Morning Phone Calls
A little background first:
1. In my home state, all attorneys are assigned an identifying number upon being licensed. That number never changes. It’s called a “P” number.
2. Most courts in the state purchase from the state bar association a member list of all licensed attorneys, their P numbers and related firm, address, phone information. Courts do that to minimize entry time for their staff as they just punch in an attorney’s P number and all of their necessary information is filled in on the form being used.
3. This attorney information database is usually just updated annually by the courts. Any corrections or changes to the information during the year, i.e. new attorneys, address changes, firm changes, name changes are made manually by the courts in their respective databases they purchased at the beginning of the year. I was well aware of this little fact.
4. This means that though I’m listed as me for licensing purposes with the state bar, various courts that I appear in, if entering my P number for the first time as me, most likely would find Joe’s information popping up.
5. Last week I went to a particular county for this first time in a while and filed my Appearances in a couple of different criminal cases.
6. Sometimes, clients need your assistance again … after not seeing you for like maybe … a year or more.
The following transpired one morning last week:
“Ring Ring”
“Hi, this is Amy.”
“Hi Amy, this is Marianne from the XXth Circuit Court. Sorry to bother you, but I’m trying to enter the Appearance that you filed yesterday and Joe Hairdy’s name keeps showing up for the P number you have listed. I was just wondering if I could get your P number.”
Though I fully knew what was going on …
I offered it again anyways,
To which she replied.
“That’s odd, it’s still showing Joe’s name.”
“Yeah, actually that makes sense Marianne. That’s my P number, I used to be Joe.”
“You have Joe’s P number?”
“Well, yes, I guess I do, but that’s because I used to be Joe. I had a sex change.”
“Oh, oh, oh … okay. Got it. Geez, I’m … uhh … just going to change the database right now. There all set.”
“Thanks. I’m just trying not to bring too much attention to myself regarding this so I’d appreciate if …”
“Don’t worry about it … others will figure it out soon enough I’m sure. You’re good with me, I won’t pass it along.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem Amy. See ya.”
“Bye.”
5 SECONDS LATER – SERIOUSLY, LIKE 5 SECONDS LATER
“Ring Ring”
“This is Amy.”
“Hi Ms. Preston, this is Cheryl from the XXth District Court. I’m just getting around to entering the Appearance you dropped off yesterday, but it has the wrong P number on it. Joe Hairdy’s name from your office keeps appearing as that number. I was just wondering if I could get yours.”
Hehe … she called me Ms. Preston ! 🙂
“Hi Cheryl, yes … I’m familiar with that problem.”
“Sorry to bother you with it again then, but may I have your P number.”
“Well actually, that is my P number.”
“How so?”
“I used to be Joe. I had a sex change.”
“Ooooooh !!! Now it makes sense. Wow. Ummm, okay there. I just changed it. Thanks for your help.”
“Actually, thank you !! I appreciate the call. Let me know if there’s any other confusion or things I need to take care of there.”
“I will ! Thanks. Bye.”
“Bye.”
3 MINUTES LATER – MY JOE LINE RINGS.
“Ring. Ring.”
I’ve been working on resolving a significant remaining case of Joe’s and thought that might be a call he was expecting. So contrary my normal current practice of letting those calls go into voice-mail and then determining callback needs afterwards …
I picked up the line.
*ahem cough cough*
“This is Joe Hairdy.”
“Hi Joe. This is Former Client. It’s been a while.”
“Sure has. What’s up?”
“I need you next Tuesday for court.”
“Why?”
Blah Blah Blah
Blah Blah
Blah
“So … can you be there Tuesday for me?”
“Well … yes, I can. But before you decide if you want me there … I need to tell you something first …”
*me taking a deep breath*
” … since we last worked together, I’ve had a sex change.”
*me rolling my eyes and saying a silent ‘ugh’*
“ … I’m still practicing law and would be glad to help you out on Tuesday. If you’d like to meet me before you decide if you’d like me to represent you on Tuesday, just let me know and we set up a time. Or if you’d like me to give you some names of other attorneys that can help you out, I’d be glad to do that too. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“No. There’s no need for that, I don’t care. I’m fine with just meeting on Tuesday. I’d just like you there with me.”
“No problem.”
Now those three phone calls took place before I even got to the office one morning last week.
They each concerned matters from outlying counties in which I practice …
As I’m sort of working my way back to my home county with the information.
I’m about a county away now.
Wow, that has to be the coolest thing I’ve ever read!!! I am so glad everything is going very well for you!! This morning I had to send in a payment with a credit card over the phone to my cell company, and the lady was like,”Why is Eric’s name on the charge?” So I told her the truth, and that is that that is who I used to be!! then she was just like,”OK”. Funny how things like this work out aren’t they???
Hugs and Kisses,
Tara
Amy2,
To answer your question on weather I’m transitioning? Yes,for years,like most of us. In the last six months I have come out to my daughter, gotten divorced (very equitablely and still best friends), sold the home that I helped design and build, came out to my family and to my employees, along with FFS 20days ago. My FFS as gone so well that I’m back to work, this is my first day as a female VP/ Head Engineer. I have been very blessed; so far my transition has gone exceptionally well. I want to say thank you for all your insite to your transitional situations. I find your site a hoot and your posts very helpful especially, for me now reading your posts on how you are handling your transition professionally. Today is Day #1 for me professionally, so I’m taking notes.
The Rookie
Patti
Now you are transitioning. It appears to be going well. I hope you the very best.
Amy2
I’m glad to hear that your clients respect you and the job you have done for them in the past and still want you to represent them as Amy.
That gives me some insite, and hopefully I will be so fortunate as well. I will start full time at work next Monday, after my recovery from FFS with Dr. O in San Francisco twellve days ago. I’m design engineer for my family’s machine shop. I have work with many clients over the years and hopefully they (like your’s) will still want to work with me as a woman. We are a small, third generation, family owned company and this has been one of my brothers bigest concerns to my transition; as to how it will effect our company. Time will only tell, I’m still the same d-m good engineer I always ways was, even better now.
Amy,
This really reminds me of my medical practice after I transitioned. No one really seemed to care or to get very rattled about. It was pretty much business as usual.
Good luck. This will be easier than you imagined.
laura
I’ve got a couple of post-op friends who are attorneys and continued their practices. I’m happy to read it seems to be working out for you too so far. Continued good luck, Amy!