View Full Version : A World Full of Pinheads
Aack!
This has been one of the worst weeks of my life, lately, anyway, and I just need to vent.
First: I may have mentioned here that I have a new part-time job. I research and write pleadings and correspondence for a tax and probate attorney about 10-12 hrs. a week, which is all I can handle. He already had a paralegal who's also his office manager, but she's dying of cancer and so he wanted me to "fill in" when and where she needs time off. After I was hired, he quickly realized that I can't really fill in as an office manager (no skills in that area), but that my research and writing abilities are, ahem, ascendant and shining brightly, shall we say. So for about the last six weeks, he's been using me in the capacity of an associate attorney, except that I don't actually practice law. He's giving me very complicated research and writing projects and I've successfully completed each one. I go in there, I'm friendly but not very talkative to anyone, I have no ego about anything; I do my job and leave. I know I'm the lowest on the totem pole there, even lower than the 19-year-old receptionist because he started before I did, but that doesn't bother me at all. No, I absolutely loved this job - until yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon (which was my birthday and they knew it, but no one even said "happy birthday"), this attorney called me into a conference room and bawled me out. Seems D., his office manager and beloved paralegal, had been telling him stories about me "disrespecting" her. He said, "She's my right-hand person and I will not have you showing her disrespect." I asked for specifics; he said, "I'm not good with specifics." He also said he was used to hiring "green people," not "people with a lot of experience," such as I have. My experience puts me at a downgraded position in the law firm. ("Say wha?") The writing project I completed yesterday afternoon? He said, "This is very good" - and slammed the file shut. Obviously, the office manager has been making up lies...
Also, all this week, a man who'd been coming to our new church and was a friend of mine decided to pick a fight with me over a minor point of doctrine in the new church. As the pastor was on vacation in a far-away state, I replied kindly, I thought, to him. He fired back in purple rage at me - in e-mail after e-mail, sometimes six a day. I countered only with loving replies (as befits the new church, and a real Christian) but still he kept coming. He even wrote to others who've been coming to the new church that I was someone to "beware of." :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Me? I can't believe it! I sometimes do take the verbal gloves off, but it takes an awful lot of provocation for me to do it, and I certainly hadn't done it here. As a result, the minister and his family will be making the 7-hr. round-trip here tomorrow - but no one will be at the service except for our family. :( :( :( :(
This is all unbelievable. And it happened in a week when I was also given the news that my right optic nerve is deteriorating from "biochemotherapy-mediated glaucoma," and I may need surgery on it to keep my sight. My left optic nerve is in similar condition, but not as bad, the doctor said. I have to have a battery of tests soon in downtown Detroit.
Okay: the office manager is dying; I'm trying to "work around that." I've never been anything but relentlessly pleasant to her, but all she ever does is snap at me. I will continue to be relentlessly pleasant to her, but I'd rather not be lied about.
Is this whole world full of four-alarm, flaming, raging pinheads? Or is it only southeastern MI? This is the current work and office world now, isn't it?! :eek: The law office I've been describing is allegedly "full of Christians" (I met this tax attorney at church), but frankly, I've been treated much better in law offices in which I was the only gentile around and literally everyone else there was Jewish. But that was 10 years ago or so...
Plan now: I'm going to give the job a week and if nothing improves, I'm going to give two weeks' notice and find something else. I do not need this c***. Regarding the church: PRAY. Just pray. Either this one person will destroy this thing that I've worked on for a year, or the Lord will save it.
If anyone else has any stories, I'd like to hear them.
Thanks just for reading this, if you've read this far... :cool:
mary
amandaF
01-19-2008, 11:57 PM
Hi Mary :)
I know you don't know me..but Happy Birthday :D
Sorry it wasn't as good a birthday as it could have been!
I think it's great that you're able to vent about all this and I know it couldnt be easy :(
I'm sorry your job has become somewhat upsetting for you and hope that your boss can start to remember specifics for you..that's gotta make things harder and more complicated!
I really am sorry about the Church problem and particularly at a time you really don't need it !!!
I will definately be praying about that situation..but nobody can destroy work that you've done..People can try..but God never allows it in the end!
