Lawyering Through Life: January 2007

Monday, January 22, 2007

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am officially going to have a job after my clerkship.

This is me letting out possibly the world's largest sigh of relief.

CoupleBabyPalooza

I don’t want to harp on this but the couples’ baby shower was pretty awful. First, it was not in a very good neighborhood. Then, I walked in and no one really noticed. I scanned the room for the guests of honor but was received with a room full of blank stares. Finally, Father to Be noticed me and came over. We were in the midst of a quick hug, when the Hostess (well, I deduced she was the Hostess) finally appeared. She didn’t introduce herself; just started rattling off details of the games I was expected to play. She pointed at a sign in sheet and said I was to sign in and then guess how many diaper bags are stuffed in the sippy cup. Um, okay. I gave her a blank stare which she took to mean I didn’t know what a diaper bag or a sippy cup was. That led her to condescendingly explain both of these items to me. She then pointed me to another game where I was expected to guess what baby related items were wrapped on a table. Oh, I forgot to mention, she grabbed the gift basket I had put together out of my hands rather rudely. I have hosted multiple showers and parties. This girl was such an amateur.

Father to Be then took my coat and brought in downstairs to the so-called coat table. Seriously. They had a round table where coats were just piled on top of each other. That made retrieving mine from the middle of the stack like playing coat jenga. But at the point, I was on my way out the door so it didn’t matter.

Back to Hostess. Father to Be left me standing in a room full of strangers while he deposited my coat. I turned to a guy who happened to be playing “guess the mysterious wrapped package” game. I said, “Wow, you are taking this really seriously. I bet you are going to win!” I don’t think he was happy that I had broken his concentration because he curtly replied, “Well, I have two infants so I should know what all this stuff is.” Um, yeah. Okay. That conversation was officially not going anywhere.

I make my way to the food table and load up on fruit salad and mini quiches. I should mention that I had been out late the night before and let’s just say, my hungover tapeworm wanted nothing to do with fruit salad or mini quiches. I took a seat on the sofa and focused on food. Father to Be came over and sat with me to catch up since it had been quite some time. As we caught up, I learned that his wife had recently found out that if she only returned to work part time after she gave birth, that they would no longer have health insurance. Father to Be had recently started working for himself and they were relying on her job to provide the family with health insurance. I was incredibly confused as to how they only figured all this out about six weeks before her due date but kept that to myself. Instead, I asked how they were planning to deal with this recent development. I mean, I would have been freaking out. No health insurance?? That’s terrifying when you are about to have a baby. I inquired as to whether Mother to Be would then return to work full time even though that was not her choice. Father to Be replied in a rather judgmental tone, “Well, we don’t want to have a daycare baby. We would like to raise our baby ourselves.” Um, okay. Lots of parents want to stay home. Not everyone is financially able to do it. If it works for you, great. But isn’t maintaining health insurance an important factor to consider when weighing your options? I wished them luck in figuring out the solution and offered tips on how I found health insurance when I was between jobs. His response of “Thanks, but we are just hoping it will work” seemed a little laissez faire to me, but what do I know? Apparently, I look like the kind of person who is incredibly confused by a plastic cup with a lid on top.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Success and Sweaters

Last night, the Editrix and I hit the mall to find me a good “I am not having a baby or in a relationship so I am going to look fabulous at a party that celebrates both of those things” outfit.

And we achieved success! Thanks to a major sale at BCBG, I am now the proud owner of soft velvet winter white pants that have a tuxedo stripe down the sides and a steel blue short sleeve sweater. I showed Roommate and her boyfriend upon my arrival home. And he said, “Sweaters have long sleeves, Jersey.” And then turned back to his computer where he continued to read Penn State football stats from the early 1990s. Roommate calmly explained to him that actually “sweater” refers to the material and not to the sleeve length. He tore his eyes away from the computer screen to ponder this for a second and said, “Oh, you are right. I mean, I have a sweater vest and that has no sleeves.” And then again, it was back to the stats.

Boys and fashion. Two things that could really get along well if only one was willing to give the other a chance. Caveat: I realize this statement if tremendously overbroad. Many boys dress very well. Such as the boys who wear dark jeans and corduroy blazers. Love those boys.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Another Saturday!

