Futurelawyer

#WhyIAmASolo - I Don't Have To Manage Employees.

Why do I get the impression that it isn't fun to be either an Employer or an Employee? In this example, is Crabshaw's next move to shove that piece of cake in his bosses' face? Or, should his Employer have smiled and accepted the wine all over the table with equanimity and merely required Crabshaw to clean the table? I remember, early in my career, when I had an employee or two, always worrying about the reputational hit I was getting when they were out in the world representing the firm. And, I was always worried about my liability for their actions. There are ways to practice law, and to live life, without worrying about these things. Go solo. You won't go back. At least, not unless you are always spilling wine all over the table.

Why We Bought A Portable Ice Machine For The RV

#PoetryFriday - Mirror Image.

The image in the mirror taunted him,
judged him,
focused on him.
He turned away.
Sideways, he saw a bulging stomach,
where once
a maiden’s gaze looked longingly.

His tired face
sagged in all the wrong places,
and the once straight shoulders
bent from years of striving.

He turned to face the image,
looked deep into the eyes.
They were supposed to be a window,
through which he could see a spirit;
but, he knew that,
by definition,
it would be unseen.

Would the years betray him?
Would the early morning staggering
to the mirror,
slow his steady pace
to knowing himself?

By the time he knew,
would it be too late for his body
to answer the call?

Each Of Us Has A Friend Or Family Member To Remember This Weekend.

Every day is a day to be lived happily. However, some days are days to remember sacrifice. Monday is, for many, just a day to stay home from work, or have fun at a picnic. For me, it is a day to remember the over Six Hundred Thousand men and women who have given their lives in the service of the United States of America. One particular person, my father, Martin M. Georges, Sr., gave his life while serving in the Army Air Corps in 1952. Take some time this weekend to honor him and our other heroes.

This Weekend Should Be BitterSweet.

I get it. You are looking forward to a 3 day weekend. Monday is a holiday, and you and your friends and family will be cooking out, and enjoying the sun. However, you and I may be alive and experiencing joyful moments, and the soldiers who helped to create a world in which you could do that may, in some cases, not be here to celebrate. Remember them. Nobody really knows whether there is an afterlife. In fact, the dogma is that you must have faith. Which means accepting something without a rational explanation. But, there are some things that are evidence based. One of them is that we are here partly because some men and women gave up their very lives for us. We should have a Memorial Day every day. So, take some time this weekend to be mindful of their sacrifice.

LawComix - Charles Pugsley Fincher Is The Cartoon Laureate Of Law Practice.

Lawcomix. A blog post about cartoons wouldn't be complete without a mention of my good friend, Charles Pugsley Fincher, whose comics about law and lawyering were discovered by me some years ago, when he was doing a regular column in the American Bar Journal. Since that time, his insights into the humor and frustrations of law practice have put a smile on my face often, and an original work is hanging in my office. Charley is a good friend, and deserves a deep dive from every lawyer in the U.S. who values the benefits of humor in our lives. Thanks, Charley, for making my life better.

Make Your Own Comics Page.

GoComics. News and journalism have migrated to the Internet. With that migration, much of the content we used to get in our local newspapers is available in much broader quantity and quality on the Internet. News aggregators like Google, and other services, can create a curated, personal reading experience for the user who is willing to spend some time aggregating on his or her own. Longtime readers know that some of my blog posts are commentary on comic strips, which have given me respite from daily troubles and stresses since my youth. What began as a fascination with Dick Tracy, became a lifelong love of technology. These days, my favorites are Shoe, Pickles, Dilbert, and Pearls Before Swine. Like all humor, they make us laugh at the same time as they make us think. Thinking is a human activity that is too little done these days, no? So, if you can afford $19.99 a year, go to this website, and choose from hundreds of the best comics in the world. You don't have to rely on local editors to choose what you watch or read anymore. 

RV Travel And Gas Prices.

Maybe I don't have to restrict my RV travel after all. There is always a solution to every problem.

#TBT - PressReader - Still The Best Bargain On The Internet.

PressReader. My local paper, the Tampa Bay Times, only prints two copies a week these days. It has gone almost completely digital. Most of us get our news from Google, or some other Internet source. 1440.com is a daily non-political news digest that is ad supported, free, and neutral. The Times costs $11.75 a month, and, recently, even though I subscribe, wouldn't let me in at the site. After wasting 15 minutes, and sending an email, I had enough. PressReader, for $29.95 a month, gives me access to literally hundreds of newspapers and magazines that span the globe. Unlimited access on any device. I became a subscriber years ago, and, after a brief hiatus, resubscribed. You can try it out for 7 days free, and I recommend it. Fair warning, though, you can find yourself looking up after a session and finding several hours gone from your day. But, you will be entertained, informed, and have spent some enjoyable time afterwards, and you will have a good overall view of the many viewpoints of different locales and cultures. 

#WhyIAmASolo - I Don't Have To Deal With Mordac From H.R. or I.T.

In a solo practice, unlike in Big Law, I don't need someone to manage employees, euphemistically called Human Resources; nor do I have to deal with Mordac from I.T.  H.R.'s effectiveness in large organizations relies on caring, competent professionals to deal with employee issues, I.T. requires efficient use of network and Internet resources. I don't want to be on either end of that dynamic. I joked with my physician at my last checkup that it is said that 80% of physicians are now employees. He used to be a small medical practitioner in a small medical practice. But, Government regulation, health insurance paperwork, and other intrusions has forced many physicians to join organizations to handle the paperwork. Law practice in Big Law requires similar corporate methods. In solo practice, the only employee I need to manage is me. And, I am easy to get along with, as long as I don't have to deal with H.R. or I.T. Can you say the same?