Depending on with whom you speak, I am cocky, aloof, or distant. I think I'm better than everyone else. I look down on people. I have no time for those that can't help me. I don't speak to people. I'm rude. I'm arrogant. I don't take the time to care about anything but my case. I seem to only be in the courthouse to take care of the well-being of my client. My response: So what?
While I might quibble with the first part of that paragraph, I will not argue the last. When I'm in the courthouse with my client, you would be right in saying that I am only there for my client. I don't chit chat usually. I don't sit around talking about how the Cowboys just whipped the Giants...again. I don't bemoan the new statutes with fellow defense attorneys. I don't sit and try to make friends at the courthouse. Not only is it not in my nature, but it's not why I'm in the courthouse. This is work. It's business.
The other day, I was walking out of court after having just obtained a dismissal for my client. This naturally happened in open court where the rest of the docket could hear. As I walked my client out to the elevators, a person approached me and simply called out my last name. I was in the middle of a conversation with my client. I made eye contact with the other person and said "Just a minute." He seemed offended. After I had seen my client off onto the next elevator, I walked back to the man who had wanted to speak to me. I politely asked if I could help him in some way. He wasn't having it.
The man simply said that I was just another "shark." I wasn't interested in someone unless they were giving me a lot of money. The man commented that I clearly thought I was better than he. I waited patiently for the man to finish his rant. Again I asked if I could help him. He finally said that he needed a lawyer, and wanted to know if I could get his case dismissed, too. I simply told him to call my office to set up an appointment because I don't consult with clients in the hallways of the courthouse. He wasn't happy. He walked away.
Fifteen minutes, I found myself walking into another court. As I walked in, two other attorney were also walking in. I could hear one of them from the elevators. His booming voice is unmistakable. It should be put to better use, though. Used cars come to mind. The other is a bit of a grandstander. Or, as we like to say in Texas, "All hat, no cattle."
In any event, they two of them walked in right before me. Both began to engage the court staff, as well as others, in generic conversation. They are certainly friendly enough, but some of the conversation seemed more appropriate for the local bar than the courtroom. I quietly walked in, made eye contact with my client, and walked to the back where the prosecutors were located. After a couple of minutes, I walked back out and spoke to the court coordinator. After a short, professional, low-key conversation, I approached the bench. I quickly spoke with the judge. I then walked towards my client while motioning for her to accompany me to the hallway.
We quickly found a quite place to talk. I explained the status of her case had still not changed, and that we were still preparing for trial just as when she initially came to see me. I asked her if there were any questions, and that if not, she was now excused from court. She asked "That's it?" "Yes," I said, "why?" She said she was surprised it went so quickly. Then she asked why I didn't talk to everyone else in the courtroom like the other two attorneys.
I explained to her that my concern at that point was her and her case. There was nothing gained for her by me glad-handing anyone or acting as though I knew everyone in the courthouse. She smiled and thanked me. She left. It was 9:45. Docket was called at 9:30.
It's not unusual for people to ask why I don't hang out with people from the courthouse. Why I don't play softball with colleagues. Why I don't chit chat. The simple answer is that I'm not in the courthouse to do that. I'm there to be the voice for my client. I'm not there to make friends. Because after all, it ain't show friends, it's show business.
Good for you ['Young']Sean. To hell with all that cronyism bullshit. Keep fighting the good fight...
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Posted by: Kevin Mc | November 13, 2007 at 12:34 AM
Good for you ['Young']Sean. To hell with all that cronyism bullshit. Keep fighting the good fight...
Seriously: I've had a couple of lawyers tell me recently via email that whenever they see me at the courthouse I seem to be really "focused" or "intense", so that they hesitate to approach me. I'm generally a very approachable guy, but it's okay if people don't think it's a good idea to get in my way when I'm working for my clients.
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