So, Ms. Lawyer. Do you dream about one day being the Managing Partner in your firm? Do you want to be the one calling the shots? Do you aspire to direct the trajectory of your law firm? Are you interested in having the power to decide what cases you work on, and which ones to pass on? Well, rather than dream about it, just do it. Go solo.
I was reminded that I didn't post a poem on Friday. So, here is one about loss.
You know it's true. Any group practice has good people and bad people. If a bad person is your superior, whether lawyer or not, life can be more stressful than it needs to be. Young lawyers, and Associate lawyers, in BigLaw, have both good and bad experiences. Demeaning behavior, yelling, angry, or otherwise insulting actions by a boss can be harmful to morale. These days, such actions can even lead to legal liability for the firm. As a solo, I don't have any of those problems, either from the management or employee side. I get enough grief from clients, opponents, other lawyers and Judges. My office is my safe space. If you are being harassed at work, deal with it. You can make it as a solo. There are many websites out there to help you. My favorite is my friend, Carolyn Elefant's MyShingle.com, and her excellent book, Solo by Choice. She has helped hundreds, if not thousands, of lawyers find their space.
Racoons are food connoisseurs. Like us, they dine at night. So, if you want to know where the food is, follow them.
Sometimes, we want to avoid conflict. Sometimes, we want to avoid a particular person or endeavor. We all have times when saying no thanks to an invitation creates a need to explain. Understanding the inevitable end of everything, and everyone, not only helps us to realize that awards, and applause from others, and just about anything we do, is going to fade away, helps to grease the social skids. Creating meaning and purpose for a life that will surely end badly isn't really possible. Remember, we all die. Remember, legacy is an illusion. Live for the sake of living; not, for some unknown reward after dying.
. Galaxy s21 ultra smartphone connected to my tiny Pico projector and projecting on poster board. Picture can expand to 60 inches and visible in daylight.
I don't intend to get political. I am generally apolitical. However, recent events have resulted in my questioning whether we are engaged in some mass psychosis. A "recession" is no longer a recession. An Act that pumps another billion dollars into an overheated, inflationary economy, is actually titled the "Inflation Reduction Act". There are now more than two sexes. Actually, I have no problem with the idea that some humans are psychologically different from their biological origins. But, facts are facts. When the GDP goes down for more than six months, it is a recession. When the Government prints another billion dollars and puts it into the system, the result will be inflation. There are two biological sexes, male and female. Whether we can change sexes is a psychological and physical possiblility; but, that aspiration doesn't change biology. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. If the Emperor is riding a horse while not wearing any clothes, that fact can't be changed by everyone saying that is wearing regal finery. Reality, by any other name, is still reality. And, we will experience the consequences, no matter what we call it.
I have been toying around with the FutureLawyer office I created a couple of years ago in the Metaverse. While the Internet speed wasn't really able to keep up then, the recent advances have made for a broader adoption by early adopters, and some businesses and law firms have created pretty compelling virtual offices that VR users are using. One Personal Injury firm in California actually sees clients virtually. Think of the Metaverse as Zoom on steroids. You create a personal avatar, and you simulate walking around in a created space, in which you can chat, in real time, with others. This enables one on one, and group communication in a 3 dimensional space. Facebook, which purchased Oculus, and the VR glasses business, has actually changed its name to Meta. Is Virtual Reality going to be mainstream in our near future? Stay tuned. For now, at least figure out how to get there. I do not recommend Dave's solution. You can't get there through a manhole cover.
