Tag: lawyers

Categories
Work/Life Balance

To All the Law Students Who I have Loved (or Just Liked a Bit)

Pregnant woman, man, and two children.
Photo by Luana Freitas at Pexels.

I write a lot about work/life balance, mental health, and the pursuit of things other than money in the legal profession.

My wife (and lawyer) Maureen McKay has laughed at me about this (among other things.) She has said, “Murray, if any of the young people who you counsel to pursue a balanced lifestyle were to have applied to your firm back when you were hiring Associates and talked about working reasonable hours and reserving evenings and weekends for their families, you would not have hired them.”

She’s right. But, in my defense, it’s complicated.

Read more about why it is complicated “To All the Law Students Who I have Loved (or Just Liked a Bit)”
Categories
Legal Fees

My Journey To the Land of Setting Expectations

Pile of Euros coins.
Photo by Panos and Marenia Stavrinos from Pexels

Back in the good old days, I used to bill by the hour, just like every other lawyer. I had a simple retainer agreement with my clients which essentially provided that they agreed to pay my hourly rate for all of the hours that I spent on their matters.

When the work was done, I would send my bill to the client calculated by multiplying the time spent by my hourly rate. Then my client would pay the bill. Life was simple.

read more about communicating about Fees “My Journey To the Land of Setting Expectations”
Categories
The Practice of Law

Reflections on M&A, Musical Chairs, and Mental Health

Children playing with balls.
Photo by Yan Krukau at Pexels.

People of my vintage remember playing musical chairs at birthday parties, back before the days when money was so plentiful that it seemed to be important to impress the neighbours by hiring clowns and musicians or renting bouncy castles to entertain five-year-olds.

For those of you who did not have the pleasure of being pushed off of a chair by some mean kid who had fifty pounds on you, the idea was that music would be played while the children would circle a number of chairs that was always one fewer than the number of kids marching around them.

read more about the game of Mergers and Acquisitions “Reflections on M&A, Musical Chairs, and Mental Health”
Categories
Law Firm Management

Another Law Firm Just Went Down

A large ship listing badly.
Photo by Irfan Rahat at Pexels.

“Write what you know.” 

Mark Twain

I know absolutely nothing about the collapse of Minden Gross LLP beyond what I have read in the Globe & Mail. However, I did hang around the legal profession for a long time, and I figure that qualifies me to comment.

read more about why law firms get into trouble “Another Law Firm Just Went Down”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Gratitude and The Appreciation Deficit

Cup of Coffee with "Thank You" spelled out in the foam.
Photo by Wewe Yang at Pexels.

“I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.”

~ Will Arnett

The other day I received a private message from a lawyer who I have never met in person. She expressed her appreciation for my contributions to the profession in my retirement and did so in a manner that was warm and sincere. I practically blushed when I read it.  She made my day.

read more about the Appreciation deficit in the legal profession “Gratitude and The Appreciation Deficit”
Categories
The Practice of Law

Be Wrong, Confidently!

Confident looking man.
Photo by Rene Asmussen at Pexels.

I came across a lawyer the other day who makes mistakes in his communications with clients and the other side. None of the errors will likely land him in too much trouble. They may even be excusable based on the theory that spending too much time trying to be ‘perfect’ is unhealthy and expensive for clients who are being billed based on the amount of time spent on the matter. But they are mistakes nonetheless, and they could all be caught with a bit more thought and proof-reading.

read more about how to address criticism “Be Wrong, Confidently!”
Categories
Law Students and Young Lawyers

Living in Different Worlds

The Milky Way.
Photo by Pixabay at Pexels.

I believe that lawyers should not compete based on price. I tell this to my mentees, and sometimes the response is, “that is easy for you to say from a cruise ship in the Pacific. I’m struggling to get files in the door and pay my rent.”

I also think that new lawyers should avoid practicing in areas that have become commodities and are particularly fee sensitive, such as residential real estate. My young friends tell me that they have to get cash in the door and that doing some real estate files is the best way to do it.

read more about the Financial pressures on young lawyers “Living in Different Worlds”
Categories
Work/Life Balance

Money, Money, Money

Currency from several countries including U.S. Dollar and Euros.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska at Pexels.

“I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too.”

Steve Martin

I like money as much as the next guy. Actually, I like money much more than I like the next guy.  

read more about money “Money, Money, Money”
Categories
Legal Tech

My WFH (or WTF) Journey

Woman sitting on bed, drinking from mug, and looking at her computer.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels.

They say that those who do not  learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

When I started practicing law in 1981, I went to the office six days a week. Sometimes six and a half. I never used my computer at the office, mainly because I did not have one.  Nor did anyone else.

read more about My Journey with legal tech “My WFH (or WTF) Journey”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Ordering Off Menu

Couple looking at menus.
Photo by Cottonbro Studio at Pexels.

I like eating out, but I don’t always like what is on the menu. I have been known to explain to the server that I consider a menu to be merely an indication of which ingredients the Chef has in the kitchen, together with samples of some of the ways that they can be assembled. With that information, I often request that they be assembled differently. Lose the beets from the beet salad; lose the feta cheese and replace it with goat cheese; add the spicy pecans from another salad, and so on.

I like to eat a bespoke lunch, and I expect that it may cost me a bespoke price.

read more about when the client is wrong “Ordering Off Menu”