FoxInSox
01-20-2008, 07:54 AM
Well, Mary, you sure do have it coming at all sides! What a rotten week :mad:
I'm curious to know how your test results come out from the dr. in Detroit. And, what happens at church today.
Love,
~M
Hi Mary,
I'm new here and still finding my way around, so I probably oughta just sit in the back and shut up, but your tale of woe got to me and I wonder if I can offer some encouragement and a couple of ideas. You surely did have a bad week! And you ARE a very good writer. :)
I wonder if you could ask to have a meeting with both the office manager and the lawyer. You could take the approach that you are very sorry to be doing something to offend the office manager, but unless you know more specifically what the problems are, you don't know how to correct them. You could be very humble and low-key and apologize to her and ask her to please work with you so you can make things better. You could explain that you were not aware that you were coming across in a disrespectful manner and would like to see if you can fix the problem.
It could be there's something you don't know about and they're looking for excuses to fire you. This recently happened to someone I know. But even if that is the case, you would be bending over backwards to set a good Christian example and to NOT give them any grounds to fire you.
As for your friend who wants to nitpick church doctrine, if I were you, I think I would duck out of that conversation entirely. He may be looking for reasons not to come back any more. At any rate, he sounds like a troublemaker and divider. Rather than get further smeared, it sounds like maybe the best thing for you to do is maybe tell him that since he finds your explanations offensive, you will refer him to the pastor from now on. And you might want to meet privately with the pastor to explain things from your perspective.
Just a few thoughts from a newcomer. Please take 'em with a grain of salt, and feel free to disregard if they're not helpful. One final thought is, Don't forget to pray for your enemies and for those who persecute you! :)
God bless. Will be praying that this coming week is better!
Judy
FreeinJesus
01-20-2008, 02:29 PM
Dear Mary
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!
I am sorry about your bad experiences you've had lately....I'm starting to wonder if it's a Michigan thingy..:o:p;) Just kiddin'. :p (that was bad of me..:p..)
I do hope that situations can get resolved in a 'civil' manner for you.
Nobody deserves to be treated like a door mat!!
Take care of yourself & don't let 'em get you down.
FIJ
mountain
01-20-2008, 09:50 PM
Aack!
This has been one of the worst weeks of my life, lately, anyway, and I just need to vent.
Plan now: I'm going to give the job a week and if nothing improves, I'm going to give two weeks' notice and find something else. I do not need this c***. Regarding the church: PRAY. Just pray. Either this one person will destroy this thing that I've worked on for a year, or the Lord will save it.
If anyone else has any stories, I'd like to hear them.
Thanks just for reading this, if you've read this far... :cool:
mary
Hang in there Mary... I like your plan... esp letting God determine where your church plans go...
You have displayed a good heart on this forum and I am sure you are being judged harshly...
Do what you can to manage a good outcome... and trust God with the rest...
Blessings to you my friend. My pups eyes are open now...
Happy Birthday :)
mtn
hornblower
01-21-2008, 12:22 AM
bless your heart Mary I hope things will decidedly turn around in the days ahead. I tell you this new year is bringing some real trials to us isnt it? So far for me its been one thing after another and Mary........ I do believe that most people that are walking down here on this planet are not as good as pins to be honest. At least a pin is something i can use once in awhile.
Im going to be praying for you and I surelly do hope things will improve. Sounds like the office manager is scared to death shes fixing to get fired for being ill and shes got the kind of boss that would do that to her too.
Of course this is a law office and lawyers are close to needing to be hung.........sorry if there are lawyers here but I have two of them in my family and I simply dont get their tactics at all. They both seem completely harsh to me.............is crazy a better word?
I love them anyway but well dont get me started.
Then there is the church guy he soiunds like hes a real nut case and they are everywhere..........
Im sorry to say I think things will get much worse for most of us............arent I just the positive thinker?
Ive been keeping this scripture in the fore front lately and I know how a lot of people cant deal with that but I love it where Jesus says in this world you will have tribulation but behold I have overcome the world.
Now I dont know much about the overcoming part...........but peace to you my sister for your suffering because once again you have done no wrong whatsoever your conscience is clear so this one thing has to be true you are suffering for being righteous.
Hurts like all get out I know makes me crazy so I know how mad we can be too........I know Jesus had to feel this way also he was after all human just like us.
