Don Draper's Guide to Being a Better Lawyer

Whiskey, Cigarettes and Brylcreem

If you have a busy law practice, you probably don't
have time to get around to catching up on the latest trends. You may think that the Montreal Expos are still a baseball team. You may think the Jonas Brothers are the purveyors of fine suits. Maybe you think MTV still shows music videos.

One of the hottest shows the past few years has been Mad Men, a show about a 1960s Madison Avenue advertising agency. Despite the show being on the air for a few years, I only recently got around to watching. I crammed three seasons into my nightly tv viewing. Not surprisingly, I have developed a strange craving to smoke Lucky Strikes, drink whiskey at breakfast and call every woman I see "doll face". I find it difficult to resist the overwhelmingly urge to slick back my hair with pomeade. Though I do not recommend cheating on your spouse, getting drunk during a three martini lunch, sexually harassing everyone you see or smoking yourself into oblivion, I think the show can offer some tips you can apply to your own law practice.

1. Mad Men Tip - Look the Part: The show Mad Men reminds us of a time when men and women dressed up to go out to dinner or a movie. Despite being based in the 1960s, the timeless look of classically cut suits present a polished professional image. Truth be told, if you look successful, people will perceive you as successful. On the show, Don Draper always seemed to have an extra shirt and tie in his desk. It's not a bad idea. You don't want to meet with a client with a wrinkled suit and ketchup stained tie after eating a hotdog from the cart outside the courthouse. The old saying is dress for the job you want, not the job you have (unless your dream is to become a circus clown). Your look can help inspire confidence in your client. If your business wardrobe is starting to look a little ragged, consider investing in a new suit. If money is tight, consider tailoring your current suits. Like it or not, appearance counts.

Mad Men Tip to Avoid - Conical Bras Apparently sales of 50 style"cone bras" are up 33%. Nevertheless, it may be a good idea to avoid wearing them to the office. They can lead to serious eye injuries.

2. Mad Men Tip - Refrain from Office Gossip: You don't want to appear to be the office gossip. When the ambitious young executive Pete Campbell discovers a secret about Don Draper, he shares the information with a senior partner in an effort to advance in the company. His boss scornfully replies "who cares?" and Campbell's reputation as a weasel is solidified. So who cares if you walked in on the senior partner singing to a Brittany Spears song. As long as he or she is not violating ethics rules, keep it to yourself. Remain above the fray. Who do you respect more at the office? It's probably not the guy who is giggling over what he read on facebook about a co-worker.

Mad Men Tip to Avoid - Smoking. On Mad Men, smoking is the standard. Even pregnant women smoke on the show. Health risks aside, constant cigarette breaks may give you the appearance of being an unproductive worker.

3. Mad Men Tip - Network. Besides his talent at creating ads, Don Draper's biggest worth to the firm is that he is a rainmaker. He lands hotel magnate Conrad Hilton as a client after sharing a drink with him. Don't limit marketing your firm to advertising in the local paper. Going to a wedding, getting a haircut, getting your car fixed? Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation. Let them know you're an attorney. Think about joining the bar association, civic groups or your local country club. Expand your networking circle.

Mad Men Tip to Avoid - Excessive Drinking. If they're not smoking, the employees of Sterling Cooper drink to excess. The Mad Men even have their kids prepare their Rob Roys and Old Fashioneds as their pregnant wives smoke and drink cocktails in the next room. They are high functioning alcoholics. In one memorable episode, an account executive loses his job after being so drunk at work, he wets his pants. The management fires him after taking him out for drinks. If you are entertaining clients, make an effort to drink in moderation. The International Journal of Law and Psychiatry discovered problem drinking in 18 percent of lawyers who practiced for 2 to 20 years and in 25 percent of lawyers who practiced for 20 years or more. If you need help, look into the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs.

4. Mad Men Tip - Take a Break. On Mad Men, Don Draper escapes from the stress of the office by going to California for 3 weeks to clear his head. While I do not recommend dropping off the face of the earth without telling your firm, it is a good idea to take some time for yourself. Besides our annual vacation, my wife and I started taking weekend day trips, catching a show at the casino, or simply catching a movie. Enjoy the fruits of your success. It can't all be about work. Don't make it all about the office. Take time to spend with your family.
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Mad Men Tip to Avoid. Avoid sleeping with your clients, your secretary, your kid's teacher, or the neighbor's nanny. Never spank your co-workers. . And never, ever....drive a lawnmower in the office.

50 Resources for Lawyers to Create Their Own Websites

Guest Post by noted Houston Attorney Adrienne Calson.

With more and more potential clients going online to utilize search engines and third party review sites such as Yelp in order to find well-respected, reliable, and honest legal council, an online presence is an absolute necessity for attorneys. A competently designed, informative, and regularly updated website can grant those in the legal field an edge over their competitors. However, slogging through website design listings makes for a daunting, dizzying, and occasionally frustrating task. By using the free services listed here, lawyers aspiring to build or improve upon their websites can find the tools to set everything in motion from the ground up. Whether they desire to start from a template or start from scratch with basic coding, the most valuable – and free! – resources for both creating as well as promoting legal services.

1. Wordpress: Blogs make for one of the best methods of generating content. While it is inadvisable for a legally-oriented website to exclusively build from this type of format, incorporating a blog via Wordpress can do nothing but help establish and solidify an online presence. It allows for easier access to widgets, del.icio.us, Reddit, and Digg plugins, Twitter streaming, and other features that both supplement as well as promote content. All Wordpress blogs come with a bevy of templates, but it is possible to create a customized format for better incorporation into a website.

2. Twitter: Offering free, unlimited 140-character “tweets,” Twitter may make for a poor website, but it still operates as a very useful promotional tool. A Twitter widget on a main site can keep potential clients informed about availability in real time, letting them know if they will be calling during vacation days or hectic periods where they may be contacted a few days later. It allows for faster communication than updating a blog, and can be updated via phone for moments when a computer may not be available. Likewise, subscribers to the accompanying Twitter can be informed as to when the website is updated with new content.

3. HTML Goodies: HTML is one of the most basic building blocks of web design, and this site offers tutorials and information appropriate for all skill levels. It constantly adapts to new trends and developments in design, offering applications and scripts to help those constructing websites better incorporate new and useful technologies such as the aforementioned Twitter. In spite of the site’s title, tutorials and tools for other coding languages such as CSS, PHP, XHTML, and Java are available as well. The security section may be of particular interest to lawyers who allow potential clients to contact them through forms on the website.


4. Websitetemplates.org: Free and fully customizable website templates are available here for lawyers who lack the time to build a website from basic scripting and coding. Only one explicitly legal-themed template is available, however. Though with the level of customization available, it is entirely possible to pick another professional layout or color scheme and switch the pictures out to something more appropriate.

