The League of Rogue Barristers - Chicago Chapter

The Death of the Lunch

I was recently invited to lunch by several partners.  As this was the first time I’ve been invited to lunch by someone other then my “mentor.” Being hungry, I immediately said yes. When we arrived, we waited to be joined by other attorneys from another law firm. This was a business lunch devoted to building relationships, talking shit, and getting possible insights in to future business.

One of the lawyers in the group mentioned that it was rare for “attorneys to have lunch.” He said he use to remember the times where, even members of the same firm, went out together for two hour long lunches. After catching my glare, he quickly realized that the pressures of the billable hour were to blame. For associates, who regularly stay until seven, that one hour lunch must now stay until eight to account for that hour. As more law firms are being turned into businesses, with worries about the bottom line, these pressures affect partners as well. 

If we don’t have lunch, how are we going to build those relationships, talk the shit, and get business?

*Prophet

 

Cutting Edge or Unethical?

Assuming you've read the previous two posts on this blog, you're probably well aware of the controversy involving one law firm's questionable advertisement this past week.

As a lawyer who practices in the family law field, I happen to know both of the partners at the firm in question.  Kelly Garland is generally considered a nice person, although she can be a bulldog in the courtroom.  Nothing wrong there.  Corri Fetman, on the other hand, has been described by many fellow divorce attorneys as a tramp, a legal call-girl, sleazy, deceitful, and innapropriate, respectively.

I myself recall the first time I saw Ms. Fetman in court.  She walked in with knee-high, black go-go boots; fishnet stockings; a (I'm not making this up, I swear) very short miniskirt in a rattlesnake skin pattern, and a blouse open almost all the way to her waist.  Now bear in mind that Ms. Fetman has, ah, "invested" in her physical appearance--in a Beverly Hills sort of way, mind you.  She also has a wild mane of obviously chemical blond hair.  Needless to say, I remember it well.  She represents primarily men, and has a strategy where she advises them to move to Cook County, Illinois several months before filing for divorce, as Cook County is far less likely to give wives maintenance (alimony) for a long period of time.  She is generally considered nasty to deal with, sort of like a female David Grund, and will fight you over every single detail; to the point of throwing her client's money down the drain.

But back to the billboard/banner:  Is it permissable?  What rules of professional conduct does it violate, if any?  If it does, what should their punishment be?

The general consensus in my legal peer group is that it makes lawyers everywhere, especially divorce lawyers, look bad.  My peers seem to think that Ms. Fetman is the 1% of divorce lawyers that ruin it for the rest of us in the eyes of the public.  By attempting to encourage divorce, Ms. Fetman has completely gone against the public policy of the State of Illinois, which is to discourage divorce.  But is this sanctionable conduct?

What are your thoughts?  Discuss...

Life's Short - UPDATE

Life's short... and apparently so to is the amount of time you can display a racy ad in downtown Chicago.

CNN ("its not news... its CNN") is reporting that the billboard suggesting that couples should carpe diem has been stripped from its perch, which overlooked the section of town known as the "Viagra Triangle."

My favorite line from the article:

A city alderman who lives nearby found a technical reason to jettison the sign.

"I called the building inspector and told him to do his job and he did," said Alderman Burton Natarus.

I guess that's the power of being an alderman. You don't have to bribe the building inspector, you just have to call him.

* Prophet

Life's Short.

Well the grass is always greener...

How come your firm does not do racy ads like this, JD?  From some of the stories you told me, it seems like they have plenty of material and some real life experience.

Stemming from a more memorable story, how about:

"Not only will we debrief ________, but we will also cause a chain reaction that will result in  ________."

"We win 'cause I've seen ___________ naked."

I'll let JD fill in the blanks, if he feels its appropriate.

Of course, not everyone agrees with this marketing tactic.

* Prophet

Subjects of No One

A little perspective as the queen of England finishes her trip to our Country.  Never forget why and how this Nation was founded.

Why People Hate Lawyers

A Washington, DC, judge is suing a drycleaners for $65 million for losing his favorite pair of pants.  No word yet on whether said pants were made of golden fleece.