So anyway OVERCOME this Jesus............maybe it might not be here maybe it will be there but anyway we know He understands what we feel like when it starts happening.
Mary.............its a beautiful night out........is the moon full where you are like it is here?
Cold though.
I am praying and hoping along with you Mary...........
So sorry Mary for your difficulties.
Ain't life a ***** at times? Sometimes there doesn't seem to be any satisfactory answers to stuff like this.
No wonder we dissassociate at times. Who really wants to deal with these kinds of people in any sane, rational way? It's like throwing your pearls to swine. It looks like a time to exit. And aren't we experienced in what that's like?
When I'm confronted with the crazies, I let my peace return to me. Peace is one of the things I value most. Freedom comes in a close second.
Willow
01-21-2008, 07:55 AM
Hi mary... I really can't come up with any better wisdom that has been already shared here... but wish you the best in your church and employment endeavors. I'm saying a prayer for you this week.
Thanks so much to all of you!!!
You are all worth each of your respective weights in gold and have blessed me richly... AmandaF and Judy: a hearty WELCOME to each of you! :) :) :) I look forward eagerly to getting to know you better!!!
Mountain, Reg: what can I say? Thank you, and God bless you, dear brothers in Christ... (Glad to hear your pups are thriving, Mountain!) FIS and FIJ, oh, thanks, too, and for the birthday wishes as well!!! :) (Actually, I came home from work to a ton of cards in the mail - so that more than made up for everything else...) HB, to think that you'd take time from your considerable troubles to console me... Dear lady!!
FIJ, you're right: rudeness is a Michigan THANG! :cool: ;) :D Except in the U.P., where Jerry is and everything is homespun civility and "the light is always on." Down here in the land of "Day of the Living (spiritually) Dead," i.e., Detroit, it's "dog eat dog." I mean no disrespect to dogs, BTW, in case that can be inferred. :) ;)
We had 7 of us at church yesterday, which was good. Everyone's happy, and when the snowbirds come back from FL, we'll have more. The Lord will either build His church here, with the solid Gospel preaching, or He'll say, "I have fewer than 10 righteous here and I'm going to destroy this place." It won't be with fire and brimstone; it'll be with more churches like, well, the one I was kicked out of in Oct., 2005... :p :rolleyes: :cool:
As to the work situation, I'm a member of the MI State Bar with 25 years experience. This is not "settin' too well" even with my boss, who appeared to have some resentment that I could dash off in an hour a particular type of "pleading of counsel" that will be acceptable to a county register of deeds - one that he'd never even heard of, until the county R.O.D. told him he had to have it to record a deed. (That was Friday's writing assignment; piece of cake for me, but a source of befuddlement for him, and he definitely didn't like that.) I don't think there'd be much point in reasoning or trying to negotiate a peaceable settlement with these people. I'll go in there this afternoon - shortly - and be pleasant, but I might be giving notice sometime this week or next. Maybe give them until Feb. 15... Dirty socks need to be off one's feet... Pearls shouldn't be cast before swine, etc., etc.
Or, as Harrison Ford, masquerading as an Amish man, said in "Witness," "You're making a mistake..." :D :D :D If you're familiar with that movie, you know what I'm talking about...
You guys are all precious counselors and listeners; may you all be blessed richly by the Lord this week, and always.
Love to all,
mary
Jerry
01-21-2008, 01:29 PM
"She's my right-hand person and I will not have you showing her disrespect." I asked for specifics; he said, "I'm not good with specifics."
WHAT !!!!!! ROTFLMAO,,,,,,,,,,I am sure glad he ain't MY lawyer !!! :D Yup it is always difficult when your more qualified than your boss ;) Guess I'll go "Google" "Wrongful Termination" and see what pops up :D Mary you got to admit that is a really funny answer.............."I object !!!! Your Honer,,,,counsel is confusing the issue with a lot of facts!!!! "
Love you Sweetie Jerry
FoxInSox
01-21-2008, 01:43 PM
Jerry,
No kidding! :p
Jerry: Ha!
Thanks, Willow!
