Attorney Talk

Considering I pretty much shared with you practically every one of my first 82,042 personal Disclosures,

You might think I’ve been remiss in not sharing how I’ve been handling my professional situations.

Though I really haven’t been …

‘Cause for the most part,

I haven’t had to handle much.

Yet.

I haven’t taken the approach of telling any other attorneys for the most part …

Knowing full well that we’re a gossiping sort,

And it’d make it’s way around the circuit quite quickly,

As soon as just a few outside my own firm found out.

However,

A few months ago I had to go to court as a boy …

For a case,

And I couldn’t find anyone to cover it for me.

It was actually a pain in the butt,

Not because it was challenging or anything …

But just because I had to do it.

Anyways …

I did it,

‘Cause I had to …

And as I was walking into the room off to the side of the courtroom where the attorneys in this courthouse congregate,

And often meet with the judge,

You know, where the real work gets done …

I saw an attorney from my home court,

Whom I hadn’t seen in months.

And it wasn’t just any ol’ attorney,

But a friend of mine.

A fellow criminal defense attorney who has practiced much longer than I …

And who I look up to as a peer,

When he tells me something …

I always listen.

And he’s the first peson I think of when I’m referring out cases I can’t take.

He’s a great attorney,

Good guy, and …

Has one of the best e-mail distribution lists around for funny junk e-mail …

People ask to be placed on it.

I really didn’t expect to see anyone there from my home county,

So I was a bit caught off guard seeing him.

Though I later found out …

He didn’t even recognize me at first.

Go figure ! 🙂

Anyways,

I had been meaning to talk with him for a while …

And expected to do it via phone,

Since I really didn’t anticipate seeing him while doing the Joe …

But as I was there,

And he was there,

I figured what the hell …

Let’s see if he has some time.

So after he figured out who I was …

And he was done with his case,

I asked him to wait for me outside the courtroom while I did my deed …

Because I wanted to talk with him about “something“.

He said “sure” …

And after I did my 2 minutes of court time,

I walked out in the hall and found him wrapping a discussion with his client.

He joined me a few minutes later and we walked over to a little restaurant for some coffee while I talked to him about “something“.

It was pretty much the same speech I have given so many times I really can’t count them anymore …

Though if anything,

Maybe a bit more abbreviated.

However,

It was the first time I told any attorney …

Someone who I know out and about in the courtrooms,

Other than those in my firm,

Or old firm.

I really wasn’t nervous at all …

Giving the talk is second nature now,

It’s just that I was well aware that at the time …

I was moving my transition to another point,

Disclosure to my professional peers.

He took it well.

Super well, in fact.

A totally classy, smart guy.

He asked good questions …

Very good questions,

And wanted to know what I was going to do professionally.

I told him that I’m sort of winging it as I go along …

That originally I had planned on relocating,

But after the initial acceptance and support I received from my friends and family here …

I decided to give sticking it out here a run.

He commented that as he was listening to what I was telling him …

His initial reaction was that there was no way in hell I could stick it out in this community …

It’s way too conservative,

And life in the legal arena would be difficult.

But that the more he thought about it …

The more he became of the opinion that I should give it a run here,

That it’d be “interesting” for a few weeks,

But that eventually it’d probably blow over.

He commented that he thinks I should visit with a few of the principal judges I practice in front of …

To give them a heads up before just walking into their courtroom,

Which was great advice,

Of which I’m following.

And he also said that if I was ever in court …

Felt uncomfortable and needed someone to run interference for me,

To just track him down and he’d play blocker for me anytime.

Too kewl ! 🙂

We chatted some specifics …

My new name, e-mail addresses and the such,

And I asked him to make sure he kept me on both of his e-mail distribution lists,

The funny one …

And the really funny, raunchy one on which he only has guys included.

He said that he’d keep me on both …

But he didn’t,

I’m just on the funny one now,

Which is also kewl ! 🙂

It’s now been a few months since I’ve told him …

And he’s proven I couldn’t have picked a better person to start my professional outing with …

He checks in with me here and there,

Even refers me some cases.

As he says …

“You’re a sharp attorney and fun person. I want you to stick around town and I’m going to try and make you do so, even if you’re kicking and screaming.”

But the best part of the entire conversation was the very end …

When the bill for the coffees came,

And I realized I was going to have the say the following …

“Ahhh, I know I asked you to join me for coffee, but you’re going to have to pick this one up. I don’t have any money with me, ummm … I left my purse in the car !” 🙂 *shrug*

His response?

“LOL I’d be glad to ! And thanks for taking the time to tell me personally. I appreciate it.”

See … there is such a thing as an attorney with a good heart !!! 🙂

(I’m referring to him here, not me, just in case there was any confusion !! lol :P)