Categories
Firm Culture

The Storm (or Just Grow Up Already)

The Storm by Pierre Auguste Cot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (A young couple in ancient times running to seek shelter from a storm.)
Pierre Auguste Cot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

There is a young adult in my life who, as he breezed through his teenage years, could not understand the stress that I experienced as I managed a busy legal career and all of the other aspects of ‘adulting’ that each of us grown-up people have to deal with. When, in my stressed-out state, I used to remark critically upon his somewhat laissez-faire attitude on topics such as attending class, cleaning up after himself, mowing the lawn, or shoveling the driveway, he would just look at me and wanting to help, he would sincerely say, “you should learn to be chill like me, Mur.” Of course, that made my blood boil.

read more about the lack of empathy in law firms “The Storm (or Just Grow Up Already)”
Categories
Fluff

Murray’s Rant About Partners Meetings

The author wearing sunglasses and a T-shirt with the words "ihate my partner.com"

I hated partners meetings. Not because I did not like most of my partners. In fact, I quite enjoyed spending time with the majority of them. But there were always one or two…

After many years of contemplating why I disliked partners meetings so much, I developed a theory. Here it is.

read more about why I hated Partners Meetings “Murray’s Rant About Partners Meetings”
Categories
People I Met Practicing Law

Hammers and Nails

A hammer on a board with various nails around it.
Photo by Pixabay at Pexels.

I am not the handiest person in the world. In fact, my toolbox only has three tools in it, being a phone, a pen, and a cheque book. For this reason, I may not be the best person to be writing about hammers and nails. But I will anyway because I really want to use one of my favourite quotes.

Abraham Maslow wrote, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail.”

read more about being adaptable “Hammers and Nails”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

A woman gardening.
Photo by Anna Shvets at Pexels.

I have observed that it is not only Mary who was quite contrary, but rather that the character flaw of contrariness is innate to all of us.

read more about people being contrary “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary”
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers Uncategorized

My One and Only Karate Lesson

Sensei and young student learning a Karate kick.
Photo by Cottonbro at Pexels.

I know absolutely nothing at all about Karate. I am about to prove that.

I had only one Karate lesson in my life. Actually, it was my young son who had the Karate lesson. I was along as part of one of those “Dad and Son” programs.

read more about how not to teach people stuff “My One and Only Karate Lesson”
Categories
Fluff

How Much is Enough?

Docks at a marina in the fall.

I accumulated some money practicing law. Not as much as I may have put away if I had practiced on Bay Street. Less than I would have held onto if I had not had a domestic reorganization. Not quite as much as I would have had if I had not made a few stupid financial decisions along the way. But, all in all, a tidy sum which should see me through my retirement in fairly good style if do not do anything stupid, get sick in an expensive way that is not covered by government health insurance or make any more dumb investments.

I have friends who have a lot more. They have bigger houses, fancier cars and more toys, and they travel more frequently and to more expensive destinations. Does this make them happier?

Yes, it does.

I really should have worked harder. And you should stop reading this nonsense and put in a few more billable hours.

Categories
Law Firm Management

Empowering Law Clerks

Old Letters Patent for an Ontario corporation.

During my career, I was fortunate to work with three phenomenal law clerks. I trained two of them. The third was trained on Bay Street. Each of them was exceptional because they were intelligent, capable, motivated, well-trained, and empowered.

Rarely accused of being overly immodest, I will take credit for empowering them.

How good were they?

read more about how to empower your law clerks “Empowering Law Clerks”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Lessons Learned from Boston Legal

Skyline of Boston Mass from East Boston.
King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

For those of you who never watched Boston Legal, my all-time favourite television show about lawyers, Denny Crane was the senior partner of Crane Poole & Schmidt.

read more about boston legal “Lessons Learned from Boston Legal”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Why I Hate the Law Society

Plaque in Niagara On The Lake, Ontario, memorializing the establishment of the Law Society of Upper Canada
Photo by Spudgun67 at Wikimedia Commons

Obviously, it would be utterly impossible to comprehensively address the topic of ‘Why I Hate the Law Society’ in the depth that it so richly deserves while complying with the LinkedIn limit on the length of a post. So, I will try to just hit the high points.

So, what exactly do I hate about the Law Society? Primarily its arrogance, and the high-handed nature of its decision making.

read more about why I hate the Law Society of Ontario “Why I Hate the Law Society”
Categories
People I Met Practicing Law

On Being Easily Inconvenienced

Man leaning against wall looking anxious.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadi at Pexels

I met more than a few lawyers who were ‘easily inconvenienced.’ For these individuals, any challenge, no matter how inconsequential it might have appeared to be to others, was a major problem. It was never a good time for their associates or assistants to take a vacation. Their work not being given top priority by an associate who reported to several lawyers – a catastrophe. Their shared assistant working for another lawyer at the exact moment that they wanted something done – a disaster. Staff members attending a half-day training session on new technology – a real problem. Funds for closing being delayed for an hour for whatever reason – the world was ending.

read more about being easily inconvenienced “On Being Easily Inconvenienced”