The funniest thing about this is that I'm on a "100-hour probation," whereby, because this lawyer knows I took a 30% pay cut from my last job to work for him, I am to be evaluated after 100 hours on this job to see if my boss will reduce my pay cut to just 20% less than I made before... :eek: :D
Now he's coming up with reasons not to do that. I'm getting a bit too close to getting that 100 hours in and a reason must be found. Truth be told, this is, if I can remind myself repeatedly that my "treasure is in heaven," not on earth, hysterically funny. I can hear this coming: "I'm not going to give you that raise that I said you might get after 100 hours on the job because you knew how to write a Register of Deeds attorney affidavit and I didn't. You showed me up and I will not tolerate that." Meanwhile, the clients are happy because their issue is resolved (even though the pleading that I wrote has HIS name on it), he's happy in that he made money (because he charges clients up to $110 an hour for my time - :cool: ), and he gets their repeat business, and probably referrals from them as well. So -- doesn't it logically follow that I should be disciplined for that kind of insubordination?! Only in the world of lawyers... Christian lawyers, that is. Any Jewish or other secular lawyer I've ever worked for would give me the friggin' pay raise... :p :eek: :D
This is where lawyer jokes come from and why there are so many of them. If lawyer jokes didn't exist, God would have to be the first to tell one. There'd be one in Scripture... :D Well, maybe there is: what exactly are "scribes?!"
Years ago, before we decided that we should be spending our discretionary cash on our son's education rather than on any more for me, people used to tell me, "(mary), you really need to go to law school... You'd be a great lawyer." No, I preferred to keep my real skin, even though I sunburn easily, rather than having to grow those green scales... :D :D :D
Sorry. I just have to laugh. This is the way I "deal." If anyone has lawyers in the family or anything, mea culpa... I think I'll keep this job (if they'll keep me on) because I'm sure there'll be more occasions for high hilarity and I wouldn't want to miss them...
mary
Willow
01-22-2008, 06:47 AM
I gotta jump right in there with Jerry... no specifics? What kind of lawyer doesn't have the specifics???
WHAT !!!!!! ROTFLMAO,,,,,,,,,,I am sure glad he ain't MY lawyer !!! :D Yup it is always difficult when your more qualified than your boss ;) Guess I'll go "Google" "Wrongful Termination" and see what pops up :D Mary you got to admit that is a really funny answer.............."I object !!!! Your Honer,,,,counsel is confusing the issue with a lot of facts!!!! "
Love you Sweetie Jerry
Willow
01-22-2008, 06:48 AM
The funniest thing about this is that I'm on a "100-hour probation," whereby, because this lawyer knows I took a 30% pay cut from my last job to work for him, I am to be evaluated after 100 hours on this job to see if my boss will reduce my pay cut to just 20% less than I made before... :eek: :D
Now he's coming up with reasons not to do that.
Sounds like a clear case of greed to me!
FoxInSox
01-22-2008, 08:18 AM
Now he's coming up with reasons not to do that. I'm getting a bit too close to getting that 100 hours in and a reason must be found. Truth be told, this is, if I can remind myself repeatedly that my "treasure is in heaven," not on earth, hysterically funny. I can hear this coming: "I'm not going to give you that raise that I said you might get after 100 hours on the job because you knew how to write a Register of Deeds attorney affidavit and I didn't. You showed me up and I will not tolerate that." Meanwhile, the clients are happy because their issue is resolved (even though the pleading that I wrote has HIS name on it), he's happy in that he made money (because he charges clients up to $110 an hour for my time - ), and he gets their repeat business, and probably referrals from them as well. So -- doesn't it logically follow that I should be disciplined for that kind of insubordination?! Only in the world of lawyers... Christian lawyers, that is. Any Jewish or other secular lawyer I've ever worked for would give me the friggin' pay raise...
...insecurity much...?
Heh, heh, Willow & FIS!
I've walked into a bona-fide loony bin disguised as a distinguished law practice. You should see this place: beautiful, marble-floored foyer, carefully stencilled names on the doors, locally famous clientele - but they're literal apes in suits. :D They even had me fooled, but only for about a week. Now I'm looking around for where they stash their banana peels...
