Outside the Lines

Legally Rambling (November 24, 2009). Yesterday, as I was opening my office mail, I opened a letter from the Dallas County Clerk's Office - Probate Division and I was amazed to find a bright multi-colored Thank You! scrawled on my receipt for payment. Wow! this clerk gets it - she is one of us! A creative soul! A thinker! Life in the Clerk's office. But how to respond?

Many who know me understand that I am passionate about what I do, my clients and the lawyers, paralegals and legal secretaries in my firm. We truly are blessed to have the best people working at the Wright Firm. We have developed an awesome place to work because we have awesome people! I hate boring lawyers - the world is full of them! My people are unconventional, creative, opinionated, hard working ... dedication to the craft ... new school!

Now I digress ... as my brilliant associate Lindsay Sherp and I opined over lunch today ... how to respond, we perhaps stumbled onto a new filing system. Yes, creative, outside the norm, full of life and imagination. Why does every pleading have to be 8 1/2 by 11 white paper. What about happy stickers? A pop-up pleading? What about textured paper? What about scratch and sniff (Lindsay's idea). What about color? Sound ... lights and action!

I mean think of a divorce filing - black if you don't want it - the color of sunshine if you do? PI cases could be black and blue for the plaintiff - just think about it! Real estate matters could be green. What about theme paper - NASCAR, SAINTS, COWBOYS ... USMC! Naming rights? A plumbing case could have a great scratch and sniff kit! Think of all the possibilities!

The moral is that this clerk just didn't stick a receipt in an envelope - some creative thought was used - she carred. One of my people! If you still don't understand you just don't get it! And, oh, I will respond in my own special way!

So ... go color outside of the lines ... but just use color ... Ramble On!

That Guy

Legally Rambling (November 19, 2009). As a practicing lawyer and CPA, I have been employed by a few professional firms in my time and that means professional office buildings. One of the things that strikes me as odd about professional office buildings is that they always come with a professional loiterer. You know what I am talking about - "that guy" who is always hanging out by the front door, or hanging out in the parking garage, or the guy that has his truck open and is practicing his golf swing in the middle of the day. Where do these people work? Who do they work for? I mean isn't there a job description for what they do? Hello! - Building Security! Where was this guy when my car was broken into a few weeks ago!

I mean - I own the place and I don't get to screw around this much - ok so I screw around - but I always pay for it later by working late or on the weekend - but these guys always look so relaxed during the work day! Kinda like they have found the secret to hiding during the work day and not getting busted by the man!

As a lawyer, who is always measured by either the billable hour, or by client expectations, I kinda wonder if these guys are subject to a performance measure at all! But, I just know that I am so type A+ that I could never do this and feel good about it. Or, I could probably loiter perhaps even dawdle for a while, but I could not pull it off - I would look like I was waiting for a cab! Yes, and I am the guy who knows the night cleaning crew by name and gets startled by the security guard walking through the suite at midnight!

Well, I guess they are not as bad as the smokers standing at the front door (#$%^%$@!) - OK, I'll save that for next time ... Ramble on!

The Woman in the Red Dress

Legally Rambling (November 14, 2009). Back in the Wright Library for a little R&R tonight, a little Puccini for background noise, the fall in full swing outside - a beautiful Saturday night.

Reflecting on the practice of law tonight ... my thoughts drift to the Woman in Red in the Matrix ... as Morpheus states, "Were you listening to me, Neo? Or were you looking at the woman in the red dress?"

How many cases in law or political campaigns for that matter have been lost or won because of mistakes? I mean I have had the privilege of being around some of the best trial lawyers in Texas as well as growing up with some of the best political consultants in Texas and what strikes me is the difference in case/campaign management philosophy. Some are agressive, while others just wait for the mistake. It's the difference in using your 12 - gauge and in sitting on the front porch waiting with it on your lap - and never having to use it. I have to admit I like the wait. Because you just know that the Old Original Sin will appear at any moment - we are all in fact imperfect.

But what really intrigues me is the ability of some to capitalize on the mistakes and win. Because all good teams as well as good lawyers and politicos capitalize on the mistakes of others for the win. Of course, capitalization can occur on both sides of the equation - it's really a great life lesson for us all. I believe alot of it quite simply comes down to paying attention and not getting distracted by the matter at hand ...

Unfortunately, like Neo I'm always distracted by the blond ... Ramble on ...