Another baby shower!! This one is actually a couples baby shower! So babies and couples!! I mean, how fun! Yippee! I think if I keep using exclamation points maybe I will convince myself it will somehow be better than a trip to the dentist!

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

A watched phone...

never rings. Or something. For example, when you are waiting for a boy to call you and you check your phone obsessively and sometimes you call it to make sure it is still receiving calls and then when you do call it and hear it ring, you forget you are the one calling it, and get excited but then you remember and the realization that yes, your phone works, but no, it was not Him calling is just too much to bear? Or I am alone on this one? Well, you can all deny it but everyone sits on the edge of their seat waiting for that phone to ring with good news. Maybe a job offer? Yep, currently staring at my phone and barely doing any work and waiting for the damn thing to ring. My optimism is wearing off and in its place, rapidly rising despair at having to keep looking for jobs. I applied to other two firms in an attempt to trick the place I really want to work at to hire me. You know, how you desperately want one guy to call, so you go out and try and meet another one who does actually call, but then you don't really like him and are really still waiting for the first one to call? Okay, only me again? Sheesh.

Really, between waiting for the phone to ring and mourning the loss of Curtis, this day is a bit much. I did contribute somewhat to the good of the country when I mailed a guy a copy of his divorce decree that was entered. This was a guy whose girlfriend used to call the courthouse and ask for a case update. I had told him over the phone that the order was entered but his girlfriend was in the back saying "I want to see the paper!"

I should be offering to help other law clerks but after being here most of the weekend, I think I will just leave at 5:00 p.m. today. For the first time in a VERY long time.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Genius

So, who's the genius who scheduled a session with her trainer at 6:30 a.m. on a morning SHE HAS OFF FROM WORK?? Yep, that's me. I got up at 5:30 today after having a hard time falling asleep last night because of the post 24 premiere frenzy. Last night's premiere was excellent. Violent though. Kiefer's acting skills were tested as he was expected to not just be a bad a** but also a mentally and physically tortured shell of his former self. The slumped shoulders, the barely audible whisper of "Audrey", the jumpy but still alert reflexes... all I can say is well played, Kiefer, well played.

I always thought Jack resembled a MacGyver for our generation. Jack obviously has better toys but he had that same MacGyver knack to escape from any situation. Last night though he was really tested. Last night, as he sunk his teeth into a terrorist, he established himself as the most bad a** guy in the history of television. Literally. He bit someone. Jack Bauer The Vampire. No, I don't think the writers are pursuing a storyline where the Chinese turned Jack into a vampire who now sinks his fangs into CTU agents to get them to give up their super cool GPS devices that have batteries that never die. I think the bite was more to show us just how committed Jack Bauer is to living to fight another day to save the country. He is willing to taste flesh for the chance to save lives. That is one committed but hanging on by a thread bad a** mother f*cker.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Seriously

Who gets home from one baby shower only to sort her mail and find an invitation to yet another baby shower?

Maybe it is because I give great gifts. In Saturday's case, a basket full of crib bedding and a stuffed pink lamb. All tied up together with a huge white bow. Clearly the best looking gift received by the mother to be.

Note to self: start giving crappy gifts. Maybe this will cut down on the weddings/showers/parties to which I am invited.

No news yet on the job front. I did email the recruiting coordinator and asked her if she thought I would need to come in and meet with Mr. BigWig since he was sick. She responded almost immediately saying that the partner I met with last time did not think it was necessary for me to meet Mr. BigWig before they made a final decision. And that she hoped to let me know something soon. That sounds pretty positive, right? I know the partners had a big weekend retreat thing this weekend so I didn't expect to hear last week. But, I sure would like to hear this week.

I went to dinner last night with two friends I used to work with in the pre-law school days. V asked me how the love life was progressing and I rolled my eyes and said how it was rather hard to meet guys. She said she was friends with an attractive, single, and tall guy if I was interested in meeting him. She warned me that she had tried to set him up with girls before but he was rather awkward and it hadn't worked out. Across the table from V and myself was my good friend, D, who is the one I called after the values debacle last year. He is intimately familiar with my dating woes. I was mulling over "tall" and "attractive" and "really awkward" when before I could respond, D broke my train of thought by stating rather emphatically to V, "Set it up." He said exactly what I was thinking "Tall and awkward is perfect for Jersey. I mean, Seriously. Just set it up."