The work I've been given to do is a joy (researching arcane, esoteric points of law and then summarizing the research in memoranda of law, and writing other pleadings and correspondence. It's what I've been doing for 25 years). However, how are these memoranda of law, etc. received? Like this: "So, educate me a little. We're going to have to start at Square One. What is an amenities trust? If you draft it, where do we take it, to a probate judge or who?" (This man has been practicing law for over 35 years...) As I said, all I can do is laugh (to myself, of course).
I have a feeling I'm going to be biting my tongue clear through just about the time that 100 hours elapses... :D :D :D The fun has just begun!
mary
Jerry
01-22-2008, 10:37 AM
We're going to have to start at Square One. What is an amenities trust? If you draft it, where do we take it, to a probate judge or who?"
Hmmmmmm,,,,drawing on my extensive H.S. background,,,,,,,,,,Amenities=a feature that provides comfort,convenience,or pleasure........Gee an "amenities trust" must be an amount of money set aside to provide the same......WOW look at me !!!!!! Yesterday I could not spell "Lawyer" and today I ARE ONE !!!!!!!!! :D :D
Love JerryP.C.
Mary, looks like I didn't quite understand the extent of your experience. Am I right in thinking you're a paralegal? It does sound like you're up against a classic case of jealousy in the law firm, maybe from both the lawyer and his ailing paralegal. It's well-known that the staff often know more than the lawyers, eh? :)
My husband is a lawyer and he is not like other lawyers. And we know plenty of other lawyers with good hearts who are not jerks and not primarily out to get rich. There is something to the suggestion that you could become a lawyer yourself. More good, decent, honest lawyers are needed out there. Just because you become one, that doesn't mean you have to sell your soul and turn evil. :D
Hoping you have a better week this week than last!
Judy
jimsmuse
01-22-2008, 11:26 AM
ahh Mary, you are somethin'!! I love ya! I love the movie "Witness" too so I know of what you speak....'you're making a mistake".....hahahaha!!!
Hi amandaF. welcome sweetie, and Judy too!!
Jerry
01-22-2008, 11:32 AM
Mary, looks like I didn't quite understand the extent of your experience. Am I right in thinking you're a paralegal? It does sound like you're up against a classic case of jealousy in the law firm, maybe from both the lawyer and his ailing paralegal. It's well-known that the staff often know more than the lawyers, eh? :)
My husband is a lawyer and he is not like other lawyers. And we know plenty of other lawyers with good hearts who are not jerks and not primarily out to get rich. There is something to the suggestion that you could become a lawyer yourself. More good, decent, honest lawyers are needed out there. Just because you become one, that doesn't mean you have to sell your soul and turn evil. :D
Hoping you have a better week this week than last!
Judy
Dear Judy,,,
I was on a Multi-County Grand Jury for 2 years conducting Drug Trafficking investigations,and know every lawyer within 100 miles of my home ...The overbalancing majority of them are dedicated diligent upright honorable men....Maybe we should point that out more often between the jokes ;)
Love Jerry
Hey, Judy, yeah: I'm sorry! (Now watch as I slip my size 4-1/2 foot into my oversized mouth... Not a problem. I do it often! :o )
I know there are good lawyers; I've worked for tons of them. (I'm sorry; I knew after I clicked "submit message" that this was yet another mess-up that I'd regret. :( ) I will go even further: some of the nicest people in the world are lawyers, and many of the lawyer jokes out there were thought up by incompetent doctors, cheating husbands, skinflints, extortionists, check-kiters, shoplifters, etc., all of whom were put in their rightful places by the efforts of good plaintiff lawyers, prosecutors, general practitioners and others. About half of my good friends (they won't be reading this, though, because more than half of them are Jewish and wouldn't be on this forum) are lawyers. The man I'm now working for spends a great deal of his time getting the IRS off of people's backs, which is an undeniably worthy, honorable practice in and of itself.