5. Templatenavigator.com: More free templates for the harried lawyer are available here, though the sophisticated ones incorporating Flash and other animation techniques must be purchased. The corporate and company themes seem the most appropriate and professional frameworks for an attorney’s home page.

6. stock.xchng: The internet may frequently operate as a complete affront to copyright law, but attorneys especially need to set an example if they wish to establish credibility. All of the thousands of photos on stock.xchng are free of both charge and royalty. Individual photographers may require a credit, but otherwise the licensing agreement allows for pictures to be displayed on commercial sites. However, those containing people may be subject to likeness issues and could possible require further permissions.

7. The CSS Tutorial: CSS code can help lawyers with a little extra time on their hands clean up and streamline the HTML on their site. These quick, easy tutorials offer a valuable introduction to this useful skill.

8. Webmonkey: One of the most indispensable web design resource available, Webmonkey offers a veritable arsenal of tutorials, scripts, browser and color charts, and even cheat sheets to help both beginner and advanced web designers create clean, innovative sites.

9. W3Schools.com: Another necessity for the aspiring web designer, this site offers not only some of the most comprehensive and understandable tutorials on scripting and coding, but validations, editors, templates, hosting information, examples, character sets, and even certification as well. All of these amazing services are provided completely free of charge to help lawyers and other professionals develop and promote their online presence.

10. Widgetbox: For attorneys connecting their website with a blog or social media source, Widgetbox offers over 300 law-related widgets. Some are free and some must be purchased, but all of them help create useful, relevant content to add interest and attract potential clients.

11. Websitetips.com: More design tutorials and a list of recommended books are available through this site, but the resources section offers the most information on web design issues.

12. Webweaver: This site offers over 3,000 free clip art graphics as well as quick code and banner generators that help build a site quickly and accurately for lawyers on a time crunch.

13. Dzine Blog: With some of the most thoughtful and useful articles on web design available, this blog assists those building an online presence from a technical as well as artistic perspective. They also offer numerous free templates and themes. Lawyers looking to add visual interest and project a uniquely aesthetic but professional image would do well to peruse their painstaking research.

14. Web Developer’s Handbook: This site features hundreds of links relating to every aspect of web design imaginable, with advice on technical, artistic, accessibility, and promotional issues.

15. For Web Designers: Another excellent and exhaustive compilation of links and resources for those lawyers desiring to piece together a website from scratch.

16. Resources for Web Design: Issues such as bandwidth theft, copyright information, and other frequently overlooked aspects of website creation sit next to the requisite coding and SEO tools and tutorials.

17. Google Webmaster Central: The quintessential toolbox for lawyers hoping to establish a respectable online presence, Google Webmasters Central helps users optimize their websites for maximum exposure. The site offer free and absolutely necessary analytics, site maps, diagnostics, and checklists for tracking and attracting visitors while simultaneously optimizing their experience.

18. SiteMeter: SiteMeter is one of the most popular counter and statistics trackers available, not only looking at hits in real time, but providing specific details on activity as it relates to time and location as well. Lawyers can glimpse how many potential clients in their area have explored their offerings.

19. Javascript Kit:For attorneys too swamped to generate their own code, this site provides over 400 extremely useful Java scripts to copy, paste, and customize. It also hosts tutorials for those interested in creating their own.

20. Access Matters:Lawyers ought to take the needs of the disabled into consideration when providing information regarding their services. This site offers a variety of quizzes and information on creating a website suitable for all users regardless of physical or mental limitations. It may take some time to fully implement some of the guidelines, but the end results eventually become all-inclusive and do not leave any individuals feeling marginalized.

21. Usability.gov: Another excellent guide to creating a website that conforms to the tenets of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this fantastic resource lists the necessary guidelines and advice in explicit detail.

22. Morgue File: Packed full of free and royalty-free stock photos, this website allows for its contents to be used for commercial purposes without crediting the original artist.

23. RSS 2.0 at Harvard Law:One of the quintessential resources for lawyers desiring to establish a web presence, this site mainly focuses on RSS issues. However, it also delves into trends, information, and news regarding copyright, aggregators, and technology as well.

24. Technorati: While Digg, del.icio.us, and Reddit rely on visitors actively promoting a website – plugging one’s own material is considered a highly gauche practice – Technorati allows the site’s owner to advertise without violating internet protocol. It is valuable marketing tool, especially for lawyers who opt to keep a blog on their site.

25. Web Standards Group : Attorneys desiring a website that conforms not only to persons with disabilities, but users with vastly different browsers and connection speeds as well, ought to scan this essential resource. Standardizing a website maximizes the number of satisfied visitors and helps simplify, streamline, and establish long-term viability as well as lowering production costs.

26. Web Design Resources and Tools I Use: Another extensive listing of sites particularly useful for web designers, Web Design Resources and Tools I Use offers valuable information on creation, promotion, shortcuts, and everything in between.

27. Are My Sites Up?:Also available as an iPhone application, this service allows website owners to keep track of their domains to ensure availability. Every minute of server downtime is a minute that potential clients cannot see what a lawyer has to offer, so it is crucial to know when and why a website goes offline.

28. wikiHow: Though not exclusively a web design resource, contributors have posted a wide variety of guides on HTML, PHP, CSS, Java, and other useful codes and scripts.

29. eHow: In the vain of wikiHow, user-generated tutorials on website design and promotion necessities are also available here.

30. Web Developer’s Journal: With forums, tutorials, scripts, and other tools, any answers or advice sought on the technical, creative, or marketing aspect of a website can be found in this wonderfully comprehensive resource.

31. Open Source Templates: Free CSS and XHTML templates and vector art stand as the main draw here, with several very clean, very professional designs open for customization.

32. PHP.net:A PHP resource for those desiring to use the scripting language to supplement their HTML, this website offers tutorials and communities for all skill levels.

33. Javascript.com: Not only does this site offer the requisite tutorials on Java, DHTML, HTML, and other techniques, but several useful cut and paste scripts as well.

34. Webreference: The bevy of articles, tutorials, and information on anything and everything related to web design makes this yet another useful tool for lawyers seeking to create their own site.

35. Webdeveloper.com: While the content itself is comprised of the requisite tutorials and server information, the forums here remain active and provide those seeking to build a website with a place to ask questions and seek advice on any problems they may encounter.

36. Web Developer’s Virtual Library: More tutorials and guides on the usual scripts can be found here, alongside resources on Ruby, Ruby on Rails, and Python as well.

