I just left the legal field - worked for attorneys (at various levels of administrative support) since 1989. My last bosses were so wrapped up in advancing their political and financial-advisor careers that the last thing on their minds was "practicing law" - they left that to inexperienced associates and paralegals... it used to be that attorneys were in it to help people. Now, the almighty dollar is king. Screw the clients, screw the employees, what's in it for them?!?!?!

Don't miss that life!!!

Not many emulate Atticus Finch these days, that's for sure.

I'm not afraid to admit that there are good, honest hard-working attorneys out there. I know there are. Thank God for the EFF and even the ACLU even though I don't always agree with them. Thank heaven for pro bono attorneys and those who defend the poor and indigent.

But then there's ATLA (the American Trial Lawyers Association) who have essentially created a situation such that any politician who attempts to craft legislation preventing tort reform will be politically castrated.

There are some simple things that can be done to fix the lawsuit craze but ATLA who is well represented on Capitol Hill won't hear of it and no one within the legal profession will stand up to them. That, more than anything, is my problem with lawyers. They stand up for each other even when they know they shouldn't.

Neither lawyers nor their clients should not be permitted to share in punative damage awards. Change that and the lawsuit problem will vanish overnight.

I wonder how many lawyers have quit the ATLA for their position and dirty tricks? And how many feel it's not right but won't voice their opinion for fear of censure... open or covert.

I worked with hundreds of lawyers, knew around fifty to seventy at different times.
I could care less if you or Bruce believe me or not.
I did work with a lot of assholes, in no way did I imply that I did not, what I stated was that they were in the minority.
Nor did I state you were one of them. I stated that no one who will ever use the system for their benefit other than to indemnifying themselves can complain about it.

My youngest daughter will soon be entering law school. She wants to specialize in women's issues, but I am working to straighten her out. I think I'll go to humor and post a few lawyer jokes now.

Make no mistake, I know lawyers that are basically decent people, too. But even they occasionally get pissed at someone and almost invariably reach into their legal bag of tricks to respond. Sure, it's what they know best, but it's an imbalance of justice that soils the legal system.

In the lawsuit I was involved in, my lawyer was a saint and the other one was a sleazebag.

Did you miss the humor thread or are you serious?

I'm joking.

About my lawyer being a saint, at least. I hardly know anything about her at all. Their case was so pathetic that she didn't have to do much.

I suspected it was an lawyer joke.
I also suspect those words are uttered more often in all seriousness.

I've been fortunate to have decent lawyers help me thus far. Hopefully, I won't need them too much over the next 60 or so years.

You've got the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus on Speed Dial, don't you?