Not Just Legal Pages

http://beta.notjustlegalpages.com/

Coming very soon!

This is the beta page of my new socio-legal online magazine.

It will make legal topics more accessible to the general public and highlight issues that affect minority groups and those whose rights have been oppressed around the world.

Not just in a name

This might just be a coincidence but the article by Alex Spence http://timesonline.typepad.com/law/2009/06/why-are-lawyers-so-hated.html is a theme that I as a lawyer have recently felt towards others that work in a law firm. Bending the rules for the sake of getting billed on a case is due to the lack of professionalism you have when you have not been trained or qualifed. When they bend the rules there are no consequences for them but asking me to do it is totally different. so take a hike! cause i'm not going to do it, you can theathen me all you want!

The reaction to 'why lawyers are hated?' is not surprising to me at all. I know why the public hate lawyers, i hate most myself. Lack of care, lack of concern and ultimately lack of providing a service to clients.

I hope i'm one of the exceptions, from what my client's tell me i feel that i am. One of my clients recently said to me that before i took his case over he had a low perception of lawyers but that with my advise and support he felt happy and reassured and called me 'his rock' and told me how he get back to work and got on with his life. That is the best compliment i have ever had and probably will ever have from a client and that's the reason why i became a solicitor in the first place to provide a professional service to clients.

I don't bend the rules, i'm not motivated by billing the file regardless to the situation of the case and i genuinely care about my client and they know that and have trust in me. there are good lawyers out there but as a reader has mentioned in her comment, it's a neddle in a haystack to find them.

So the answer that Alex is looking for is that when you call yourself a professional you better act like one, it's not just in the name.

The glitch!

It's only a glitch. That's what one of the members of SAHCA (Solicitors' Associaton of Higher Court Advocates) said to me yesterday at the annual summer party held at Clifford Chance. Although not a fully fledged member yet, my plan is to become a solicitor-advocate in the near future.... just need to complete the advocacy stage and then i'm off.

And it was a glitch, today everything turned out alright and a guess the message was also sent that there needs to be compromise on both sides. well i got what i needed to continue my work and although i do not feel a bit restricted it's not the end of the world. a lot of people don't care about clients the way that i do and that was evident today. if you're going to mention providing "excellent client service" which in my opinion is going over and above what is required of you then how can you also say in the same breath that "it's jusy too bad for the client". you can't it's either /or.

well that's now behind me and i feel better that the situation has been resolved amicable and i can look forward to work next week which i really wasn't before. smiling again. :)

Nomination for Ethnic Minority Seat at Law Society

This is my nomination for the Law Society's Ethnic Minority Council Seat. I thought that I should try and make a difference cause truth-be-told, not much has been done for the last 4 years. The ballot papers will be sent out and if i get enough votes then i'll do something to address the obstacles that many ethinic minority solicitors face. there needs to be a new and fresh voice and i feel i am that voice.

http://www.onlinebld.com/ViewNewsPage.aspx?NewsId=85

Follow your own advice

Yes, for once I have to follow my own advice and stick to my decision. It is so easy to say, but to do is another thing. I know that it will now take longer for what i really want to do, but when there are no jobs or oppportunities out there to take I have to sit tight and strech myself for another year.

Ah, the recession it ruins everyones plans. But at least i'm saving more money now and that's another reason i need to keep going. keep going, gotta keep telling myself to keep going. story of my life, but i'm nearly 3 years pqe. To those of you who are not lawyers this is a major step in a solicitor's career. It allows a solicitor to finally be their own boss or partner up with other lawyers, even non-legal professionals with he new changes coming into to the legal profession.

I cannot believe that i have been in London for nearly 5 years now. time has flown and the experience has been hard but good. i feel as if i've aged 10 years. came when i was 24 and feel 34 rather than 28. but i'm definitely more relaxed then i was 4 years and 8 months ago.

4 years and 8 month and i've survived! bring on the next year then. i can't believe i'm saying that.