37. Flash Kit: For lawyers seeking to a bit of animated flair to their online presence, the Flash Kit features over 1,200 tutorials as well as sound effects, loops, and fonts for further customization. It is advisable to use Flash sparingly for aesthetic reasons, but the creative attorney can find several smaller uses for it.

38. XMLFiles.com: This site provides overviews and tutorials for XML and its numerous applications for lawyers building their online presence from scratch. It also offers a validation service to check for potential errors.

39. Design Shack: A frequently updated blog and community, Design Shack features a gallery of CSS websites offering ideas and inspiration for aspiring web developers. Beyond that, however, it also offers advice, techniques, and updated news pertaining to CSS and its place in design work.

40. 456 Berea Street: Swedish web developer Roger Johansson frequently updates his blog on issues regarding usability, accessibility, and web standards. For lawyers concerned with ensuring that those with disabilities find ways to access their website, Johansson’s posts provide a provocative and necessary resource. He also attempts to open up awareness to comparatively more minor issues that nevertheless may make the difference between a visitor and a client.

41. Guild of Accessible Web Designers: This international nonprofit organization dedicates itself to accessibility for peoples with disabilities, and the tips, updates, and articles provide yet another important resource on how to best optimize a website for use by everyone. Advice is free, but membership into the guild requires a one-time membership fee. An individual or corporation does not have to be a web designer to join and enjoy the benefits, but interested parties do have to support and display an adherence to accessibility principles.

42. intensivstation: This site features some clean, simple CSS and XHTML templates for customizing a website. In addition, it also offers 16 lessons in both scripting languages to help aspiring designers add more features to the preexisting templates.

43. CSS Zen Garden: While the graphics on the featured CSS pages are not for redistribution, copying bits of code and ideas are covered under the Creative Commons license. Some exquisite layouts can be found here, and though outright copying of code is frowned upon in this community, lawyers who find a few interesting tidbits are welcome to borrow them to fill in holes.

44. The Web Standards Project: The Web Standards Project is a grassroots movement pushing for education in and adoption of accessibility practices, working with other businesses and organizations to create cost-effective, viable standards. Their site offers tutorials, articles, and other resources on establishing a more all-inclusive online presence.

45. Mezzoblue: A blog for those interested in delving further into coding and scripting, Mezzoblue offers insight into the various aspects of web design that many beginners may not realize are available. There are also several posts on SEO and meta information.

46. Basic webstandards Workshop: This website breaks down its lessons and overviews into seven parts, covering XHTML, semantics, accessibility, CSS, floats, and possible bugs. Ensuring that code is entirely free of issues not only ensures that websites flow smoothly, but it also prevents any potential issues in the browsers of potential clients as well.

47. dafont: An excellent place to find unique fonts to add more visual interest to a website and give it a bit of character. They can be used in graphics or on the pages themselves. Not all browsers support all fonts, so the use of any specialized ones may require some extra CSS coding to prioritize replacements. Most visitors without the fonts enabled will automatically default to Times New Roman anyways, but it is always a wise idea to slip in some script just to make things run as smoothly as possible.

48. Digital Web Magazine: The site may have quit posting new content, but the remaining articles still offer insight into internet culture, protocol, and – most importantly – the design and development of webpages.

49. A List Apart: Their content may be protected by copyright, but A List Apart does allow web developers to copy their source code without hesitation. However, its usefulness extends beyond that, operating as a comprehensive guide to all things web design, development, and promotion. Writers take accessibility issues into consideration for their posts as well.

50. SitePoint: SitePoint offers free videos in addition to content revolving around every aspect of web development. Lawyers can build their site from the tutorials and videos, clean it up with the art and design lessons, and market it with their tips and tricks for successful promotion. It covers everything the burgeoning developer needs from start to finish to regular maintenance.

In an age where an online presence can hold as much influence as a personal one, lawyers hoping to attract clients must establish themselves through a website and other internet spaces such as Wordpress or Twitter. With these resources, attorneys can build their business online in a way that conforms to their skills, schedule, and interests without costing any money. Each of them brings something valuable to the table, be it coding, templates, analytics, or simply useful information on accessibility or marketing.

(Editor's note: I encourage you to visit the Injury Lawyer Houston Blog hosted by McIver & Associates. http://injurylawyerhouston.org/category/blog/ )

Representing Family Members and Other Horrible Life Decisions

The Family Guy
Recently, I was asked by a newly minted attorney if he should represent his uncle in a divorce against his aunt. I pondered his thoughtful question for a moment and then proceeded to pummel him with my briefcase. After being pulled off by several court marshals, I composed myself and proceeded to continue the assault.

In actuality, representing friends and family can prove to be an excellent way to build up your client base. Who knows you better than your family? It may not be a bad idea to let them know what areas of practice you are in. You might be surprised at the results of family referrals. With that said, there is also a downside to representing Uncle Irving and Aunt Dolly. You may find that your fee will not mirror your aggravation.

Of course, if you do decide to represent family members, here are a few tips that you may want to consider.

1. Setting Fees: More than likely, your relative will expect a discount from you because he used to change your diapers or taught you to drive stick. So what if that was 50 years ago.
If you do the case for a discount or pro bono, make sure your relative-client knows the worth of the service he or she is receiving. Even if I do the case for free, I make it a practice to send a bill with our standard rate listed with "family discount." I find it goes a long way in the client valuing your service. If you act like it was no big deal, your relative will think so too.

2. Establishing Attorney / Client Boundaries. From the outset, make sure that you establish a professional demeanor with your relative. Uncle Wally may still remember you as that cute little kid who he bounced on his knee. You want him to take your advice seriously. I always make an attempt to set up office appointments to discuss legal matters. If you make it a practice to discuss your relative's legal problems at family events, you might grow to resent going to these functions. You don't want to set the precedent that its OK for your relative client to discuss his personal injury claim at a funeral or his divorce at a bachelor party. While this can be difficult with close family members, you don't want to be fielding calls on a Sunday afternoon.
The practice of law can be stressful. You need time to relax. You need to set boundaries.

3. Carefully Consider the Case Are Uncle Jon and Aunt Kate getting a divorce? Do you really want to step into that beehive? Make sure you are not getting into a situation where emotions can get the better of you. I was recently involved in a divorce matter where opposing counsel was a childhood friend of the defendant. As the divorce proceedings became more difficult, opposing counsel began crying in front of the judge. I haven't been in practice that long, but it was a first for me. My guess was that the stress of doing a good job for her best friend got to the lawyer. In my opinion, the friendship also clouded the judgment of opposing counsel. Hell bent on showing she was defending her sorority sister, she made a point to fight every point tooth and nail. As a result, pretrial discussions were fruitless. A few compromises could have led to a more amicable dissolution of the marriage. Instead the process turned uglier.

