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Slyfrog, one other thought. Have you considered finding a counselor/psychiatrist/mental health professional? It sounds like you've got two groups of problems: one, that your work is boring and uninteresting; and, two, that you're getting really stressed and anxious about making any mistakes. Your comments about your home life suggest it's the second group that's been causing more problems outside of work, and as you recognize, it's the problem that'll be harder to address if you switch jobs or move into a new legal focus. I had some anxiety difficulties in undergrad, and spending even six months with a psychiatrist, meeting once a week, really made a difference.
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Aug 23, 2012 16:03
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entris posted:Hobson's comment probably doesn't trigger 8.02(a), but am I the only attorney who thinks that practicing attorneys should not publicly criticize judges (even if the judges are being stupid)? I think its unseemly to publicly criticize a judge or court. Maybe I'm just prudish, I dunno. Counterpoint: Justices Thomas and Scalia.
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Aug 23, 2012 16:23
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entris posted:http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/23/us/texas-judge-warning/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 In less extreme situations, publicly calling out a judge doesn't make sense from a practical standpoint, so such actions are usually self-limiting. As cathartic as a point-by-point public refuation/bitchslap of my court's results-oriented jurisprudence would be, it wouldn't do my current or future clients any good. On the other hand, one of the hardest things to teach new attorneys is that showing a judge proper respect does not mean allowing yourself to be bullied by him/her, particulatly when it's to your client's detriment. Polite always, doormat never; even when the judge yells at you for being unprofessional when you politely and tactfully insist that he/she follow the law. Chucklehead wasn't acting in a judicial capacity, but as the head of the county emergency planning committee. Chucklehead probably wishes nobody knew he was a judge, because of Canons 1, 2 and 4 of the TX Code of Judicial Conduct Judges are not gods, or even demi-gods. They are lawyers who, more often than not, have traded proficiency in the law for political connectivity. Yes, the office demands respect; but when the office holder is clearly acting/speaking/behaving outside the bounds of what is acceptable as holder of that office, they effectively abandon their position and lose that mantle of respect. e: MoFauxHawk posted:Legitimate Rape update: My definition was actually printed in the Washington Post! http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...d010_story.html I've now had three attorneys ask me to write up a 'legitimate rape' jury instruction. I referred them to your UD entry. joat mon fucked around with this message at 17:26 on Aug 23, 2012 |
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Aug 23, 2012 17:18
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Never doing criminal law again. gently caress this poo poo.
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Aug 23, 2012 17:26
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joat mon posted:Chucklehead wasn't acting in a judicial capacity, but as the head of the county emergency planning committee. Yeah I was going to say, in Texas this is like, being the mayor of a county. I doubt he ever presides over a court. It's really an executive branch position. Doesn't mean he's not a tool. Here's his job description: code:quote:Function and Duties of the Commissioner's Court I know the guy who has this job in Harris County (Houston area) isn't a lawyer or anything. Dogen fucked around with this message at 17:40 on Aug 23, 2012 |
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Aug 23, 2012 17:30
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Arcturas posted:Slyfrog, one other thought. Have you considered finding a counselor/psychiatrist/mental health professional?
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Aug 23, 2012 17:36
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entris posted:Hobson's comment probably doesn't trigger 8.02(a), but am I the only attorney who thinks that practicing attorneys should not publicly criticize judges (even if the judges are being stupid)? I think its unseemly to publicly criticize a judge or court. Maybe I'm just prudish, I dunno. Christ, what happened to you?
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Aug 23, 2012 17:51
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Well, looks like I get the cancel my vacation because a paralegal stealth inserted some briefs on my taskpad, and just saw fit to ask for a status update on them today (day one of my three day "vacation"), a week and a half after they were due. gently caress everything. Don't go to law school.
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Aug 23, 2012 17:51
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Dantu posted:Well, looks like I get the cancel my vacation because a paralegal stealth inserted some briefs on my taskpad, and just saw fit to ask for a status update on them today (day one of my three day "vacation"), a week and a half after they were due. gently caress everything. Don't go to law school.