I've got two degrees: a bachelor of arts in history from a Jesuit university and a bachelor of science in legal administration from another university. The B.A. equipped me to ask people whether they wanted "fries with that," so I got the second degree. Early on, it became pretty obvious that I had no secretarial skills (unfortunate), but that I could do some fairly mean (sometimes literally speaking) research and writing, and so I spent a career doing this. All of this was after having gotten diagnosed with a blood disease (aplastic anemia, alternating between severe and moderate), which I still have and to which has been added more recently myelodysplasia. So I've rarely worked full-time, but I did get to have a son who is now grown. I'm an affiliate member of the state bar, which only means that I qualified on certain achievement levels according to a couple of my former bosses. I've represented claimants before administrative law judges, but I can't give legal advice or represent anyone before a district, circuit or higher court judge. I'm on disability now and can work only very part-time (disability due to the blood conditions and the effects of an unrelated cancer).
Jerry, you're absolutely right: we should point out the decent, honorable members of the bar... I think I was just more offended in the social sense; I really hadn't encountered this level of meanness/incompetence or whatever before (so what does that say about attorneys? That most of them are not of the caliber I'm encountering now.).
Marcy: :D :D :D ! The "You're making a mistake" line from "Witness" is one of my favorite lines of any movie -- and I'm a movie freak. I'm so glad to know that someone else here knows that scene and likes it! :p
Once again, I'm sorry for any offense I caused... It wasn't intended personally to anyone; I was just kind of "pushed over the edge" last week, and the blather I spewed in this thread was the result. Here come the mops and buckets - and the industrial strength "Mr. Clean...!"
A chastened, humbled, red-faced
mary
Jerry
01-23-2008, 02:42 AM
Dear Mary,,,
Hey don't take on a load of guilt here ;) I spent 2 years around Lawyers for 6 to 8 hours a day,,,,,,Where do you think I got all my "Lawyer" jokes :D
Love Jerry
Dear Mary,,,
Hey don't take on a load of guilt here ;) I spent 2 years around Lawyers for 6 to 8 hours a day,,,,,,Where do you think I got all my "Lawyer" jokes :D
Love Jerry
Jerry,
Wow: two years around lawyers, 6-8 hours a day... That must have been some seminar you were giving!!! ;) :p ;) :cool: :D I hope these officers of the court took copious notes and applied the wisdom you dispensed prudently and efficiently in their respective practices...! :D :) :D
Oh, I think I should take some raps with a wet noodle or a hickory stick or whatever... Here I sit, with John 3:30 below my stupid name, and what do I do? Take it literally? No! I plunk my wounded pride down here for all to see and gripe about my boss (who signs my paychecks, for which I should be grateful as they're the Lord's provision for me) and his cancer-ridden paralegal. I thought I was beyond that kind of behavior by now. I've learned yet another lesson. I'm grateful for His chastisement in this.
John 3:30 and Galatians 2:20 are precious verses (but then, so are all in the Bible) - and I've been a very poor example of a Christian living them out in this thread. :( "But God, while we were yet sinners..." Bottom line: I praise Him for all things He allows to come our way, even His ways of taking us to the woodshed! :) :) :)
Love,
mary
Jerry
01-23-2008, 07:56 AM
Hey Mary,,,,,,,don't leave me out :eek:
Hey Mary,,,,,,,don't leave me out :eek:
((((Jerry!))))
Hey, Judy, yeah: I'm sorry! (Now watch as I slip my size 4-1/2 foot into my oversized mouth... Not a problem. I do it often! :o )
Hi Mary. Oh please don't get all embarrassed and red-faced! I didn't mean to do that to you. We're pretty used to enduring quite a bit of lawyer-bashing, and there are an awful lot of lawyers who totally deserve it. My husband often gets to clean up the messes left by other lawyers, and he often hears from clients that they are so relieved to find someone who is honest and decent. You would think, listening to some of these people, that the vast majority of lawyers are just plain crooks. Truth be told, most of them are probably just in it for the money. We happen to work in immigration law, where there is not a lot of money to be made unless you're a big law firm dealing with big businesses who want employment-related help. And then you're virtually certain to have to hold your nose and maybe sell your soul to the devil to do some of the work they want you to do. :)
I'm glad to hear more about your background. Very sorry to hear about the physical problems and disability, but you obviously have a very good head on your shoulders and a hefty amount of gravitasse to go along with it. I like that Scripture about how we have this treasure in earthen vessels.
You had good reason to come here and rant, and don't let me put a damper on things for you! :) I was thinking, though, that your lawyer employer may find himself in a really difficult position, torn by loyalty to his ailing paralegal and gratitude at the quality of your work and knowledge. He may be overly solicitous of her because she's not well. I really hope he'll see what he has with you and try to find better balance.
