Friday, January 06, 2006

Pro Bono Work; and First Client Meeting

It's official. I am volunteering my services at John F. Kennedy University's Elder Law Clinic. After meeting with clinic director Virginia George on Wednesday, I started Thursday and already have two clients. Going forward I will keep two office hours a week on Thursday, and attend team round-tables one or two Saturdays a month.

It's been a long time since I learned how to do anything new, so the first few phone calls at the clinic were very interesting. Yeah, the nerves were going, and I didn't really know what I was doing, but as a brand new attorney doing the estate planning thing on my own, it is great to finally have someone tell me what to do. Virginia has been great so far with tips about how to deal with clients and third parties, but isn't micromanaging.

Working on elder law issues also keeps me focused on why I got into law in the first place - to help people. How can you not want to keep seniors from being taken advantage of or abused? Even with just the two short hours I put in yesterday I left feeling great.

The great feeling carried over into my estate planning practice as well. To get some experience I have selected five or so people in different life situations (single/married, kids/no kids, etc.) and offered a will or trust package for free. Last night I met with the first and we had a great meeting. I was dying for feedback on how I had done, so I was understandably excited with positive feedback that I sounded like I knew what I was talking about.

*****

Just for kicks, I applied to be an apprentice bar exam grader. I should know within a few weeks whether I have been selected for the spring session. Exam grading is hard work - marking up bluebooks three hours a night for six straight weeks - and the money is not great, but what an experience.

*****

COMING SOON: practice management software reviews - I am testing several, and will give my opinions of each.

1 Comments:

At 5:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to burst your bubble, however lawyers don't really help people. The legal system is too corrupt. You can work very hard to represent a client, but if the judge is having a bad day, knows someone who knows someone who is associated with the opposing party, or the other lawyer gets lying witnesses.....you're screwed.

So tell me, where's the justice in that? I've seen it too many times for anyone to tell me it's a coincidence.

If you want to make a difference fight for truth to come back in the justice system instead of it continuing as the red-tape loophole nightmare it is today.

 

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