The mojito-induced side of me started to get insulted but then I just sat back against the booth, smiled at D, and said "Yep, tall and awkward sounds pretty perfect."

Friday, January 12, 2007

Lee Jackson Day

Today, I am at work but in jeans and a t-shirt because the courthouse is closed in honor of Lee Jackson Day. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I was pumped to have a day off. Granted, I am at work right now, but I am in jeans, playing Dave Matthews on my computer and blogging for goodness sakes.

But Lee Jackson Day? I wasn't aware of such a holiday. So, I did a little research courtesy of Wikipedia. Below is what I found:

Lee-Jackson-King Day was a holiday celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1984 to 2000.

Robert E. Lee's birthday (January 19, 1807) has been celebrated as a Virginia holiday since 1889. In 1904, the legislature added the birthday of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824) to the holiday, and Lee-Jackson Day was born.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan approved an Act of Congress declaring January 15 to be a national holiday in honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Since 1978, Virginia had celebrated King's birthday in conjunction with New Year's Day. To align with the federal holiday, the Virginia legislature simply combined King's celebration with the existing Lee-Jackson holiday.

The incongruous nature of the holiday, which simultaneously celebrated the lives of Confederate generals and a civil rights icon, did not escape the notice of Virginia lawmakers. Legislators protested the holiday by waving pictures of Jesse Jackson, Spike Lee, and Martin Luther King, Jr. around the state capitol. In 2000, Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore proposed splitting Lee-Jackson-King Day into two separate holidays, with Lee-Jackson Day to be celebrated the Friday before what would become Martin Luther King Day. The measure was approved and the two holidays are now celebrated separately.

Really? The three men were celebrated together until 2000? That's seem...I don't know, a little recent? And what I was told that while Governor Gilmore "proposed" the splitting of the holiday, it was actually the federal government threatening to withhold highway funding from the Commonwealth unless the split was accomplished. I can't confirm whether that is indeed true, so take it as the gossip it may very well be.

I approve the split for the obvious reason that the combination was a little odd but also because two days off from work are better than one.

And what is better than a four day weekend? A four day weekend with two nights dedicated to Jack Bauer, you say? That's right! Jack is back this Sunday night. The 24 parties will resume Sunday night at the Editrix's house and then I am hosting on Monday. Sweet potato gnocchi for everyone! Including Jack. From the previews, it looks like he could use a good meal.

24 will most likely be the highlight of my weekend. I have a baby shower, dinner out for Restaurant Week, drinks at a new bar tonight...all acceptable weekend plans. All of these plans will be done while STILL WEARING MY GLASSES. I went back to the eye doctor today and not only are they no closer to identifying the source of my problem, my eyes are barely closer to be ready for contacts. I would get a second opinion but this one has drained my bank account so, I just can't afford to go to another doctor.

Allright enough whining. I have the day off. Glass is half full. Even I can barely see the glass through my still infected and no longer bright blue eyes.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Rules

I went to lunch with some of my co-workers today and over lettuce wraps at P.F. Chang's, my single friend shared some of the rules that she has adopted in her dating life.

1) Her first initial is P, her middle is M, and therefore, she refuses to marry a man whose last name begins with S. At first, I was puzzled until she explained that she would not, nor could not, live with a monogram of PMS.
2) She believes women should move up in the alphabet when they marry and take their husband's last name. As her last name begins with a "M", she is currently seeking out men in the A-L bracket.
3) She does not want to marry a man with bad debt. She is okay with good debt as she is a lawyer with a fair amount of law school loans. But she draws the line at bad debt. Which lead us to debate the distinction between bad and good debt. Is it the amount of debt that concerns her? Because that would knock out quite a few attorneys, doctors, and others who went to expensive schools. Or is the focus on the nature of debt? As in a guy shows up at your door looking for your husband, slamming his fists together and talking about taking your husband for a ride? After much clarification, we settled on education/property debt: good. Gambling/possible Mob connected debt: bad.

Rules to live by, my friends.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

I was this close to leaving...

When I stopped by my Judge's office to drop off a few more orders for him to sign. I hear "Oh, good you are still here" and slowly turn around. When your boss is glad to see you at work after hours...well, that's just not a good sign. I am now reviewing First Amendment case law that is perplexing even to my brilliant Judge. My printer is heading into overdrive as it spits out cases and I've untucked the interview shirt to hunker down for a few more quality hours of work.