Take care. I'm sorry for embarrassing you!
Judy
Hi Mary. Oh please don't get all embarrassed and red-faced! I didn't mean to do that to you. We're pretty used to enduring quite a bit of lawyer-bashing, and there are an awful lot of lawyers who totally deserve it. My husband often gets to clean up the messes left by other lawyers, and he often hears from clients that they are so relieved to find someone who is honest and decent. You would think, listening to some of these people, that the vast majority of lawyers are just plain crooks. Truth be told, most of them are probably just in it for the money. We happen to work in immigration law, where there is not a lot of money to be made unless you're a big law firm dealing with big businesses who want employment-related help. And then you're virtually certain to have to hold your nose and maybe sell your soul to the devil to do some of the work they want you to do. :)
I'm glad to hear more about your background. Very sorry to hear about the physical problems and disability, but you obviously have a very good head on your shoulders and a hefty amount of gravitasse to go along with it. I like that Scripture about how we have this treasure in earthen vessels.
You had good reason to come here and rant, and don't let me put a damper on things for you! :) I was thinking, though, that your lawyer employer may find himself in a really difficult position, torn by loyalty to his ailing paralegal and gratitude at the quality of your work and knowledge. He may be overly solicitous of her because she's not well. I really hope he'll see what he has with you and try to find better balance.
Take care. I'm sorry for embarrassing you!
Judy
Oh, no problem, Judy! I shouldn't have said what I did... In the past, I worked for a long time for a law firm that sued other lawyers for legal malpractice and I wrote complaints sounding in legal mal, plus mediation summaries, trial briefs, etc. However, most of the complaints I wrote were medical mal or auto negligence ones... I never worked for a med mal or legal mal defense firm, and I probably should have gotten some experience there before "taking off" on lawyers as I did.
(Ummm... My boss could try being solicitous of me, too, and I guess that's what made me sort of lose it... The boss knows that I'm on disability and I'm here only until I need that blood transfusion that I can't have because of antibody problems from "too many transfusions" years ago, and with moderate aplastic anemia, that could happen at any time, what with the level of blood counts I walk around with... And I've got a "smoldering blood malignancy," the myelodysplasia, that won't be treated if it kicks up because of the aplastic anemia. I'll get "comfort measures only," my hematologist tells me. Whatever. I'm not complaining; I just get really, really tired from the anemia and I can't have chemotherapy as this other paralegal can. In that office, they treat me as though I'm on the same level as, oh, a stapler - I haven't achieved "copy machine status" yet, and doubt I ever will :D ;) - and it was hurting, big-time. But no more. One has to let things go; time is too short. I'm prepared to meet the Lord - eager, really - but in the meantime, sometimes things hurt... Not on this forum, but due to the actions of people who aren't in cyberspace.)
So no, there's no need to apologize, and any advice or admonition that shapes me up and makes me more fit as an "ambassador for Christ" is most welcome!!! :) :) :) I need that now more than ever, and I thank you and Jerry for "speaking the truth in love" to me!!!!
Love in our Lord Jesus Christ,
mary
hornblower
01-25-2008, 08:56 AM
In this book about Shame that Im reading there is an interesting paragraph about lawyers of which I have two in my family......????????
Parents, teachers, doctors, lawyers, preachers, rabbis, politicians, are roles which carry inherent power. Those in the power game always attempt to maximise power in relation to others. They often strive for inherent power jobs and secure their position by finding people that are less secure and weaker to work for them. To share power is precisely what such people are unable to do. Sharing power would mean equality.....only by feeling power over others can the power pro feel adequate and superior.
For the power addict, power is a way to insulate against any further shaming. One can, through power, reverse the role of early childhood.
PatriciaM
01-25-2008, 05:38 PM
Dear Mary, and everyone else on this forum,
You're just good people! I'm so glad and BLESSED to find you! I'm learning that I can vent here and NOT be judged and condemned for it...how INCREDIBLY refreshing! And how rare...
:)
Jerry
01-26-2008, 07:43 AM
FOR MARY & JUDY
If one useless man is a shame,,,,,what is two useless men ?????
a Law Firm ;) :D
(((((PatriciaM!)))))
