Practicing Law Sucks

Observe the shining "stars" around you

Too many lawyers, who are new to a firm or position, believe that their previous laurels are sufficient to catapult them to the front of the (new) group.  They think that because they were a "star" at a previous firm or job they will be a star in their new firm or job. WRONG !

Every law firm or office has its own "culture," and each of these cultures differ from one another.

Being a previous "star" in a prior firm or office may not (and, probably will not) gain you respect in a new position or in a new setting.  In fact, possibly just the opposite.  You may have to exert extra effort to demonstrate to your new colleagues that you have justly earned the laurels that landed you in your new position.  Your former "medals" possibly may not be sufficient to impress those new people around you.

What is important, however, is that - when new to a firm, office or position, you keenly observe the new "stars" around you.  In other words, it is important that you take note of what makes the "stars" of the new firm, office or job, "stars."  It is those people that you may have to emulate - - not your "former self."

It's a "new day," and you may have to create a "new you" !!!

Call the Repairman - FAST !!!

Most of us spend the greater part of our waking day, working.

For that reason, it is important that we ENJOY the work that we do.  Otherwise, we would be spending the major portion of our day, unhappy.  How terribly sad that would be !

However, if we were unhappy with the work that we do, that does not necessarily mean that we have to change jobs, or change careers, or even quit working altogether. 

In many cases, it just means that some adjustments ("repairs") need to be made in the manner in which we do our work.

We call in the repairman when we are unsatisfied with the manner in which our appliances (at home) function.  Then, why don't we call in a "repairman" when our work (at the office) is unsatisfying?

Stop Your Complaining - - Nobody likes a whiner !

Fortunately, most lawyers love (or, at least, "like") their legal career and the work they do.  But, even these lawyers, from time to time, have a lousy day, or a "client from hell," or a rotten case, or an adverse decision; but, they "suck it up" and live with it.

Then, there are those lawyers who, when faced with those same situations, continually "bitch," curse the day they became lawyers, and make everyone around them miserable.  It's bad enough that they are miserable people, themselves; but they have to make everyone else around them miserable, too.

What these later-mentioned lawyers forget to do is look at the bigger picture.  They continually focus on the negative, rather than the positive.  They are not optimistic, hopeful, thankful-type people.

Being that type of person paralyzes them for anything positive in their careers, let alone in their lives.

Being a complainer - - a whiner, does not get them anyplace - - and it just continues to cascade them down.

Does your office make the City Dump look good?

We can well understand why many lawyers don't what to go to their office in the morning. 

The typical lawyer spends more waking hours in their office than anywhere else.

So, when a lawyer's office makes the City Dump look good, it could be a "turn off" spending time in their office.

Marissa Candela, in an article appearing in ENERGY TIMES in June 2007, says "the more time you spend on the job, the more important it is to make sure your workspace is designed with your health and well-being in mind (to say nothing of your productivity and effectiveness)."  And, "...just as we take the time to enhance our home settings, we can take steps to create and appealing, healthy office environment."

She suggests...

• AROMATHERAPY MAKES SCENTS.  A whiff of a pleasant scent can do wonders.  Difference scents create different physical and psychological experiences throughout the workday.  Unless you like the smell of the City Dump, you don't want your office to smell like the City Dump.
• FENG SHUI YOUR OFFICE SPACE. Feng shui seeks to improve the human condition by arranging inhabited quarters to achieve the most harmonious flow of energy.  For example: it is best to back up furniture to walls; sit facing the entrance; store papers in files; return papers to their proper place when done; and, periodically sift through and discard unneeded items to avoid a paper pileup.
• CLEANSE YOUR OFFICE AIR.  Stagnant, recycled office air can impede productivity and instill misery, leading to lethargy, allergies, mental fog, headaches, congestion and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.  It is suggested that live plants in your office may be your most valuable ally in neutralizing these contaminants and keeping office air clean, moist and pure.
• BE ERGONOMICALLY CORRECT. Ergonomics is how humans interact with machines - - and proper ergonomics are essential to a healthy workplace. For example, take time to examine how you interact with your computer.  Is your keyboard the right height for you?  Do your palms rest comforably when you use the mouse?
• BRIGHTEN YOUR WORKDAY.  For people who spend the majority of their time indoors, balanced lighting is vital for a healthy work atmosphere.  Full-spectrum lighting is the next best thing to natural sunlight, but flourescent lighting is stil the norm in most workplaces -- where it contributes to numerous office health concerns.  Flickering from flourescent light and computer screens can trigger migraine headaches and cause eye fatigue; wherease, full-spectrum lighting is more balanced, helping to reduce eye strain and counteract drowsiness.

To these, we would also add the following:

• HAVE COMFORTABLE, ATTRACTIVE OFFICE FURNITURE.  There is nothing worst than coming into an office in the morning and sitting in an uncomfortable office chair, or a desk that looks like it was retrieved from the City Dump.
• HAVE SOME NICE BACKGROUND MUSIC.  Have a small stereo system that can play some soothing music from time to time.  When the walls of your office seem to be caving in, there is nothing better than leaning back in your (comfortable) chair and playing some soothing music for 5-10 minutes.
• PUT SOME THINGS ON YOUR OFFICE WALLS THAT GIVE YOU A "WARM FUZZY" FEELING.  Sure, you (or your firm) may want you to hang your 85 framed diplomas on the wall, but they hardly give you that nice warm feeling when you most need it.  Put a picture (or two) of your family, your favorite sport or hobby, or an outdoor scene on the wall(s) - - that puts a smile on your face when you glance that way.