Encore Post: Signs Only a Lawyer Could Love

No. 1,233

Category: Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Is Real Estate Evergreen or a Phoenix?

No. 1,232

Summary: Some say that real estate practice for lawyers is making a comeback. Maybe it is. But a young lawyer taking up real estate practice should not be a one trick pony.

I read a piece on the ABA Journal Web Site in which a legal recruiter stated that real estate transactional work, including residential real estate, is soon going to be one of the hottest fields of law.

Maybe it will. I’ve seen the real estate transactions market crash and burn numerous times. And then, miraculously, it rises from the ashes.

The demand for real estate never dies. It just goes into hiding. It flourishes in good times. But consumer confidence is fragile. When people are afraid, they don’t buy and they don’t borrow. But they don’t cancel their plans, they only postpone them. And when confidence returns, and it always has, they are back in the market again.

I’m not advising young lawyers to stay away from real estate. On the contrary. But develop another specialty or two to carry you through the dry spells.

CLT

Category: Real Estate

Reading Above Your Comfort Zone

No. 1,231

Summary: Read something educational, not just entertaining. Better yet, read something written by a genius.

Trinity College Library, Dublin

Congratulations, you’re reading a book.

But what are you reading? Hmm . . . A little light, don’t you say?

Here’s an idea for your next book. Don’t just entertain yourself, educate yourself.

Read something written by somebody smarter than you. Like a genius. There must have been at least a million of them since the beginning of civilization. You choose.

If you read something written by a genius, you just might improve your own mind, elevate your thoughts, become a better person. Fancy that.

CLT

Afterthought: What am I reading? Fair question.

Phishing for Phools: The Economics of Manipulation and Deception by George Akerlof and Robert J. Schiller

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister and John F. Tierney

Recently finished:

Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception by Pamela Meyer

Category: Weekend Book Review
Tags: Preaching

Encore Post: “Daylight Spending Time”

No. 1,230

Summary: Don’t waste the hour you saved over the Summer. Do something worthwhile.

First published on November 2, 2014 as No. 1,116

Image: wordstrumpet.com

We’ve all heard others (not us) complain about how there are not enough hours in the day. Well, once a year they get their wish. Today, November 2, 2014 is a 25 hour day. Of course, we have been saving it since Sunday March 9, when we all had a 23 hour day. But for what?What are you going to do with the 25th hour?

Common answers: 1. Sleep. 2. Loaf. 3. Watch TV (especially football).

Not acceptable. You do those things every day. You owe it to yourself to spend an hour on something unique and different — something you wouldn’t do if you didn’t have that 25th hour.

But what? Here’s a few ideas.

– How about learning something? Not just anything, mind you. Perhaps, something important that has been kicking around in your brain. Or something useful that you ought to know.

– How about planning something? No, not your ordinary to-do list. Instead, think of something that you won’t plan and you should.

– How about taking inventory? Again, not an inventory you regularly do. Find something important that you don’t regularly inventory.

– Adopt a new habit. Yes, that’s right. What should you be doing habitually, perhaps daily, that you don’t do?

– Pray. Gratitude is a good start.

– Do a good deed. Charity really does begin at home, by the way.

– Spend it with your family. (The default choice when you come up blank on the others.)

But whatever you do, don’t waste it.

CLT

Category: Encore Post

Getting to the Heart of It.

No. 1,229

SUMMARY: Brevity really is the soul of wit.

Image: church planting.com

I read a brief yesterday, submitted by an opponent. It was rather typical, actually. I see a lot of briefs like this one. It was long, too long. Actually, 3/4 of the total number of pages were exhibits. None of the exhibits were particularly relevant and all could have been omitted.

Most of the argument was irrelevant, too. And the part that really mattered was actually too short. And then there were string cites — a series of case citations to support a one sentence proposition that is not developed.

Briefs are, yes, supposed to present an argument briefly. But too often they don’t.They don’t get straight to the point and they don’t focus enough on what is important.

A brief is supposed to be persuasive. That means that you have to get to the heart of it. And then you have to make a good, plausible argument. And then you stop.

CLT

Category: Lawyering
Tags: brevity > legal argument > legal briefs

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?

No. 1,228

Summary: It is important to practice testimony before going to court.

Image: go simply.com

Its an old joke, but one with a point.

A few weeks ago, after winning a football game with an amazing end zone catch, the wide receiver said that they had been practicing that play all week. Musicians continue to rehearse material they have played over and over in concert. Actors rehearse their lines and reshoot scenes until they have it exactly right.

This principle is not just true for musicians, athletes and actors. Its also true for lawyers and their clients.

There is nothing wrong with rehearsing testimony. It is not cheating, you know — unless, of course, you are rehearsing lies.

It makes you self confident and focuses the mind. It makes your testimony more direct, less confusing and generally more effective. It enables you to hear yourself. And it improves the flow of questions and answers.

As a matter of fact, there aren’t any good reasons not to rehearse important testimony. The old saw “practice makes perfect” is still around because it never stops being true.

CLT

Category: Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk
Tags: practice

Is Your Lawyer Happy In His/Her Work?

No. 1,227

Summary: While some lawyers are subject to depression due to stress, there are many who enjoy their work and achieve satisfaction from helping people and solving problems. Happy lawyers do good work for their clients.

Image: work.cron.com

I ran across a short post from Time Magazine last night called “High Paying Jobs That Will Make You Miserable.”

Predictably, one of them was lawyering, which the article claimed (without citing any authority) was one of the groups most prone to suicide. We lawyers are also alleged to have a very high rate of depression and alcohol addiction. The not so subtle implication is that young people are lured to the legal profession by the siren song of money, only to be dashed on the rocks. It almost makes you feel sorry for the poor bastards. Almost.

Without a doubt, there are many lawyers who hate their job. Typically, lawyers work long hours under unrelenting stress and deadlines. If they are junior members of a law firm, they have little or no choice of cases and are expected to meet rigid billing requirements. Understandably, many of these firms have high turn over.

But not all lawyers are unhappy, even in large law firms. Many derive great satisfaction from helping people in crisis and solving problems. Some have, over time, reinvented their law practice to address new issues and establish new competencies. Even happy lawyers have bad days and are required to perform tasks they dislike. On balance, despite all the negatives, they enjoy what they do and it shows.

Does it make a difference to the client? Absolutely. A happy lawyer is enthusiastic. A happy lawyer is always looking for a new idea or a better approach to an old conundrum. Although she can’t bill time for “thinking”, a lawyer who enjoys her work often thinks about her cases while off the clock. She is proud of her achievements. Like a professional athlete, winning gives her joy.

Of course, sadness, sickness, frustration and a host of other maladies come to us all. These factors can temporarily keep us from achieving our goals. But a person who loves his work can overcome adversity. And so it is with all of us, no matter what we do in life.

CLT

Afterthought: Somerset Maugham observed that only the mediocre are at their best all the time.

Category: Practice of Law
Tags: depression > happiness

Legal Ad of the week

No. 1,226

Category: Advertising

File Under: Things We Don’t Need Anymore.

No. 1,225

Category: Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Something to Meditate.

No. 1,224

Summary: JetBlue has a link on its email ads called “Humankinda” about the fast pace and mindlessness of modern American life. Here’s a sample.

Category: Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk
Tags: Humankinda > meditation

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Welcome

CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

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