When in doubt, duke your lawyer

This story from Kentucky is not all that unusual. I'm terribly sorry that attorney was beaten by his client. It happens all the time. Did you know that lawyers get stiffed on their bills at least as often as waiters? Perhaps more. I don't know that anyone has done a conclusive study yet.

Before all the lawyer-hating jokes start, consider this: What would life be like if you had to represent yourself when someone robbed you. Except nobody is going to explain everything in the thousands of books lining the shelves at the law library. Also, shooting the robber will only land you in jail. Two wrongs still don't make a right. Retribution isn't okay.

What if you need to get a divorce, but before you can get the papers signed, your spouse starts withdrawing all the funds in the joint bank account and transferring valuable items of property into his/her name only?

What if someone secretly accused you of child molestation. How do you prove your innocence all by yourself?

Most lawyers are here to help. I know lawyers who are in Rotary and Kiwanis (a beneficial service group that works to improve life for children). I know lawyers who give away not just hundreds, but thousands of billable hours a year to help the environment, or old folks, or the disabled. I know a judge who volunteers hours on the suicide hotline. You really want to kill all these folks*

Sure, there are some bad apples, just as there are in any profession. Anyone hate their HR manager? How about their boss's boss?

Please folks, don't hit your lawyer. And don't neglect to pay him/or her later. Some of those fees are costs that your lawyer eats up front. How many of your friends are willing to swallow hundreds of dollars for you and say pay me later?


*I think I'm going to start handing out the full text of the Shakespeare play, so that people can understand the context of that line. Most are surprised to learn that the advocate is a criminal who is hoping to reduce consequences for his shameful ways.