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Aug 23, 2012 17:58
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quepasa18 posted:You say you've thought abou teaching, but not as full-time. As one who's made the transition from practice to teaching, I can tell you it's the best thing I've ever done. The stress level is low, it's fulfilling, and I love how I get to start over every semester. Plus, this summer I worked one day a week, which is great if you have a family. The only downside is that your pay would be lower, and it sounds like your wife's spending habits might be an issue there. Although at my school you can teach extra classes for more money, and some make quite a bit extra doing that, especially in the summer. Well, I've thought about teaching as a possibility for a different full time job, but I have not moved to investigate it more (other than looking up several community colleges, looking at job openings, and seeing absolutely nothing). What I was saying in reference to full-time is that I have not thought about teaching part time, because I do not think I currently have the energy to add more hours per week on top of my current job. I assume you have to come up with a curriculum, study the material yourself to refresh your recollection/create a lesson plan, etc. I just cannot currently see myself doing that at 8:00 at night after coming home from work (let alone that it would mean spending even less time with the family, etc.). But I suppose full time would be a possibility. If: (a) the salary was not so low as to not even support a normal middle class existence, recognizing that my wife does not work and does not contribute income; and (b) there were actually stable positions available. Arcturas posted:Slyfrog, one other thought. Have you considered finding a counselor/psychiatrist/mental health professional? It sounds like you've got two groups of problems: one, that your work is boring and uninteresting; and, two, that you're getting really stressed and anxious about making any mistakes. Your comments about your home life suggest it's the second group that's been causing more problems outside of work, and as you recognize, it's the problem that'll be harder to address if you switch jobs or move into a new legal focus. I have thought about it, and tried various things. They didn't seem to have any effect. One of the things with respect to my anxiety; while I'm probably a bit more highstrung than most people, most of my anxiety does seem to come from job pressures. I'm not, for example, the type of person who freaks out over whether I left the stove on, whether I close the garage door, etc. I might be wrong about this, but it seems to be mostly work related (my anxiety drops significantly when I get away from work, but again, alas, no one seems to want to pay me for being away from work). SlyFrog fucked around with this message at 18:04 on Aug 23, 2012 |
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Aug 23, 2012 18:02
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Ani posted:Why would you cancel your vacation for this? Just respond when you're back. It's only three days. Well, once you're a week and a half late (I assume this is a senior associate or partner asking, not the paralegal) "I'll get to it when I get back" is not a good answer.
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Aug 23, 2012 18:02
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SlyFrog posted:Well, I've thought about teaching as a possibility for a different full time job, but I have not moved to investigate it more (other than looking up several community colleges, looking at job openings, and seeing absolutely nothing). Smoke weed every day (seriously)
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Aug 23, 2012 18:09
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BigHead posted:Hey I think it's cool :fistbump: http://www.scribd.com/doc/103482098/U-S-vs-DiCristina-Opinion-08-21-2012 I can assist with questions if there's nothing that doesn't touch on my current job (there shouldn't be much, but just in case)
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Aug 23, 2012 18:10
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Ani posted:Why would you cancel your vacation for this? Just respond when you're back. It's only three days. Good point, they are already late. Plus, getting fired would probably be the best thing that ever happened to me.
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Aug 23, 2012 18:13
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When you say you've tried "various things" what do you mean? Are those self-help techniques, or different therapists/avenues of professional help? There's a world of difference between seeing a medical professional and doing some tricks you find in a self-help book. I'm not saying the self-help things aren't useful (they are for most people, I'm sure), but they aren't a substitute for seeing a professional.
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Aug 23, 2012 18:14
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Arcturas posted:When you say you've tried "various things" what do you mean? Are those self-help techniques, or different therapists/avenues of professional help? There's a world of difference between seeing a medical professional and doing some tricks you find in a self-help book. I'm not saying the self-help things aren't useful (they are for most people, I'm sure), but they aren't a substitute for seeing a professional. All of the above, plus the standard "start working out, start eating better, etc." And when I say start, I mean I got a gym membership and worked out five days a week for nine months. Did the "eat leafy greens" thing. I got into better physical shape (although I was weight/height appropriate before that anyway). But the supposed mental/stress reduction benefits did not manifest. Instead, I just felt like I was adding the annoyance of trying to find a way to stick an hour a day of work-outs/bicycling/various other poo poo into my day. That annoyance didn't go away even after I "stuck with it" month after month. Baruch Obamawitz posted:Smoke weed every day (seriously) I've honestly (though not with any likelihood of doing it) thought about it. I recall something I read or watched once, where John Wooden said that he had a "no marijuana" policy. Then Bill Walton came to UCLA. Wooden made Walton stop smoking weed. Then he realized that Walton was literally so high strung and a wreck without it, that Wooden literally made an exception to his policy for Walton, as basically the one man on the planet he had ever met who probably needed it to stay sane and somewhat normal. SlyFrog fucked around with this message at 18:28 on Aug 23, 2012 |
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Aug 23, 2012 18:26
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Adar posted:http://www.scribd.com/doc/103482098/U-S-vs-DiCristina-Opinion-08-21-2012 Oh god, anytime the rule of lenity is invoked is just asking to be overturned.
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Aug 23, 2012 18:46
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CaptainScraps posted:Never doing criminal law again. gently caress this poo poo. Do go on. 
