Comments on: Avoid the Lawyer Mentality http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/avoid-the-lawyer-mentality/ Wed, 16 May 2012 13:25:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: George Merrill http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/avoid-the-lawyer-mentality/#comment-47633 George Merrill Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:45:30 +0000 http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/?p=2740#comment-47633 I will be 65 next month. I got my law degree when I was 38 and went to practice tax and corporate law at one of Maryland's most prestigious blue-stocking firms. I stayed there about 3 1/2 years, then left to start a business with my wife that lasted about 17 years. My function, among others, was to handle the general in-house legal matters that every small business has to deal with, only a little more so, since we operated in three states. I was a Law Review Editor in law school and consider myself to have good research and writing skills. When the business ceased operations about 7 years ago, I started sending resumes to everyone and anyone who indicated the slightest interest in hiring a lawyer. I soon came to the conclusion that most hiring companies and firms want either (a) a young whiz kid fresh out of law school, or (b) someone more senior who brings a clientele with him. I am neither. I am willing and able to do competent associate's work at an associate's salary, but no one, it seems, can conceive of someone my age operating effectively at that level. I eventually gave up the legal job search and now handle B2B sales for an Apple Retail Store. All this to say that while I am flattered to receive an email from you telling me of all the great legal jobs you have for me, I am skeptical. Why should I believe you? I will be 65 next month. I got my law degree when I was 38 and went to practice tax and corporate law at one of Maryland’s most prestigious blue-stocking firms. I stayed there about 3 1/2 years, then left to start a business with my wife that lasted about 17 years. My function, among others, was to handle the general in-house legal matters that every small business has to deal with, only a little more so, since we operated in three states.

I was a Law Review Editor in law school and consider myself to have good research and writing skills.

When the business ceased operations about 7 years ago, I started sending resumes to everyone and anyone who indicated the slightest interest in hiring a lawyer. I soon came to the conclusion that most hiring companies and firms want either (a) a young whiz kid fresh out of law school, or (b) someone more senior who brings a clientele with him. I am neither. I am willing and able to do competent associate’s work at an associate’s salary, but no one, it seems, can conceive of someone my age operating effectively at that level.

I eventually gave up the legal job search and now handle B2B sales for an Apple Retail Store.

All this to say that while I am flattered to receive an email from you telling me of all the great legal jobs you have for me, I am skeptical. Why should I believe you?

]]> By: Harrison Barnes http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/avoid-the-lawyer-mentality/#comment-13043 Harrison Barnes Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:38:49 +0000 http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/?p=2740#comment-13043 Hello, I certainly agree with you that I could have used a better example. Thanks so much for your comments. --Harrison Hello,

I certainly agree with you that I could have used a better example. Thanks so much for your comments.

–Harrison

]]> By: Jorge Colón http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/avoid-the-lawyer-mentality/#comment-12811 Jorge Colón Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:32:37 +0000 http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/?p=2740#comment-12811 Yet another great post! :-) Complexity seems to be taking its toll on many industries, including law. For the last 9 years I have observed complexity in law and found my own ways to simplify. Most of my peers frowned upon it when I was in house as it seems that lawyers benefit from complexity much as ancient priests did with religious texts few could read. One of my initiatives was launching a global legal organization (The Online Bar) based upon the principle of trust. We're reminding lawyers to build and maintain trust with each other as a means of improving our lifestyles and growing business. I have not read Covey's Speed of Trust but the title says it all. Thanks, Jorge Yet another great post! :-)

Complexity seems to be taking its toll on many industries, including law. For the last 9 years I have observed complexity in law and found my own ways to simplify. Most of my peers frowned upon it when I was in house as it seems that lawyers benefit from complexity much as ancient priests did with religious texts few could read.

One of my initiatives was launching a global legal organization (The Online Bar) based upon the principle of trust. We’re reminding lawyers to build and maintain trust with each other as a means of improving our lifestyles and growing business. I have not read Covey’s Speed of Trust but the title says it all.

Thanks,
Jorge

]]> By: nysecjd http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/avoid-the-lawyer-mentality/#comment-12737 nysecjd Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:08:17 +0000 http://www.aharrisonbarnes.com/?p=2740#comment-12737 If what you're referring to is the old adage, "don't sweat the small stuff," agreed. Unfortunately, however, your example is not a particularly good one. Maybe Wal-Mart proved trustworthy, but there are numerous recent examples of deals that were done without proper due diligence and turned out to be frauds, even where the other party to the deal had a supposedly "stellar" reputation; the case of Marc Dreier comes to mind. If what you’re referring to is the old adage, “don’t sweat the small stuff,” agreed. Unfortunately, however, your example is not a particularly good one. Maybe Wal-Mart proved trustworthy, but there are numerous recent examples of deals that were done without proper due diligence and turned out to be frauds, even where the other party to the deal had a supposedly “stellar” reputation; the case of Marc Dreier comes to mind.

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