I am in the "complaint business." Or, to be more precise, lawyers seek out my help in solving issues that make them unhappy. And, as we lawyers know, there are a lot of unhappy lawyers - - as attested to by Bar Surveys and authors of articles and books on that topic. So, I hear a lot of complaints.
Many of the complaints I hear are from self-imposed problems or, put another way, they are created by the lawyer's own actions or inaction's.
Several examples:
- A lawyer may complain that they keep losing files when, in fact, their desk and office looks like a tornado hit it; or,
- A lawyer complains that no one in their office likes them when, in fact, they, them self, do not exert any effort to be friendly to those around them; or,
- A lawyer complains about certain of their clients or cases when, in fact, they should not have taken on those particular clients or cases in the first place;
- Etc.
In each of these situations, the problem was created by the individual lawyer, himself/herself.
Using these examples, it would be easy for us to say that the solution is quite simple - - clean up your desk and office, or start being more friendly to those in your office, or be mindful of the clients and cases you accept. But, the complaining lawyer would typically respond, "Oh, I can't. That's not me. I am just who I am, and can't change" ...and, then, they keep on complaining.
MY response would be (and, in many instances, is), "Well, either change, or stop complaining.
I guess that when the "pain" of losing one file too many, or getting kicked out of your firm because "you just don't fit in," or accepting that "client from Hell" (who, in addition to not paying your fees, sues you) gets too much - - the lawyer finally realizes that change is essential.
But, what a "price" to pay !!
JEROME M. BAME, Esq., Coach-Mentor-Confidant to Lawyers, 10061 Talbert Avenue, Suite 200, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; Telephone (714) 962-4477; Email jmb@PracticingLawSucks.com
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