What Do You Expect in Book Four: Ichi-no-Tani 2017

So… an Ames Day… with no clients… and Chinese Boss told me that, on Legal Aid time, I was not to do any other work. So… Legal Aid time… I’m not to read/respond to e-mails about other cases. I’m not to do research for other cases. I am to help people or try to advertise for the firm. Here’s a bit of an eyeroll for you.

So… feeling personally full of apathy for the concept of trying to advertise despite strict legal rules about advertising in the Ethics Code and because, against Chinese Boss’ wishes, I refuse to go round to all the churches in town and leave our information… tacky and the only reason she asked is because I’m a Christian and she felt that I could schmooze my way in since I’m “of that faith.” Yeah. Sorry. That is where I draw the line. IF, in my attendance of a church thing, I strike up a conversation and we discuss that I am a lawyer and can I help… then sure. But I’m not going to go to churches with leaflets and pamphlets and say, “Hi, I’m a Christian. Can I leave these advertising documents with you for your parishioners?” Bah! Humbug.

But Legal Aid Day reminds me of why I want to and why I like to be in a position of Service (like a Prosecutor) as opposed to Business (like a Private Attorney). A Chinese Girl came in who was having trouble with her room mates. She wanted to know what her options were. Private Attorney would have laughed her out the door, if they were ethical. My firm would have taken her money, researched the case, told her there was little we could do but if she wanted to give us more money, then she could maybe sue her room mates for Emotional Distress. As bad as I felt, because there was nothing I could do for her, I was at least able to help a little. FREE OF CHARGE, we sat and discussed her issue. We discussed the three options available to her. We did a pro/con of Moving Out, Calling the Police, and Mediation. And while legally your roomie being a heinous bitch is perfectly acceptable… being able to help this person understand that she isn’t trapped in that environment felt good. I used to do that as a Prosecutor. Not much, but sometimes. Speak to a person in need, help them out, even if I wasn’t being personally enriched by the matter. FRANKLY, it is why I prefer the pay structure of Government Lawyers. You aren’t paid more because you found a way to charge a client an extra 45 seconds in a case, you aren’t paid less because you found a way to help the client “too quickly,” you are paid to do your job. Period. Full stop.

Here’s an interesting, if sad, perspective. I spoke with Muse today. I spoke with Dylan (a new Chinese Assistant as Chinese Assistant is on his way out). Muse has a degree in Chemical Engineering. Dylan has a degree in Computer Programming. They are now working as Secretaries at a Chinese Law Firm where if anything goes wrong, they get the blame. So, maybe I’m assuming too much here but… that makes me think this place is where Chinese kids go to have their dreams crushed. Because I cannot imagine a world where someone decides “I wish to go to the United States and study X”… where they come to the United States and study X… and then come work for us doing something that requires NONE OF X.

Random intervening thought, I’m a bit unfocused today. My current plan is to try (really hard) to nail my interviews while simultaneously giving this job my best effort. Honestly. Because only a fool behaves as though he has another job before he actually receives that job. But right now… considering THIS as my best effort… is really disappointing. Because without client work to do and without Legal Aid work to do… much like Tiny Town… I’m just sitting in an office watching time go by. And that is disappointing. I would certainly hope that in an office staffed by more than 4 people, I wouldn’t have this, but there is no guarantee. This might be the “wherever you go, there you are” Because I don’t want to be a guy that sits in an office doing nothing. AND, yes… in a professional office with staff, that might not be the case. But I don’t know for sure. And I really don’t want to be That Guy that sits in an office doing nothing.

PERSPECTIVE REMINDER
Last year around this time I had just interviewed for a Polk County Assistant Attorney spot on their Juvenile team. I had such incredibly high hopes. It was the promise of leaving Tiny Town but staying in a similar career. It was the promise of joining a team of at least 12 other people. It was everything that I could have dreamed of and hoped for. And it fell through. It was exactly what I needed when I needed it… and it completely and utterly fell through. So, even though Wife is convinced I’ll get a job offer from the interviews this Thursday… there are no certainties. So while I’m practically falling asleep at my desk here, I have to embrace the very strong possibility that I will be a member of this firm for many more months/years.

I suppose at the very least I can plan the rest of my day....
Go Home
Launder the Guest Bed and Re-Make the Guest Bed
Shower and Shave
That is my night.