And to think that I was asked today at lunch if I had a problem working late!!

Thoughts on Round 2

After Round 1, I knew I was going back for a Round 2. After today...I just can't quite tell. When I showed up, I was told that the first person I was supposed to meet was sick and I was meeting with someone else instead. I felt immediately thrown for a loop and was instantly disappointed. The first person I was to meet with was the BigWig, the guy who makes the final hiring decisions. He is the top litigation partner in the office and he is home sick! Boohoo. Instead, I met with a corporate partner, who announced that she hadn't read my resume, she didn't understand why I couldn't start till August, she didn't know anything about the litigation group (by her own admission, she told me to only ask general questions and even then her answers may not be *right* because she doesn't litigate), and then left before my time with her was up, which meant I was alone in a huge conference room for about seven minutes. Seven lonely minutes as I sat there wondering if this was a waste of my time and I would never get hired here and maybe they just interviewed me to be nice and curry favors from my judge, and if it is the latter, boy, are they unlucky, because my judge is not easily impressed nor is he swayed by such flattery....all these thoughts raced through my head as I waited for the second partner to come into the conference room. I thought I was sunk because the second partner seemed very intimidating in his picture on the firm website and used to be a federal prosecutor and frankly anyone who has worked for the Man makes me shaky....

But, I recovered and actually had a great conversation with partner #2. He is a huge proponent of state court clerkships and we talked in detail about the volunteer work I do with refugees because his nephew is a refugee. Then it was off to lunch with two female associates whose role apparently was to sell me on the firm. Since I am already pretty much sold, their work was easy and we had a nice lunch. So, now I wait. Waiting is the worst part! I have a feeling I will have to go back before they would make me an offer (provided that they are inclined at this point to make me an offer) because I didn't meet with the BigWig. Argh argh.

Wish me luck! And more importantly patience. I don't want to seem desperate and scare off this potential suitor. Once my thank you notes are mailed, all I can really do is wait.

As an added bonus, the office is right next to a mall. And across the street from another mall. Every possible clothing and shoe store my heart desires is within a stone's throw on the office. Definitely would be disastrous.

Monday, January 08, 2007

My mistakes

I am very aware of the mistakes that I have made in my relationships. I own my mistakes, I am one with my mistakes, I completely get my mistakes. Because my mistakes have caused me so much pain, I wish my mistakes could prevent others from experiencing such pain. Yes, my mistakes are worth the lessons I have learned, why shouldn't others learn those same lessons, at my expense and not have to endure it themselves?

Remember Charlotte? Sweet, happy, ready to be married with child Charlotte. Charlotte who feel hard and fast for a boy who was in her words absolutely perfect. Yes, he is a little young, and *gasp*, he is a Yankee, but absolutely perfect apart from those. Fast forward a few months and I discover that Absolutely Perfect Yankee has broken Charlotte's heart by abruptly announcing the end of their seven month relationship over the phone as she drove home from the airport. Red and I immediately drove down to NC the first chance we had and comforted her with some hugs, a few well played games of flip cup, and of course, a healthy dose of Stoli Vanilla poured into her diet coke during a football game. She had a rough few weeks but was making it through as best she could. APY had a case of dumper's remorse, however, and showed up at her door with two tickets to Miami for the Orange Bowl and a retraction of his previous freak out. Charlotte has taken him back, hesitantly at first, but after my conversation with her last night, it seems they are back on, full force. APY is looking for jobs outside the area, however, and Charlotte, although she won't admit it, is contemplating leaving a city she loves to follow him if he leaves town.

The part of me that has been burned in the past desperately bit her tongue during our conversation. If there is one thing that I've learned from my mistakes, it is that my mistakes cannot teach others the lessons they have taught me. It is not that I want to sing a chorus of "I told you so"s to Charlotte, but I just want to shake her and warn her of the path she is heading. And that only heartache awaits her. APY is not the guy for her - she doesn't want a guy who makes s*xual innuendso to her friends, or tells her friends that he doesn't care if he gets to know them, or blows off her parents for lunch because he "doesn't feel like going."