We're so glad that you're here!!! Yes, you most certainly may vent here on this forum and not incur indignation... :)
You're absolutely right: this is truly a rare place. I wish I'd found this forum before "pastor" threw me out. Maybe I'd have had the chance to walk out on him before he did what he did. But everything happened in the Lord's perfect timing and we must thank Him for that.
I'm a sinner saved by grace... One of His... I often mess up - and that's when I head for a re-read of Romans 7... :D
Sometimes it almost seems as though the Lord allows us to mess up so that He can give us the grace to repent -and thereby, show us more of His lovingkindness, and exactly what He sent His only begotten Son here for.
Jerry, your post reminds me of the old joke about a small town with one lawyer. The guy was literally starving. No business at all. Then he hit the jackpot: another lawyer moved into town and put out his shingle. Oh, happy day! All of a sudden, they both had plenty of work! They were "opposing counsel" to each other... :cool: :D
I was so happy to be working for an attorney whose main practice consists of helping people beat something that I consider truly evil: the IRS. Maybe the whole thing will still work out...
Love to all, and wishes for a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow,
mary
(Ummm... My boss could try being solicitous of me, too, and I guess that's what made me sort of lose it... The boss knows that I'm on disability and I'm here only until I need that blood transfusion that I can't have because of antibody problems from "too many transfusions" years ago, and with moderate aplastic anemia, that could happen at any time, what with the level of blood counts I walk around with... And I've got a "smoldering blood malignancy," the myelodysplasia, that won't be treated if it kicks up because of the aplastic anemia. I'll get "comfort measures only," my hematologist tells me. Whatever. I'm not complaining; I just get really, really tired from the anemia and I can't have chemotherapy as this other paralegal can. In that office, they treat me as though I'm on the same level as, oh, a stapler - I haven't achieved "copy machine status" yet, and doubt I ever will :D ;) - and it was hurting, big-time. But no more. One has to let things go; time is too short. I'm prepared to meet the Lord - eager, really - but in the meantime, sometimes things hurt... Not on this forum, but due to the actions of people who aren't in cyberspace.)
Mary--YES, your boss SHOULD have been more solicitous of you. Of course it was unfair of him, and he should have had specifics rather than just instantly taking sides with his paralegal. You were hurt, and it was wrong. Gosh, no need to exert TOO much effort taking the high road! :D
I am so sorry about your ailments. I firmly believe, though, that our God is a God of healing and miracles, and I will be keeping you in my prayers. You never know when there might be a surprise answer up ahead.
And thanks for being so gracious! I like you already. :)
Hugs, Judy
In this book about Shame that Im reading there is an interesting paragraph about lawyers of which I have two in my family......????????
Dear Horn, I hope that book isn't lumping all preachers, rabbis, lawyers, etc., into one big pile and calling them all power hungry. Yes, there are those who ARE and who use their power to stay in control. But there are also those who have good hearts and noble motives. All these folks are supposed to be our servants, not our masters. They are in unique positions to counsel and advocate for us. Truly, there ARE plenty who take these roles seriously. But yes, there are also those who love and cling to the power.
Judy
Thanks so much, Judy!!! You're good people, too!!!! :) In fact, you're splendid people! :D The Lord has given me about 7,000 miracles since my diagnosis... A little over 20 years ago, we formed an aplastic anemia support group in this area - and I believe I'm the last one left. A couple of the other patients went for bone marrow transplants before the transplant teams had the "kinks" worked out of them... I refused to have one... The Lord's leading and He's already promised me mercy. Going to take Him at His word -- He gave me His better Word, and He and His will are always perfect.
HB, wow, I didn't know you had lawyers in your family, too! (Oops again! - and sorry!) And they'd be Texas lawyers, right?! Good ones, in other words... Not that any/every state bar doesn't have good lawyers in it. And I already know that ON has good personal injury defense lawyers, Reg and our other Canadian members -- for I've had dealings with them, too...
I think this is a good place to leave "lawyer quality" chat... ;) ;) :rolleyes:
Wishing everyone a beautiful and blessed Lord's Day tomorrow,
mary
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.