left us all wondering whether she continues to lack inspiration. Let's hope she keeps holding on to hope.

Monica the Career Coach went awol after telling us to Ditch Our Lawyer Friends. Hmm guess there is a message in there somewhere.

Law students jacked up their support for each other as they continue to ~~update on life~~ struggle in law school, internship and beyond. There's Cee, Lag Liv, Butterfly Fish, JD Wannabee, Magic Cookie and more.

Now I have to go get Overlawyered, conspire with Volokh and end with some Legal Antics. It's great to be back.

I'm Back

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Just tweaking my new look blog a bit more and then it's back to writing posts.

Presidents Day Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Dee) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:02:00 +0000

Hey Valentines Day is over but for my friends in the States you don't have to scrimp and hold back. In these times of financial restraint, you can still eat out on the cheap as today you can get $25 gift certificates to dine at Restaurants nationwide in the U.S. for only $3.00 at Restaurant.com .

Let me explain this. Everyday at restaurant.com you can choose to purchase a $25 gitft certificate for the cost of $10 at participating restaurants. But today only if you use the coupon code PREZ they'll chop another 70% off the $10 making it only $3. Yes you heard me right so what are you waiting for?

Got get your gift certificate NOW.

Cross Posted at Ceomum