Sigh. But all one can really do is keep her mouth shut. As friends, we comfort, give advice, and provide support. We don't dictate life decisions and we most certainly don't judge lest we ourselves be judge. I took TH back with reckless abandon and look where it got me. But I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't done that. And while I am not 100% happy all the time, I like the person I am today. Even if that person is no longer as innocent and is a little bit more jaded.

Maybe I will be wrong. Maybe APY is actually an absoutely perfect yankee who made one mistake and really is the guy for Charlotte. Even as I type that I don't believe that. I do believe that along the way, I will listen and nod and be there if it falls apart again. Because as friends that is all we can do.

And plus an absolutely perfect yankee? There is no such thing. Unless of course we were talking about me.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Can you feel the love tonight?

I was reviewing a particularly nasty divorce file on Thursday in preparation for the docket. In discovery, couples going through a divorce submit requests for information to each other to help prepare their respective cases. In the case before me, the Wife asked the Husband to list what he thought were her contributions to the marriage over their two year marriage.

Below is Husband’s exact reply:

1) She did her own laundry.
2) She found us some good bookshelves back in 2004.
3) She took me to the metro once.
4) She cooked five tasty and/or edible meals during the course of the marriage.

What’s that saying about never asking a question you don’t want to know the answer to? Yeah, I think it applies here.

Thursday night was the annual law clerk/judge holiday party. All of the former law clerks are invited and there is a competition complete with a crown for the judge who is able to cajole, persuade, and in some cases, threaten the most law clerks to attend. Judge Socially Awkward was this year’s champion. AGAIN. My judge’s law clerks put in a respectable showing but it was no match for Judge SA. I call him Judge SA because well, he just is so awkward. His law clerk was out sick one day and she emailed him to say she forgot to do something. His reply? "You've been a very bad girl, Law Clerk." Weird, right? Like maybe creepy old man scolding a young girl is not okay?

As one of the current law clerks was thanking everyone for coming, my judge yelled out, “We are glad to have you here as long as you’ve finished the docket for tomorrow!” Yeah, that’s my boss. Although he did compliment me to some of the former law clerks. Well, he told them I was overworked. Not “She’s overworked but handling it so well” Or even “She’s overworked but I appreciate everything.” Just “she’s overworked.” I was told by those who heard him talking that it was meant as a compliment and really with my Judge, I should take that as one. He is not into a whole lot of praise, or even gratitude. I am expected to do everything I do. And normally, I do everything with a smile. But occasionally, when other law clerks skip out early or drop the ball and I am left to answer for it, my patience is tried. I am trying not to let that happen though. Because this is the greatest job and I know I will miss it terribly when I am gone. So, I am going to try and reign in my work whining. Anyone want to take bets as to how long that lasts?

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Just what I needed...

Email just sent to me by WorkDawg who is currently studying for the Bar Exam:

I am taking a break from the wonders of studying Sales to remind you that you will have many dockets during the remainder of your time as a clerk, but WF will only play in one Bowl game. If you haven't done so already, please shut down your computer immediately, get yourself to a television, and have a frosty malted beverage.

GO DEACS!!!

A little of both

Current Grievances:

1) An entire complaint typed in capital letters. Completely unnecessary. Capital letters are reserved for yelling and Owen Meany. Describing the details of a car wreck does not require such em-pha-sis.
2) Exclamation points used in a lame attempt to drive home a legal argument. Plaintiff does not state a cause of action! Defendant’s characterization of the argument is inaccurate! Is the attorney cheering for something? Expressing outrage? Or perhaps joy? Really, the exclamation points are perplexing.
3) One of the fifteen judges was just forced to retire because of Virginia’s mandatory retirement age for judges. His law clerk practically skipped by my office today around 3:00 pm and gloated, “I don’t have a judge so I might as well leave!” Or see if other people need help. People that will most likely have to miss the single most exciting football game in a certain school’s history. Ok, maybe it won’t be the most exciting football game as most commentators heavily favor Louisville. But still. A historic game? Most definitely. A once in a lifetime game? Perhaps.
4) The fact that I am missing the Orange Bowl. Or if I get to watch it at all, it will be by myself at my apartment. Rather sad way to spend such a historic occasion, don’t you think?

