Law And More

Jobless Lawyer, 61 - Can He Land on His Feet

The law firm he was working for was sold. The new owners didn't invite him to join them. So August 31st was his last day. He is 61 and based on the East Coast, but not Manhattan.

He knew for many months this was probably going to happen. So he sent out a lot of resumes. He had plenty of interviews. Several employers observed that he had a strong resume. But no offers came. He asked me for help. I had coached him three years ago.

Throughout his career, he had been able to land decent-paying, though not status, jobs associated with law. The settings ranged from government to the compliance department of a major insurance company.

He asked me: Is it age? Of course, that plays a part. The part it usually plays is not the aging itself. Rather what will knock lawyers like him out of the box is that their deep bench of experience comes at too high a price for a growing number of employers. In this glut of supply, they can hire relative newbies, train them their way, and pay them peanuts.

Another question: Does he not spin enough on interviews? That had been a problem earlier in his career. If employers threw him a negative - as in "how come you had so many jobs?" - he froze. Through role play he learned how to turn that negative into a positive - while on his feet. We simulated an interview and he performed well.

One recommendation was that he leverage his legal background where age wasn't a severe impediment. And the industry was highly regulated. For example, real estate is wide-open to him. Jobs could range from property manager to actual sales in residential or commercial. Yes, he should think about getting his real estate license.

Also, in financial planning, age can be a plus. He could have an information interview with several financial firms, then choose the best deal for preparing for the licensing exams.

Another suggestion was to get into the business of coaching standardized tests. After all, he got where he got because he knew how to ace tests. The hourly coaching rate can range from $75 to $100, in upscale locations. Usually the company trains you. No spring chicken, I interviewed for and was hired for tutoring in general.

A third is to start an entirely new career path, not related to anything he had done. He turned pale when I mentioned that.

Takeaway: Age has become a factor in unemmployment because, with the glut of talent, employers can hire a lawyer with less experience for low compensaton.

 

Motel 6 Makes Honesty the Best Policy in Charming Way

Founding father Franklin was a plain-speaking fellow. So. he put it bluntly: Honesty is the best policy.

But when you are interfacing with consumers. it's wise to add a charming spin.

At one of the Motel 6s in the southwest, I am across a laminated card. It said that items in the rooms have become collector's items. Given that, it listed prices for each item. Should the housekeeping staff discover any of those missing from the rooms, they will place the expense on the guest's credit card.

An adorable approach to attempt to reduce guest shrinkage.

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Future Law Students - Don't waste time in college only studying, having fun, worrying in the abstract

So many of us have been brain-washed to frame our careers as "passions" or "vocations."  

That could be exactly why we, a nation of sports addicts, fail to apply the same game planning we observe in, say, football to getting a job, holding a job, landing a promotion on the job, and hustling for a better job. That could even include you future law students who face a downsizing, rapidly changing marketplace for those practicing law.

Instead of developing play books from the get-go in college, we hide from that strategic reality. We  distract ourselves with hitting the books, having fun, chasing sex, exploring the inner self, worrying about the future in an abstract way, and having nervous breakdowns. 

If that's you, future law student, add to all that or eliminate some of it and focus strategically on what your game plan could be. Experiment in plays.

Me? I have been among those duped by "vocation." I saw my mission as being an effective scribe for those who had message bigs. 

When did I shift to a game plan? During The Great Recession. It's now all about making the winning moves

When Is a Combining of Two Firms Not A Merger - Let ATL's Kathryn Rubino Explain

The term "merger" tends to be used broadly and loosely. However, even in its most elastic configuration it couldn't be applied to the kind of combination which has taken place between law firms Kenyon & Kenyon and Andrew Kurth.

As lawyer-journalist, Kathryn Rubino, reports in Abovethelaw, forever it seemed distressed law firm Kenyon & Kenyon has been struggling to find a merger partner. Its lawyer headcount declined to about one-third of what it had been. 

The underground buzz had been that it was getting hitched with law firm Andrew Kurth. Even a domain name containing the two brandnames had been discovered.

But, alas, there was no merger. Instead the remaining 55 lawyers at Kenyon & Kenyon did a lateral to Andrew Kurth.

Now we are waiting for leakers to tell how things are going with that kind of combination. What about staff? Will they be declared "redundant?" 

Taylor Swift Reports for Jury Duty in Nashville - Abovethelaw's Kathryn Rubino Captures the Wattage

Lett's cut to the chase: No, Taylor Swift wasn't selected for jury duty in Nashville, TN.

But her wattage made the process the experience of a lifetime for the rest of the folks who were part the jury pool.

In Abovethelaw, lawyer-journalist, Kathryn Rubino, captures that wattage for those of us who wind up reporting for duty with a bunch of nobodies in nowherevilles like Tucson, Arizona, in 120-degree heat (I left there Saturday.)

As Rubino tells us, Swift glammed-down for her civic duty. But no one was unaware who she was. Generously, she allowed them to take selfies with her. She also signed autographs. 

Well, she isn't the only celeb who has been dismissed from the opportunity to serve this important function in our society. Katie Couric also got the boot in New York. Some speculate that she turned on her journalist personality and asked way too many questions. Hey, leave the questions to the lawyers and the judge.

However, John Downey Jr. did make the cut in Los Angeles. Swift might ask him for tips.

 

Dog Days of August - Drudge Report Not Immune in Its Anti-Hillary Venom

The Drudge Report isn't immune from the dog days of August. Its anti-Hillary coverage has become sleepy.

Yesterday, the Drudge Report tried a Hail Mary Pass with associating Human Abedin's mother, Saleha Abedin, with radical Muslim philosophy and stone-age views about women's role in marriage. Hillary had buddied up with Saleha.

Today, it's the same sort of Hail Mary Pass. This time it isn't Huma's mother but her husband Anthony Weiner. He's back in the gossip rags again. So Drudge Report has a photo of Huma and her boss Hillary out shopping. Tame. The Weiner Problem is nothing new.

Thrown in also is the link to the coverage of the Emerson poll which highlights Hillary's weaknesses. Hey, Clinton Inc. has been around a long long time. We are quite aware of Hillary's weaknesses.

Let's hope that post-Labor Day, the Drudge Report gets fire back in its belly about the Anti-Hillary. In addition, it might come up with an unflattering photo of Hillary. That's always clickbait.

 

 

Robot Lawyer Helping Drivers Fight Traffic Tickets - For Free

DoNotPay could change the image of lawyers.

This one charges no fee. And already DoNotPay has helped drivers in the UK, New York, and now Seattle appeal 175,000 traffic tickets valued at about $5 million.

DoNotPay is a robot lawyering service created by Stanford student Joshua Browder. Although investors have approached him about his startup, he intends to keep it free, reports 10 News.

If you get a ticket you click into DoNotPay. The robot questions you. For example, it asks if the signs were conflicting or if there were no signs. Based on your answers, it provides you with a letter to send to the local authorities.

Obviously, DoNotPay puts government back in the hands of the people. Perhaps it should run for U.S. President in 202o/

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