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Aug 23, 2012 19:02
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CmdrSmirnoff posted:Do go on. Another attorney flips me a ridiculous assault case he signed up. "Where's the money?" I ask. "She's good for it." Fine. I drive an hour. I get a good deal. I tell her all she has to do is pay a fine and pay me. She then proceeds to duck all phone calls and does not pay me and does not pay her loving fine. "gently caress her," I think and write it off. Then last night I get a teary phone call about some sob story. So now my rear end is in court telling the prosecutor that my client is "a loving idiot" and needs more time because I'm a big sissy and will apparently take it in the own rear end for $400. Which I haven't been paid. Family law is WAY better.
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Aug 23, 2012 19:20
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 So Guile had the opportunity to see this video before trial, and despite how incriminating it was he refused to take a plea deal because hey, you never know. In about half an hour, after he is convicted of felony vandalism (his third strike), he will be dragged from the courtroom screaming at his "public pretender" for not getting him a better deal in the first place. Y'know, one he woulda taken.
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Aug 23, 2012 19:57
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SlyFrog posted:Well, I've thought about teaching as a possibility for a different full time job, but I have not moved to investigate it more (other than looking up several community colleges, looking at job openings, and seeing absolutely nothing). It will vary some from school to school. But we give our adjuncts a complete course to work with -- syllabus, assignments, exams, and other materials. They never ever have to develop anything themselves, although of course many do add things. So don't let that scare you.
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Aug 23, 2012 20:11
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SlyFrog posted:Ok, wall of way too personal text coming up: qwertyman posted:I will say that it's significantly easier to find a new job while you currently have a job than it is to find a job while you're unemployed. You've got savings, no debt and you own your house. If you want to make a change you have as much or more ability to do so than almost anyone in this thread. I'd been out of law school just shy of ten years when I made a scary change from OK pay in a job I hated to crappy pay in a job I loved. I didn't (and still don't) have no debt or own our house or have savings greater than enough for one small emergency. Scary? Yes. Did things suck at times? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. You're either 40 or pushing it. Do you want to feel like this when you're 60? SlyFrog posted:meaning I can't make the decision to go off the grid and wear discarded burlap sacks for clothing.  (currently putting one on a work/storage shed) srsly posted:
From last week: Domestic A&B by strangulation. Guy has priors, so range is 3-life. There are audiotapes from him calling g/f on the jail phone saying (literally) "Im sorry I strangled you." Offer is 3, but hey, you never know. The jury gave him 20.
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Aug 23, 2012 20:25
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Sly, are you sure it's the law that's bothering you? Sounds like a classic case of mid-life crisis. Go buy a red convertible corvette and party at clubs where you are 20+ years older than everyone else. You'll have the sudden realization that your job and life were awesome.... but will you be able to mend fences with those that you hurt? The movies say yes.
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Aug 23, 2012 20:28
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CaptainScraps posted:Another attorney flips me a ridiculous assault case he signed up. "Where's the money?" I ask. "She's good for it." Fine. I drive an hour. I get a good deal. I tell her all she has to do is pay a fine and pay me. "15 bucks, little man, put that poo poo in my hand. If that money doesn't show then you owe me owe me owe. My jungle love. Oh e oh e oh. I think I wanna know ya know ya ... yeah, what. "
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Aug 23, 2012 20:32
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CaptainScraps posted:Another attorney flips me a ridiculous assault case he signed up. "Where's the money?" I ask. "She's good for it." Fine. I drive an hour. I get a good deal. I tell her all she has to do is pay a fine and pay me. Clients can be lying cheapskates regardless of the practice area. Here's a tip for avoiding this in the future that you have to learn the hard way: ALWAYS GET THE MONEY UP FRONT. And never listen to any other attorney who says the potential client is "good for it." Nine times out of ten, if the client is good for it, they're taking the case.
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Aug 23, 2012 20:35
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Stunt Rock posted:Clients can be lying cheapskates regardless of the practice area. Here's a tip for avoiding this in the future that you have to learn the hard way: I know, I know. Family law cases I can hold hostage for payment plans. Crim not so much. But you don't tell your regular referral source to come back with money in hand.
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Aug 23, 2012 20:41
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CaptainScraps posted:I know, I know. Family law cases I can hold hostage for payment plans. Crim not so much. A wise old lawyer once told me: "Bad news costs money. Good news costs more." I don't know how it is down there, but here if the client is out of custody I'm dragging that poo poo out until there's cash in my hand. Don't even tell them there's a deal, tell them there's a chance for a good deal but you need to hammer out some issues. Then get paid. Then go to court.
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Aug 23, 2012 22:08
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Stunt Rock posted:ALWAYS GET THE MONEY UP FRONT.