BUT the following things make me happy:

1) This Thursday night I will be reunited with my very fun former co-workers. We will sit at a table and gossip over beers. I absolutely cannot wait.
2) The big fancy firm called to set up Round 2 of interviews. Very exciting stuff. Especially since I had an awful dream on Sunday night that Round 2 took place at a bar and was a complete disaster.
3) My funny friend KS accidentally copied me on an email to her friend who happens to be hot. She called to apologize but I am hoping that the accidental email snafu finally gives me the courage to make eye contact rather than hide behind my files whenever I see him around the courthouse.

Well, it appears that grievances currently outweigh the non-grievances. But not by much! I hope that shows those who wish I would be more cheerful that I am indeed trying.

Monday, January 01, 2007

New Year's Eve was...

Pretty uneventful. I made a delicious four course meal for some friends, threw back a good number of Jack and cokes, and was clearly the best dressed girl at the entire bar. Ok, maybe not BEST, but women at the bar actually went out of their way to compliment on my skirt. I looked…well, I looked good. In my opinion. Classy gold skirt, cream sweater with gold sequins and gold heels. Very festive.

Apart from my fascination with my outfit, I don’t have much else to report. I was out with two co-workers, one of whom met a very nice boy that she is going out with this week. Which actually worked out great for all of us because we needed the protection. I am a nice girl and if a boy really wants to talk to me, I am never rude or dismissive. I’ve never dropped a fake boyfriend into a conversation. My exit strategy involves a trip to the bar. I know how hard it is to approach someone at a bar and really don’t like to discourage bold moves. But last night my patience was exhausted. Shortly after we arrived at the bar, one of my friends, Colorado, started talking to a guy. His friends, noticing how well his friend was being received, saw the opening and ran with it. Unfortunately, one of the friends was an inappropriate toucher and the other was about five foot three. We were polite and tried to subtly engage in conversation among the two of us to discourage them. We were drunk at this point so I use the term “subtly” lightly. But one of the guys, Argyle Sweater Guy, would just not get the hint. It was awful. We ran into some boys we knew and convinced them to stand around us as a protective shield. But ASG would just not get the hint. He stood patiently outside the human shield and waited. For what, I am not sure. He would not budge. His friends, having long ago recognized that it was not meant to be, kept coming back to try and pull him away. At midnight, we all clinked glasses and out of the corner of my eye, I observed ASG. He had his glass in the air but was toasting no one. A New Year’s Eve kiss may have eluded me but I was with friends and felt extremely lucky to have another glass to clink.

I think my New Year’s resolution should be to accept the fact that I am a single girl, instead of wishing so desperately to NOT be single.

Snap, snap

So, Friday was the last business day of 2006. And at the courthouse, that means one thing: Divorces! Every divorce decree in the building needed to be reviewed, modified, possibly subject to interlineations, and signed by the end of the day. My Judge, being a former divorce attorney, represented to the area’s domestic relations attorneys that the courthouse staff would do everything possible to get every divorce signed. Translate that into law clerk speak: Wednesday through Friday were hellish. I think I spoke with an attorney at every domestic relations firm in the area. I took divorces away from other law clerks because my Judge constantly reminded me how important it was to have everything signed. My Judge got off the bench on Friday around 12:45 p.m. I had taken a quick break to scarf down a salad and was heading back to the command center I had set up in the conference room when my Judge stopped me. My office just did not provide me with the space I needed. I had the Virginia Code opened to Title 20, post-its, “sign here” flags, green dots (don’t ask), checklists, and disposition sheets.

Judge told me that he had signed all of the orders in his office. He asked how many I had left for him to sign. I replied that I had about four more to go through and then I needed to check downstairs one more time to make sure that no more had come in that day. (As an aside, all he has to do is sign the order. I have to read the depositions, the complaint, check for service, check for certain statutory “buzzwords”…it is a bit of a process. He signs them. Oh, and dates them.) His response to what was an informative statement without annoyance or attitude completely caught me by surprise and quite frankly, almost got him decked. Rather than say anything, he just snapped his fingers at me. As if to say “Chop, chop.” Or maybe “Move it along.” Or possibly “Come here, girl and I will give you a treat.”

Am I a law clerk or his dog? For a few minutes, as I stared at him in utter disbelief, I was unclear.

Lawyering Through Life