4. Don't Get Suckered It's hard to say no to family. If you honestly don't have the time to do the matter or if it is outside your practice area, don't be afraid to just say no. If you don't do bankruptcy work, it may not be a good idea to take on Cousin Larry's case. If you don't have time to drive three hours to take care of Aunt Betty's speeding ticket, be honest. They will forgive you. You may get a fruitcake for Christmas, but ultimately all will be forgiven. In my own practice, my beloved mother is my greatest supporter/adversary. She constantly refers people to my office even if its not an area of practice I am familiar with or interested in. Her usual response is along the lines with "What do you mean you can't help your uncle sue his neighbor for cutting the grass incorrectly? He taught you to ride a bike."

5. Be upfront with your Relative. I also received a great tip from Texas practitioner Bill Stark. He reminded me that it's important to be completely upfront with the merits and liklihood of success. As Attorney Stark eloquently stated "all too often, lawyers, (particularly younger lawyers) want to impress their family and/or don't want to impress their family by breaking the hard truth to them. Like other clients, family members need to know sooner, rather than later--before they have invested time, energy, and money, that their case is shakey." I agree with Attorney Stark, sometimes it's better to heed the advice of Nancy Reagan. Just say no.

Have your own tips on representing family members? Let us know at nutmeg@ptblegal.com

Search Engine Optimization Basics for Small Firms

By Guest Contributor Brett Owens, CEO of Chrometa
So what exactly is search engine optimization? And more importantly – should your firm care about it? Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the art of dressing up your webpage so that Google will like it better. As a business owner, it could be a source of free leads – potentially a lot of free leads. And who would argue with that?

Let’s walk through a simple search example, and along the way I’ll share a couple of tips with you that I believe will help you ingratiate your website with Google. Say you are a divorce attorney based out of Sacramento, CA. Business is steady, but you could always use more leads. Maybe you have a basic website up, but traffic is mostly limited to folks who are already searching for you personally. Wouldn’t it be cool if, when somebody searched for “Sacramento Divorce Lawyer”, your website came up on the front page of Google?

There are basically two ways to do this:
1. You could bid on each click that Google sends you. This can a very effective way of acquiring clicks to your site – but it can also be quite expensive. Depending on the popularity of the search term you bid on, you could very easily end up paying several dollars, or even more per click.

2. You can get your site in Google’s good graces, so that they decide your site is very relevant to the search term. Your goal is to be on the first page – because most Google searchers never find their way to page 2!

So what’s the magic formula for getting listed high up in the organic search results? Of course Google keeps this a “highly guarded secret” – and there’s no shortage of folks capitalizing on this secrecy, parading themselves around as “SEO experts”, and charging you and arm and a leg for services.
But in reality, there are three key things that you, or your webmaster, can do this month to greatly improve your organic search chances. In fact if you forward this article to your web person, and they follow through with these simple recommendations, I’d imagine that in the coming months you’ll start to see a definite improvement in your traffic – at least in terms of the keyword that you decide to “optimize” your site for.

Here are 3 steps to get started:

Pick one search phrase that you want to be known for. Just one. And you want to be specific, but not ultra specific. For example – the term “Lawyer” is too general. But don’t go as far as “Sacramento Divorce Lawyer Who’s An All Around Good Guy.” While it may be true, the volume of searches is likely to be pretty low. Something like “Sacramento Divorce Lawyer” is probably about right.

Match up the “title tag” of your webpage to this term. What’s the title tag? That’s the text on the very top of the webpage – above the URL line. Today, your site’s title tag might be something like “Home”, or maybe the name of your firm. You should change this. Why? Because Google already knows the name of your firm – it’s smart. What it may not know – and hence what you want to drill into it – is that you are a “Sacramento Divorce Lawyer.” Is it OK to put your firm name after this term? Sure, if you think the branding is important. Just be aware that the more words you add, the more each one will be diluted – so choose wisely!

Ideally, match up your domain as well. If your title tag read “Sacramento Divorce Lawyer”, and your URL was http://www.sacramentodivorcelawyer.com/, I would really like your odds with Google for this search phrase. At that point, you’d almost force its hand into listing you high for that phrase – no matter what else is on your site! What if you don’t feel like moving your site to a new URL? Then maybe you could setup a blog on this new URL, and write to it a few times a month. Point the blog back to your regular website – then you’ll at least have a search presence for this phrase. And as an added bonus, we all know how much Google loves blogs!

We could write pages upon pages on the topic of search engine optimization – and you could also spend a lot of time on it. But I’m a fan of paying attention to the critical few factors that can drive most of your positive results – and I think these steps are a great start. If you do nothing else but these three things, you’ll be ahead of 95% of other small firms out there!

Special thanks to guest Blogger Brett Owens, the Co-Founder and CEO of Chrometa, LLC. (Editor's note: Chrometa is a great Northern California-based software company that helps professionals reclaim their undocumented billable time. Some of our readers may have read about them recently in Inc Magazine or the Sacramento Business Journal.)

Procrastination

Today's post deals with the serious issue of procrastination. I will get to it later.

And How Was Your Day?

Whether you are a law student or a practicing lawyer, chances are you had one of those days that you will question whether you chose the right path in life. Those days where you feel you are secretly being taped for some reality show as you wait for Ashton Kutcher or the crew from Candid Camera to jump from the bushes. This was my actual day.

My day started with an 8:00 AM naturalization interview with USCIS and a particularly nervous client from Yemen. For those of you who practice immigration law, you know that the immigration process can often be a one shot deal for your clients. You need to be on time. Being late can mean a denied application. This thought was running through my head as I sat in bumper to bumper traffic. With the use of my trusty GPS, I got off the highway and used side streets to get to immigration on time. (My apologies to the crossing guard and children of St. John Paul II elementary school who had to scatter out of the way as I mowed through the school crosswalk. I also apologize to little Becky for running over her solar system science fair project. In my defense, she shouldn’t have been on the sidewalk.)

With minutes to spare, I made it on time to the immigration interview. My client was asked by the interviewer “have you ever been a terrorist” With a big smile, he answered "yes". Yes?! Of course, it did not help that he bore a striking resemblance to Saddam Hussein. "He’s just nervous", I offered. “Sir, when were you born?” 1776 he answered. I slumped my head on the desk.

Leaving Hartford’s Federal Building I ran over to criminal court to meet a DUI client who's charges included crashing into a parked police cruiser. Despite his ill fated choice of cars to hit, I was still able to get my client into a diversionary program. As long as he finished his alcohol education classes, he would have a clean criminal history. Proud of myself, I presented the good news to my client. “I want to go to trial. I think we can beat this.” he proclaimed. “You crashed into a police car with the officer in it. Are you nuts?!” I asked incredously. I continued the case so I could talk some sense into my client. I then looked for another desk to bang my head against.