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Aug 23, 2012 22:17
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Soothing Vapors posted:Basically, if it's true in drug deals, it's true in law As is said in Goodfellas, "gently caress you, pay me"
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Aug 23, 2012 23:02
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joat mon posted:You've got enough wiggle room in your schedule to go to the gym and you're not tied to a desk all day. Make your new hobby 'finding a job I don't hate.' That's pretty much what I'm trying to do. Or trying to figure out how to make this one better. Unfortunately, I haven't found either yet. joat mon posted:You've got savings, no debt and you own your house. If you want to make a change you have as much or more ability to do so than almost anyone in this thread. Of course I don't want to feel this way at 60. I also don't want to make a change, find out it didn't help, and feel this way at 60 making a shitload less money. Change isn't necessarily the problem. It's finding change that improves the situation that is the difficulty. In objective ways, I recognize that it's like I have a winning lottery ticket here. That is making it mentally more difficult for me to take a shot at an unsure thing, because if I take that shot and it sucks, I know I'm not getting this lottery ticket back. I fully recognize that part of this is a decisiveness problem, of wanting to have a sure thing, and that the world doesn't necessarily deal in sure things. Roger_Mudd posted:Sly, are you sure it's the law that's bothering you? Sounds like a classic case of mid-life crisis. Actually, I've thought that might be the case. That's the problem with headcase poo poo - it can be hard to figure out if it really is something to remedy (because you're unsuited for your profession long term), or something you should ride out. You say things like, "I was never really actually happy doing this," but you don't know if that's the case, or just a rationalization your stupid brain is making to get you to go buy a convertible. SlyFrog fucked around with this message at 00:29 on Aug 24, 2012 |
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Aug 24, 2012 00:25
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Soothing Vapors posted:Basically, if it's true in drug deals, it's true in law https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgNhSfEy5hA Pretty much sums it all up.
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Aug 24, 2012 01:25
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CaptainScraps posted:I know, I know. Family law cases I can hold hostage for payment plans. Crim not so much. If your regular referral source isn't an overly sensitive ninny he should understand you not wanting to take a case where they can't pay you.
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Aug 24, 2012 01:34
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srsly posted:
I had the exact opposite of this today. Supplemental report upon Deputy Viewing the video from a carjacking: "I reviewed the video and am convinced that the person carjacking the car is not [client]." Of course, complaining witness had already picked D out. Eyewitness id. Thank god this gas station had a quality video camera. Judge suggested that client buy the deputy a drink.
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Aug 24, 2012 02:05
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joat mon posted:I've now had three attorneys ask me to write up a 'legitimate rape' jury instruction. I referred them to your UD entry. Awesome, thank you. And thanks, BigHead and others. MoFauxHawk fucked around with this message at 02:25 on Aug 24, 2012 |
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Aug 24, 2012 02:23
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CaptainScraps posted:Never doing criminal law again. gently caress this poo poo. Yeah not everyone can handle con law
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Aug 24, 2012 03:08
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e: oops, beaten
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Aug 24, 2012 04:11
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Stunt Rock posted:If your regular referral source isn't an overly sensitive ninny he should understand you not wanting to take a case where they can't pay you. Nah I salvaged some money out of it.
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Aug 24, 2012 04:58
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SlyFrog posted:That's pretty much what I'm trying to do. Or trying to figure out how to make this one better. Unfortunately, I haven't found either yet. Do you want to travel the world? Then come join the Foreign Service!. I seriously have a bunch of colleagues who were in every kind of law practice and who just got tired of that life/work/whatever. Now they're doing foreign policy or are spokespeople or have awesome work hours as consular officers and spend their evenings and weekends drinking beers, eating at cafes and exploring the foreign cities where they live. The money is not as good as Biglaw but it is pretty good (and the work is infinitely better). Some countries and cities are nicer than others, but one can make a good time almost anywhere. The lifestyle is awesome, and if you're looking to break out of a rut, you will be able to do that in spades. Remember, nobody was born to be a lawyer, and there is nothing wrong with redefining yourself and moving to a new career. And you'll never be bored! edit: also, your custom title. . . . Business of Ferrets fucked around with this message at 08:55 on Aug 24, 2012 |
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Aug 24, 2012 08:50
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Plus, your law degree will actually come in handy at some point. I've been consulted on adoption fraud, international environmental law, trade related IP, etc. Foreign Service owns. I work 7:30-5, half day on Friday, with any time over that either OT or comp time. The work is stimulating, I get paid decently (certainly not biglaw, but having your housing paid for helps a LOT, if you have kids likely their education is paid for too), and the lifestyle owns like BoF says. Lawyers are common, everything from former solos scraping by to senior partners who wanted a change.
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Aug 24, 2012 14:50
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Uh yeah, the Foreign Service is probably a terrible suggestion for Sly. He has kids and a wife. Working for the Foreign Service, while cool for younger people without kids or a spouse, would probably completely disrupt the lives of his family members. I dunno, maybe they would be up for it? I know my wife would probably be totally into that.
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Aug 24, 2012 15:27
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