A little background first:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
6. Sometimes, clients need your assistance again … after not seeing you for like maybe … a year or more.<\/p>\n
The following transpired one morning last week:
\n
\n“Ring Ring<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Hi, this is Amy.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“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.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
Though I fully knew what was going on …<\/p>\n
I offered it again anyways,<\/p>\n
To which she replied.<\/p>\n
“That’s odd, it’s still showing Joe’s name.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Yeah, actually that makes sense Marianne. That’s my P number, I used to be Joe.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“You have Joe’s P number?<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Well, yes, I guess I do, but that’s because I used to be Joe. I had a sex change.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Oh, oh, oh … okay. Got it. Geez, I’m … uhh … just going to change the database right now. There all set.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Thanks. I’m just trying not to bring too much attention to myself regarding this so I’d appreciate if …<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“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.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Thanks.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“No problem Amy. See ya.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Bye.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
5 SECONDS LATER – SERIOUSLY, LIKE 5 SECONDS LATER<\/b><\/p>\n
“Ring Ring<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“This is Amy.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“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.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
Hehe … she called me Ms. Preston ! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
“Hi Cheryl, yes … I’m familiar with that problem.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Sorry to bother you with it again then, but may I have your P number.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Well actually, that is my P number.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“How so?<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“I used to be Joe. I had a sex change.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Ooooooh !!! Now it makes sense. Wow. Ummm, okay there. I just changed it. Thanks for your help.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“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>”<\/p>\n
“I will ! Thanks. Bye.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Bye.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
3 MINUTES LATER – MY JOE LINE RINGS.<\/b><\/p>\n
“Ring. Ring.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
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 …<\/p>\n
I picked up the line.<\/p>\n
*ahem cough cough*<\/p>\n
“This is Joe Hairdy.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Hi Joe. This is Former Client. It’s been a while.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Sure has. What’s up?<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“I need you next Tuesday for court.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Why?<\/i>”<\/p>\n
Blah Blah Blah<\/p>\n
Blah Blah<\/p>\n
Blah<\/p>\n
“So … can you be there Tuesday for me?<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“Well … yes, I can. But before you decide if you want me there … I need to tell you something first …”<\/p>\n
*me taking a deep breath*<\/p>\n
” … since we last worked together, I’ve had a sex change.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
*me rolling my eyes and saying a silent ‘ugh’*<\/p>\n
“ … 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.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“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.<\/i>”<\/p>\n
“No problem.”<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n
Now those three phone calls took place before I even got to the office one morning last week.<\/p>\n
They each concerned matters from outlying counties in which I practice …<\/p>\n
As I’m sort of working my way back to my home county with the information.<\/p>\n
I’m about a county away now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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