After 20 minutes of banging my head, I rushed back to the office for a real estate closing. Running into the office, my client informed me he decided to call everything off because the seller had not mowed the grass prior to the sale. I smiled and asked my client to meet me in the hallway. Although my first instinct was to throw him into our office fish tank, I calmly suggested that it was in his best interest to continue with the closing and informed him of his contractual obligations. Successfully finishing the closing, I had a hodge podge of unscheduled appointments walk through the door. One guy wanted to deport his neighbor because the guy’s cat kept walking in his yard. Another wanted to sue her husband to pay the cable bill, but did not want to get a divorce. Everyone wanted "just five minutes" which translated means at least an hour.

At 6 PM, I closed shop. Weeks before I had agreed to accompany a client to his court ordered MADD Victim Impact Panel. I had volunteered to interpret for him. Normally about one hour, this particular panel took three hours. I would miss dinner and the new episode of the Office. It was not the first impact panel I had attended with a client. Nevertheless, it always shocks me to see the large number of people present. I saw one of my old elementary school teachers and a priest. There were hundreds of people in line stretching outside the community center. Afterwards, I went up to one of the mother’s who lost a child. “I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you speaking. This is probably the fifth time I have heard you speak.” She looked at me in shock. “No. No. I am here as an interpreter for my client".

After dropping off my client, I went back to the office to catch up on work. It was already dark when I heard several pops outside my window. Peering outside, I could see a Ford Explorer and a Nissan Maxima parked in front of a small crowd of people. I soon realized the “pops” were gun shots. There were eight of them. The two vehicles shut off their lights and went down separate streets. I joined the crowd outside. Despite several witnesses, no one would say anything. Of course one idiot piped up. “I saw what happened”, I said in a cracked voice. I gave my statement to the officer on duty. Not suprisingly, the next morning I had a flat tire. I sighed and got ready to do it all over again. At least I don’t have to take the bar exam.

Socrates was a Jerk. Advice for the First Year Law Student.

Welcome to the Paper Chase
As the dog days of summer come to a close, many of our nation's brightest legal minds will be entering the hallowed halls of our illustrious legal institutions. As the nation's leading legal blog for first year law students according to completely fabricated statistics, we at the Nutmeg Lawyer feel it is our duty to pass along some advice to this year's entering class.

(1) Many of you will encounter the Socratic Method. For those of you not familiar with Socrates, he was a classical Greek philosopher and jerk. His method requires your professor to call on you despite the fact you did not raise your hand. He or she will ask you a question which, when answered, will only illicit another question. Unfortunately, American law schools never signed on to the Geneva Convention. As such, this form of interrogation is still practiced despite attempts by Jimmy Carter and Amnesty International to stop it. Ironically, the Socratic Method is what caused the death of the great philosopher. In an ill fated teaching lesson he looked in a mirror and inadvertently used the method on himself. The experience was so troubling, Socrates took hemlock thereby killing himself.

(2) Often you may feel you are the dumbest in class. You are not. Well, technically one of you has to be the dumbest. Maybe it is you. But, chances are it's not you. Your fellow students may answer rather insightfully in class. They will say things you may not have thought of. They are thinking the same thing when you answer in class. Most of it is just posturing. Everyone is in the same boat. They all have the same nervous anticipation. Don't worry, you'll do fine as long as you prepare for class. Besides, you will learn who the dumbest kid in class was after you graduate. He will be one of the senior partners at your firm.

(3) The practice of law and the study of law are two completely different things. To better prepare for actual law practice have a friend dress in a black robe and then kick you in the shins.
Respond with "thank you your honor."

(4) If your law school has an open door policy with professors, take advantage of it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Feel free to pester your professors. Call them at home. Poke them and say things like "I pay your salary." They will respect you for it. It's anonymous grading anyway.

(5) Join a study group. Conventional wisdom says to pick the smartest kids in class. I disagree. Pick the most popular kids. They will have the best jobs and make the most money out of law school.

Actually, Attorney Ryan McKeen over at A Connecticut Law Blog gives some great advice:

Your reputation in the legal profession starts taking shape in orientation. Guard your reputation with your life. Your classmates will become your colleagues. You’ll need them for referrals. If you’re trustworthy, they’ll seek your counsel once you pass the bar. Coming to class unprepared harms your reputation. Doing so will follow you throughout your career.There are limitless ways you can harm your reputation during law school. Don’t do any of them.

If I can add to Attorney McKeen's advice, I would leave you with this. Jackass law students become jackass lawyers. Try to remain grounded throughout your experience. Take some time for yourself. And communicate with your friends and family. They may have trouble understanding the enormous stress you are under. They think law school is like college. They might not understand why you can't attend Aunt Martha's birthday party. They often do not understand that your law school exam takes up more time to study and requires more intensity than their final pottery exam. Law School can make or break relationships. Their idea of law school is probably the movie "Legally Blonde." Show them what you are going through. Let them look at your casebooks, assignments, etc. Make your loved ones watch "The Paper Chase." Ok, so maybe law school isn't quite as over the top as that particular movie, but it should buy you some sympathy and a little understanding.

I wish you the best of luck in your legal studies and look forward to seeing you in the trenches.

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Editor's note: I encourage our readers to submit tips in our comment section that might actually be beneficial to a first year student. You may also want to check out No Reins Girl. You'll come to realize that many of us had similar experiences with law school.

Let's Kill All the Lawyers

Are Anger and Fear Giving Common Sense and Decency a Run for the Money?
One of my favorite John Hughes films has to be Ferris Beuller’s Day Off. Complaining about having to write a paper about European socialists, the young Ferris laments :

“I’m not European. I don’t plan on being European. So who cares if they’re socialists? They could be fascist anarchists. It still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t own a car. Not that I condone fascism, or any -ism for that matter. -Ism’s in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself.”

Not everyone has taken Ferris Beuller’s advice to heart. In recent months, terms like Socialism, Nazism and Communism have been used to label the healthcare debate. Personally, it drives me crazy when I hear people throw around terms like Nazi and Communist without having an understanding of the meaning behind the terms.
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My family originally ventures from Poland. It's a lovely piece of real estate parked between Germany and Russia. (Poland is like the Hartford Whalers of Europe. They have the NY Rangers and the Boston Bruins on either side of them.) As you can imagine, Polish people know a thing or two about the horrors of both isms. As a child, I was able to visit Poland during the height of communism. I had relatives who fled the country for being members of the Solidarity movement. I observed the long lines to buy food. Getting an apartment could take years. Trust me. Cash for Clunkers was hardly a communist conspiracy. And after hearing the stories my grandfather told me about invading Nazis, I can confidently tell you President Obama is far from being a Nazi. Those who make such statements do disservice to those who served in WWII, including our current President's grandfather.
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It appears anger, misinformation and fear have somehow replaced common sense and decency. Apparently, discussing healthcare also causes people to lose the ability to control the volume of their voice and to shout inexplicably. Potentially constructive forums have transformed into bitch sessions used to vent frustration through yelling. Personally, I blame Jerry Springer. He was one of the first to put microphones in the hands of insane people.

