Cranky as Job Requirement

I think it's either an unspoken job requirement or something that befalls you once you become a court clerk, at least at lower levels, that you're cranky. I called a court clerk this morning because traffic was unholy and I was going to be late (which, if you know anything about me, you know I consider nearly unforgivable), and I started calling at 8:20. The Court opens at 8:30, but I wanted to give them as much forewarning as possible. It's the least I could do for my transgression. So the clerk answered the phone and I started to explain when she cut me off and said "Uh, you know the Court doesn't open until 8:30...wait, hold on, the other line is ringing..." I was as polite as humanly possible because I know how (terrifyingly) much power the clerks have, but seriously? If you don't want to start working until 8:30, don't pick up any of the phones! And I fell all over myself thanking her for taking my call and again when I got there. But do all clerks have to be cranky? This is a common thread I've seen. I know they have a very hard job and most attorneys that they deal with are jack asses. I fully acknowledge this. But it doesn't mean you have to be cranky. Try being sarcastic. Or punchy. Or sugary sweet. That might scare people. I appreciate you and all that you do, believe me. You have saved my tail on more than one occasion. But I've always been grateful and professional. Share that with me, huh?

To Follow or Not to Follow?

As you can see, I started a Twitter stream. I primarily made the decision to start said Twitter stream because the MGM Grand is having a contest for a free night if you tweet your sins. Since most of my sins are work-related and I could really use a free night in Vegas, I thought it was just natural. So I am following the MGM Grand and a friend of mine from law school.

As I am very new to this whole Twitter thing, I'm also fairly unfamiliar with etiquette rules and such. But my law school friend has (probably begrudgingly) followed me, as have two other people I don't know. So my question is this - Am I supposed to "follow" these other two people? I've checked out their streams. But what is the protocol? Any words of wisdom?

Your Twitter in solidarity...

Virtual Office

Thank you to whomever commented! I do adore knowing that people read my blog. I do not have a stat counter because I know that I would be obsessively checking it, seeing who was reading it, seeing who wasn't reading it, and I just think my sanity is better off without one. But comments let me know (1) that people are in fact reading it, and (2) that someone actually cares! So thank you, whomever you are.

I have considered a virtual office. I'm still waiting (and praying) on an offer from this firm. So everyone out there, please send me positive vibes! I'd really like to work there, in addition to, you know, having a guaranteed steady income. It would ease my mind, my bills, and even allow me to either pay down my law school debt or get a place of my own.

So, I made an arrangement with a friend to have my mail sent to his office for a month in exchange for an appearance. It'll work for me. But that company with whom I had leased space has been nothing but hassles. Every single month there was issues. And when I went in today to clean out my office, I had an invoice for next month's rent asking if I was going to renew...even though I gave them notice three months ago that I wasn't going to renew, and again three weeks ago when she called to ask me. They've been unprofessional, have nickle and dimed me to death, and overcharged for everything. And when I asked them about a virtual office for the next month? They told me it would be $269. Yeah, right. To collect my mail? I told them I don't even want them to answer my phone! And he wanted me to sign a lease for 3 months. Thanks, but no thanks.

I'm just tired and have a lot of work to do. And I have a cold or touch of the flu or something and I can't think of a worse time to have it. Anyway, I'm going to rest a bit then get back to work. But thanks again for reading and for your comment!

Office Mess

I didn't renew my office lease, as I am never there, it's outrageously expensive for what it is, and I am praying to get picked up by a local firm in the next month anyway. In the interim, I still need a place for my mail to be delivered that is official and not a PO box - it makes clients nervous and opposing counsel think I'm a punk. In exchange for an appearance on Monday, a friend is letting me use his office address as a mail drop for the next month. Yay! However, I now have to go down to the post office to change my address. Ugh. I tried to do it online, but my credit card address does not match my former office address. So now I have to actually go down there. Great! Just what I wanted to do when I'm sick and trying to finish my reply brief...

Opp Done

So the opposition to MSJ (third one for those counting) is finally done and filed. Yay me! I finished filing it around 10 last night. I was also pleased to see that defendant's motions in limine were struck yesterday because they were improperly filed. However, even though the filing deadline was Friday or Saturday (depending on who you talk to), she decided to alter them and re-file them yesterday anyway even though the judge didn't give leave to re-file. I am really interested to see how the Court handles it. If they aren't struck again (which I hope they are), I am not sure if we will file an opposition and motion to strike or how we'll handle it. Regardless, they're outrageously improper. It takes guts to thumb your nose at the Court's order like that. Ah well. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. That is very in keeping with who she is after all. Either way, my opposition is done and I am really really pleased with the fact that it's done. And it's not so bad if I do say so myself! It should defeat summary judgment, and that's really all that matters.

Oh, Co-Counsel...

I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm grouchy, and my head hurts. A lesson we all need to learn is when to let enough be enough. Just PDF the damn documents and send them to me so I can e-file them with the court so I can go home already. Did I mention tired, hungry, grouchy, and headache?

The Good Fight?

I got some disheartening news in one of my cases. It stung. Bad. No, I didn't lose on one of my MSJ's, but thanks for asking.

We had to tell the client, and it hurt him too. Bad. The simple fact is that it was an unjust outcome. It was wrong. Does that make me or the client feel any better? Nope.

I know the defendant has that same twisted smirk on his face today that he had throughout the whole proceeding. He's smug and arrogant and it kills me. The thing is? I kept telling myself that I have been doing this, all of this, because I'm fighting the good fight. I'm fighting on behalf of those who would otherwise have no voice. I'm on the noble side. But what has it gotten me? Almost nothing.

The process is disturbing, the outcomes are pathetic, and I ask myself what am I killing myself for? What am I working 7 days a week for if I can't even obtain a just outcome? Why am I missing my niece's dance competitions and not going on dates if I can't even move an anthill, let alone a mountain? Is there even such a thing as "the good fight"?