Tag: lawfirms

Categories
Mental Health and Work/Life Balance

My Journey From Law To Mental Health *

The author paddling a canoe.

It took me eight years after I first realized that my life in law was not working for me until I was fully retired. It went like this:

2012: Best financial year ever. Worked incredibly hard in the last quarter. My hours in November and December were insane. I was so proud of myself. Got a huge slice of the compensation pie.

January 2013: Went to the doctor worried that I was not well enough to go on a trip to Australia for a meeting of our international association. Diagnosed with a thyroid issue. The doctor said it had nothing to do with the stress of my career. I did not believe him.

read more about my journey into retirement “My Journey From Law To Mental Health *”
Categories
The Practice of Law

The Difference Between a Rut and A Grave

Old grave stones.
Photo by Mike B at Pexels.

When asked about my complaints about the legal profession, I am forced to admit that back before I escaped the profession and became happy, I did in fact have some good days.  Three of them. (Okay, I am kidding about that last bit. There were more good days than that.)

read more about being in a rut in the legal profession “The Difference Between a Rut and A Grave”
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

Tell Me Another Story from the Old Days, Grandpa

Couple sitting on the back of their vehicle with their heads down and boxes behind them.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska at Pexels.

As a recession may be looming and Banks may be enforcing their mortgages, I thought that I would share this story from the recession in the early 1990’s.

There was a law firm that did volume mortgage remedy work for a Canadian Bank. A somewhat junior real estate lawyer who I will call Barbara managed the files. The work was somewhat routine but required precision and organizational skills, and Barbara did it well and earned a reasonable salary.

read more about making career Decisions “Tell Me Another Story from the Old Days, Grandpa”
Categories
Client Development

If You’re So Smart, Why Ain’t You Rich?

Female Professor with complicated scribbles on the blackboard.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels.

My father used to ask, “If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?” 

There are probably a million things that are wrong with that question, but his basic point is worth considering. He was asking why it is that some people believe that they know better concerning just about everything, but they do not generate any results from their supposed brilliance.

read more about why some intelligent lawyers are not good at bringing in clients “If You’re So Smart, Why Ain’t You Rich?”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Things I Used to Think Were True

Scrabble pieces spelling the words "Speak Truth."
Photo by Brett Jordan at Pexels.

I said and thought a lot of stuff while I was practicing law. I believed every single bit of it. Over time I figured out that some of it was kind of dumb. Here are some of those gems:

read more about what i used to think was true “Things I Used to Think Were True”
Categories
Legal Fees

Let’s play Jeopardy: I’ll take ‘Expert in Ottawa’ for $300

Game board for the television program ''Jeopardy!''

When I practised law in Mississauga, Ont., our fees were cheap compared to the Toronto firms, and kind of expensive compared to firms in places like Guelph, Belleville and Kingston. I occasionally wondered whether my clients might prefer to deal with firms in smaller cities at lower rates. Then I would reassure myself that doing so would be terribly inconvenient for them and that they would rather pay more to deal with me.

Now I am not so sure.

read more about whether it makes sense to hire law firms in smaller cities “Let’s play Jeopardy: I’ll take ‘Expert in Ottawa’ for 0”
Categories
Legal Fees

Evolution of the Billing Committee (Sounds Dull, But it Isn’t)

Finnish State Home Economics Development Committee 1908-1914

read more about how lawyers bill “Evolution of the Billing Committee (Sounds Dull, But it Isn’t)”
Categories
The Practice of Law

Who You Gonna Call?

Ghost_Buster_and_Ecto_at_Thy_Geekdom_Con_
Photo by Game Infirmary. License at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode

My father told me about a dad who told his son to jump from a roof top, and that he would catch him. The son jumped. The dad stepped aside and let him fall. When the injured boy demanded an explanation, the dad replied, “I have just taught you a valuable lesson. Never trust anyone, not even your own father.”

As you may imagine, I had trust issues growing up, which is a bad thing. As it turns out, having a few trust issues may be helpful in the business world.

read more about figuring out who to trust “Who You Gonna Call?”
Categories
Legal Tech

Searching for the Off-Ramp from the Expressway to Crazy Town 

Crowded expressway.
Photo by Olkesandr Pidvalnyi at Pexels.

My legal career drove me crazy. Granted, it was not a very long drive, but I suspect that with a bit of knowledge and a great deal of counselling, perhaps I could have taken an off-ramp before I got there.

In a better world, people contemplating a career in law would be told that: (i) it is stressful; and (ii) they should take steps to become their best psychological self before they start down that road.

read more about whether legal tech can help with mental health issues “Searching for the Off-Ramp from the Expressway to Crazy Town “
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

Resigning as a Shareholder

Man in suit at desk with computer and holding dollar bills.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels.

I had only been a lawyer for a few months when I had my first shareholders dispute to deal with.

My boss told me to take the position with opposing counsel that his client’s resignation from “all positions with the corporation” included his resignation as a minority shareholder.  I told him that his argument was ridiculous. One cannot resign as a shareholder.

read more about how the system really works “Resigning as a Shareholder”