It's fine to be angry, but make sure your anger is based on factual information. I would be angry too if I believed the president was a muslim-terrorist-communist planning to set up mass sterilizations and death panels to kill my grandmother and the remaining Golden Girls. The issue of Health Care is complex. It concerns me that people are basing their decisions on catch phrases, soundbites and rumors. So as lawyers, what can we do about it?
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When Shakespeare's Dick the Butcher suggests "let’s kill all the lawyers,” it is not because he feels we charge too much in our fees. Dick understands that to achieve anarchy he must get rid of an informed opposition who understands and enforces the rule of law. As lawyers, I encourage you to take part in the current debate. If you have the time, attend some of these town hall meetings. While everyone else seems to be a constitutional scholar these days, you actually studied the constitution. Whether you are for or against healthcare reform, don't be afraid to educate those around you.
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Interested in the topic of Healthcare Law, why not check out Attorney Bob Coffield's Healthcare Law Blog.

My Encounter with a Lion. Reflections on Senator Ted Kennedy

Senator Ted Kennedy passed away last night at the age of 77. Serving nearly half a century, the stalwart Senator worked alongside ten presidents reaching achievements in health care, civil rights, education, immigration and other pressing issues. He was the first to introduce a Martin Luther King Jr Holiday. He battled for equal pay and civil rights. If you take advantage of the Family Leave Act, you can thank him for that too. After a long battle with cancer, he will be put to rest at Arlington National Cemetery near his slain brothers.

For readers of my blog, you may recall my constant shameless name dropping that I had worked for a member of the Kennedy family for several years. Not surprisingly, that meant having the occasional encounter with the Lion of the Senate. My fondest memory of the Senator was when I was working in the office of his nephew, Robert Kennedy Jr. I had just made a phone call to my girlfriend (now wife) from his office when she told me she would call right back. The phone rang in seconds and I answered “What’s up Baby?” There was silence for a moment and then I heard a warm boisterous laugh. “Erah hello? Is my nephew there....baby?”

Like many Americans, I felt a sense of sadness when I heard the venerable Senator had passed away. It was the end of an era. As if Camelot was being bulldozed to put in a mini mall. No matter what side of the political wall you hang your legs, the Kennedys have had quite an impact on the lives of most Americans.

Through my own encounters with the senator, I always found him to be personable and down to earth. Qualities found in many New Englanders. I remember my last conversation with him. I was leaving my employ to study for the bar exam. He had wished me well.

I did pass the bar and began private practice. In my office, I have mementos of my time with the Kennedy family. A book of Jackie Kennedy’s favorite poems signed by her daughter Caroline sits on my bookcase, a JFK for president button hangs on my wall. The most important thing I received from my employ was the importance of public service. I incorporate it every day into my own practice. We provide free monthly legal seminars for area residents. We do a large amount of pro bono work. Our attorneys volunteer for local charities.

As a testament to the Senator’s 47 year run, I encourage you to follow in his footsteps. Make an effort to volunteer for your community. Republican or Democrat, I also encourage you to check out The Rude Pundit blog to see more of the senator’s accomplishments.

Is Everyone a Constitutional Scholar?

Recently, I overheard two defendants discussing their recent arrest. Apparently, the two gentle folk were detained simply for trying to steal gas from a large storage tank. Their cunning plan was to repeatedly bash a metal wrench against the nozzle of the tank with the hopeful anticipation that it would produce a gush of liquid gold. (I can only assume they were also smoking as sparks flew off the wrench with each hit). The discussion eventually turned to politics as it related to their current woes.

"The only reason we got arrested is because of that socialist Kenyan in the White House. They arrested us without a warrant. And did you hear that Barack HUSSEIN Obama wants to take over the census. That is a violation of Article One of the Constitution." Despite my best efforts to turn invisible, they noticed me. "Hey, you're a lawyer. Tell him. This Nazi is violating Article One of the Constitution because he wants the director of the Census Bureau to report to the White House." I thought back to my Con Law class. Article One? Was that the one that said you shouldn't covet thy neighbor's something or other? I did what any self respecting attorney would have done. "I'm actually a used car salesman. " I answered.

As the political climate in the US heats up, it appears more and more people are becoming constitutional scholars. Added to that, many have taken to speaking like extras from the movie Braveheart. They refer to each other as fellow patriots who must rise to defend the oncoming slaught of tyranny. They tweet about what Madison's intentions were in the Federalist papers. People who normally blog about their cats suddenly post their interpretations of Supreme Court rulings. They debate the definition and the intentions of our forefathers in what constitutes a natural born citizen. Some take the debate to a fever pitch.

Interpreting the Constitution is not an easy task. Just ask the Supreme Court or any first year law student. Not suprisingly, there are some out there who misinterpret the Constitution in an effort to inject misinformation into a highly charged debate. If you're not a constitutional scholar, don't worry about it. Use your common sense. Do you really believe the government wants to unconstitutionally kill your grandmother using death panels run by illegal immigrants? Neither do I.
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Editors note: You may want to check out Factcheck.org for more information on whose nose is growing faster. Unless you still think the president was born in Kenya. In that case check out
Lawyer - Dentist - Real Estate Agent - Birth Certificate Afficianado Orly Taitz's blog

Kiss Me I'm Polish

Over the weekend, I attended the Dozynki festival in New Britain, Connecticut. About three decades ago, local Poles revived the 1000 year old Polish tradition that celebrates the annual bounty of the harvest. While most farming communities have gone the way of condo complexes and Starbucks, the spirit of the festival was still there. A time to bring together the community to count their blessings, this year honored WWII veterans and the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of Poland. With live music and great food, the annual festival attracts people from all over New England.

This year, the festival was also well attended by several local politicians including New Britain's Republican mayor Timothy Stewart who is set to go toe to toe with Democratic State Rep. Timothy O'Brien. Both will be fighting for the title of Mayor of New Britain in the battle of the Tims. I mention this because it also brought me together with an old aquaintance that I myself had recently battled. The ex-husband of one of my clients. I had represented his wife in the divorce.

Gnawing on a kielbasa, I was cornered by the man who was accompanied by his friend. For the purposes of my story, he was a 7 foot tall biker named Icepick with a tatoo of a lawyer getting run over by a Harley. "This is the son of a bitch who represented my wife in the divorce. He took my house, my money and my car." I was stunned. With a mouth full of bread I could only reply "Mife to Meef Moo" as crumbs fell on my "Kiss Me I'm Polish" T-Shirt. "You left me with nothing" he snarled. I was trapped. No one would hear my screams. They would be drowned out by the Polka music. I reached into my pocket and gave him a keychain with our firm's logo on it. "It has a light" I pointed out with my mustard stained fingers. The man laughed and smacked me on the back. Let me tell you, I was thankful I didn't get kicked in the Dozynki.

Although my encounter was harmless, it made me realize that there were some situations where being a lawyer could be dangerous. As attorneys, we are constantly being placed in emotionally charged situations with emotionally charged individuals. In an earlier post, I wrote about the volatile client and gave some tips on how to handle such individuals. Today, I would like to add an additional one. When you go out, make sure you have a couple of free keychains in your pocket. They might come in handy. And be safe out there.

(Or you might want to learn Karate. If so I encourge you to check out the following Karate blog).

Hate Tracking Time? Chrometa Can Help

Is Wasting Time Costing You Money?

As a practicing attorney, I am always looking for ways to make our firm run smoother. I’ve been coming back from the office later and later. Although it made my wife happy, I was finding myself exhausted. I needed to become more efficient with my time. As such, I decided to test drive a time management program called Chrometa 2.0. If you are not familiar with it, I suggest you give it a trial run. In my case, it has made me a more efficient attorney.

Some benefits were obvious. As the program ran in the background, it was recording how much time I was spending preparing documents. If it took me 20 minutes to prepare a letter, the program indicated it under active time. It was a great help for when I was preparing billing. I could see how long I spent preparing my blog and how much time it took to update our firm’s website. It even has a feature where you can enter the time you spend on phone calls. In some cases, I realized I was actually underbilling.

For me, the greatest benefit was the wasted time the program was recording. The results were an eye opener. 30 minutes spent watching you tube clips of yodeling dogs, 25 minutes searching for friends on Facebook to see if any of them were bald, 18 minutes of Googling my name to see if I was famous yet. There it was in black and white. I was wasting time. Chrometa was my wake up call. The reason I was staying so late at the office was not necessarily all the work I had to do. It was because I was wasting my time watching clips of the Daily Show. Chrometa is like having your mother standing over you to make sure you do your homework. Every time I have the urge to wander the internet, I tend to balk knowing it will be recorded by Chrometa.

The program is very easy to use. It runs quietly in the background. It does, however, have a drag and drop feature where you can categorize all of your documents. If you happen to step away from your computer, Chrometa starts an “away timer.” When you get back, it reminds you to input what you were working on. The program can even list your email messages by subject line which includes how much time you spent reading the message and how much time it took to respond to it. More importantly, the program has an advanced tagging feature of Word and Word Perfect documents. When you want to transfer your time entries into your billing system, the program will sort them by each client or matter. Another nice feature is advanced privacy controls. No one has to know that you wasted your day on Twitter.

Chrometa 2.0 runs in Windows XP and Vista, and sells for an affordable introductory price of $99, which includes unlimited email support. You can try it for free for 30 days. Learn more about Chrometa 2.0.
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Want to read another review of Chrometa 2.0 Check out the Technolawyer Newsletter. If you haven’t signed up yet, you are missing out on some great advice and product reviews from lawyers across the country.

Developing a Niche Market

Turning Your Passions into a Successful Practice
Each year our nation's law schools spawn out more and more sharks into the legal pool. With the advent of online degrees, that pool seems to be getting more crowded. So how do you stay above the water in an increasingly competitive market? The most common answer is to develop a niche.

There have been many articles written on developing a niche practice. That is, focusing on a particular area of law in which you have developed an expertise. The focus of this article is a little different. It focuses on developing a niche market.

Developing a niche market does not have to be difficult or overly complicated. It can be pretty simple. Do you speak a second language? Are you an avid sailor? Do you like to ride motorcycles? Do you play a sport. Why not transform your passions into a new client base. The trick is networking.

A problem I often see is many attorneys do not take advantage of skills they already possess. Take for example Joseph. Joe is a colleague of mine who is fluent in Portuguese. He is a local general practitioner whose practice areas include immigration, real estate closings and family law. Despite being fluent in Portuguese, he never mentions it. With an influx of immigrants from Brazil, he was missing a golden opportunity to establish himself with a new market base. Had I known earlier, I would have sent him a flurry of clients

Truth be told, I was the same way. I grew up speaking Polish. Frankly, I thought it was a skill that would never serve any purpose in my professional life. I did not realize that there was a growing population of Polish people in my state. Many Poles who fled Poland during the height of communism were now established business owners in the United States. Although there were approximately 300,000 Poles living in Connecticut, I found myself to be one of maybe 5 Polish speaking attorneys that served this underrepresented community. Our firm soon became the "go to" place for legal problems for Poles throughout Connecticut. Although the majority of our clients spoke perfect English, they found comfort speaking in their native language. The influx of clients was so great, we decided to leave our lofty downtown perch to open a branch office in the heart of New Britain, Connecticut's “Little Poland” district.

So maybe you don’t speak a second language. Maybe you’re just a regular run of the mill schlep. How do you get to develop your own niche market? You are not an expert in anything. You don't have time to learn a new area of law. To that I say: what do you do? You can’t be a complete lump of coal? Can you? You’d be surprised at the business you can gain from just current common interests.

A few years ago, I represented a client who was part of a “Storm Trooper battle garrison”. Basically, these guys get together and dress up as various characters from the movie Star Wars. They volunteer for a variety of events and even march in parades dressed in full “battle armor”. Growing up, I loved Star Wars. Not surprisingly, I was able to “talk shop” with my client. Granted he did make me do all my consultations in a Yoda voice, but it has led to several referrals from likeminded fans. The word was spread that the force was strong with me.

Past work experience can also be a factor in developing a niche market. As a high school student, I spent many summers working for an aerospace engineering firm. Not surprisingly, I was able to relate to clients who worked on the machines that produced jet aircraft turbines for our nation’s military. I developed a sense of camaraderie with these machinists. Soon, our practice developed a side niche of clients coming from the aerospace industry. The word had spread. This guy was one of us.

Once you develop a small niche, word of mouth can take on a life of its own. If you like reading, join a book club. If you fly, hang out with fellow aviators. Do you enjoy dressing up as an elf and….well, let's just keep that one to yourself. I wish you the best of luck in your practice and invite your comments.
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For more info on niche marketing, check out attorney Scott Morgan’s Niche Marketing for Lawyers Blawg and Larry Bodine’s law marketing blog.

Of course, one of my personal favorites is Jim Calloway's Law Practice Tips Blawg. Remember, every old dog can learn a new trick. From new technology to practice tips, Attorney Calloway's blawg is an excellent resource for the attorney just starting out as well as the curmudgeonly old timer.

Cash for Clunkers Saved My Life

My father is cut from an old cloth. The kind of guy that always provided for his family. Not surprisingly, dear old dad tended to sacrifice the finer things in life. He never knew the joy of that new car smell. For years he drove clunkers while the wife and kids drove new cars. The latest incarnation was an old 88 Cadillac DeVille held together with duct tape and a prayer. We always knew when dad was almost home. So did the neighbors. Now with the kids out of the house, dad started enjoying the finer things in life. Tuition payments were replaced with trips to Aruba with mom. I decided to tell him about cash for clunkers.

“Dad, did you know you can get $4500 for the caddy if you trade it in? I asked. “That’s all. It’s a Caddy.” He replied. Yes, it was a Cadillac. It was a Cadillac with 200,000 miles on it and a cassette player that would only play a stuck 80s mix tape I made in Junior High School. “Aren’t you sick of listening to Flock of Seagulls?” I explained that he would get the cash if he purchased a brand new car with better mileage. He deserved a new car. Working in a factory for 30 years, he earned it. Dad finally turned in his old 88 Caddy to buy something new. He couldn’t pass up the deal. He opted for the Nissan Rogue. And dad couldn’t be happier. ”So what happens to my Caddy?” he asked. “Ummm. I think they take it upstate to a nice family with a farm.”

The program seems to be a success. Ford announced its first gain in sales since 2007. GM has increased production. The environment will benefit from less gas guzzlers on the road. Less need for gas, less reliance on foreign oil. The National Automobile Dealers Association reports huge backlogs of applications awaiting approval by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees cash for clunkers.

Classic car enthusiasts have complained that a piece of Americana is being destroyed. Trust me, Americana doesn’t need your rust addled 1989 Ford Aerostar with the custom racing stripe. Listening to talk radio, I even heard some complain that by buying cars, people wouldn’t buy other things. Are you kidding me? We need economic stimulus right now. Buying cars saves jobs. It supports a cottage industry of air freshners, hanging dice, car mats, gas stations, and bikini car washes.

Cars are as American as mom and apple pie. I've been thinking about taking part in the program. Maybe it was time to buy something more befitting my great stature as an attorney and officer of the court. Although I loved my red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury, it wasn't very "lawyerly". I needed a BMW or Mercedes. Maybe a Rolls. The Plymouth's high gas mileage and constant repairs were ripping a hole in my pocket. Some mornings it wouldn't start. Do you know how embarrassing it is to show up to a hearing on a bicycle? (Editors note: If you put your business cards in the spokes, they make a cool motorcycle sound). It got to the point where the car started controlling who I was. Not to mention she started killing the neighbors. I love old Christine, but maybe its time to trade her in.

(Editors note: In reality "Christine" is not a 58 Plymouth Fury, it is actually a 1988 Jaguar named Lenny. The last of the English made Jags, the car saves me gas mileage by refusing to start most days. )
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If your a fan of the movie Christine, check out the movie blog.com Apparently, they are making a remake of the John Carpenter classic about a killer car.

Giving Evening Students the Credit They Deserve

As the dog’s day of summer come to a close, many of our nation’s finest minds prepare to enter the hallowed halls of our country's legal institutions. This time of year always has me reflect on my own law school experience. If I could only have it to do all over again. The camaraderie of late night study groups. The socratic induced anticipation of getting called on in class. The four hour long exams that determine a semester’s worth of work. And lest I forget, the illustrious bar exam determining whether or not you would indeed put your freshly framed law degree to good use. If only I could have it to do all over again, I would probably choose a career as a professional crash test dummy.

"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool" -Billy Shakespeare
I started my student life as a full time law student at New York Law School. I was the typical first year law student. I had a dual major in English and Political Science from Manhattanville College. I took some prelaw classes. I was a cocky wiseass kid. And why not, I was going to be a lawyer. As I often point out on my blawg, I was planning on being a hotshot on Wall Street complete with one of those Gordon Gekko type blue shirts with the white color and designer red suspenders. I would have one of those metal ball thingamawhatzits on my desk that hit back and forth and a secretary named Candy. I was going to have the whole shebang. Not surprisingly, I had many of the misconceptions of my fellow full time law students. The first was that law school would be no different than college. The second was that somehow the evening division was easier because they were “part time.” They weren’t serious students after all.

During my stint at New York Law, I was given an opportunity to work for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Along with his partner Karl Coplan, he directed a litigation clinic at Pace Law School. The two men were professors at the school and among the leading environmental lawyers in the nation. As an employee of the law school, I would get a dramatically reduced tuition. Of course I would have to become a dreaded evening student.

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't." - Billy Shakespeare
I soon learned that evening students deserved much more credit than they were receiving. They were crazy. Sure, they had what amounted to one less class. But they were completing law school while working full time. How I considered someone who worked forty hours a week, went to class and spent whatever free time was left studying, was beyond me. (Not to mention many of them had families) The evening students were anything but part time. If anything, I missed being a full time student. I had much more time to prepare for class.

Of course, there were obvious disadvantages of being an evening student. It was difficult to take part in student organizations, moot trial competitions and internships. I remember Thursdays in particular. I would work at the litigation clinic from 8:30 AM to 5: 30 PM, go to class from 6 PM to 10 PM and then I would work at a local bar from 10:30 PM until 5 AM. I would then go to work the next day and start it all over again.

Its important to remember that most of the students in the evening division are already professionals. Imagine the intimidation of taking a criminal procedure class with a bunch of New York City detectives, federal income tax with accountants and insurance law with insurance adjusters. Of course, I did see some advantages. The faculty was usually composed of actual practicing attorneys. While theory is important, these were the faculty members that really provided practical advice. And with limited time, I found myself working much harder. I became more focused. My grades improved.

So if you happen to be a first year law student, don’t ever call an evening student “part time.” Give them the credit they deserve.

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Want to relive the trials & tribulations of law school. Check out these great blogs. No Reins Girl and Only 3 Years. If I could offer some advice to current law students. Make your friends and family watch "The Paper Chase." It will garner you a little sympathy and maybe they will stop bugging you. Just make sure to tell them that law school is "exactly" like the movie.