The Voice of Inexperience – Thank you from the Young Lawyers Division

The following posting is made with permission from the State Bar of Wisconsin who originally printed it as an article with the same name included in the Wisconsin Lawyer’s Voice of Experience, Vol. 14 No. 1, January 2016:  

I was reminded recently about what I told my great-uncle Gust while taking a sauna with him when I was about 5 years old.  He was complaining about aches and pains, and saying he was old.  I told him, “Guzzie, you were old the day I was born.”  All the guys in the sauna, including my uncle, had a good laugh.

Do You Have a Case for That?

The following posting is made with permission from the State Bar of Wisconsin who originally printed it as an article with the same name included in the Wisconsin Lawyer, Vol. 88 No. 11 December 1, 2015:  

The willingness to question authorities makes lawyers a dynamic and powerful profession and force.

Have you ever been in a debate with a colleague about a legal issue and, after a lengthy discussion in which you feel as though you have articulated several good reasons for your position, your colleague ends the exchange with, “Do you have a case for that?” I hate that. I think it is a cop-out.

Walgreens at the Corner of Irate and Amused

“I’m here to pickup some photos and photobooks for my wife; last name Gardipee,” I told the clerk at the photo shop at my local Walgreens.  My wife’s last name is not Gardipee, it’s Evans, like mine.  Gardipee is her maiden name but for some reason Walgreens continually gets it wrong even after she tries to update it.  I’m in a hurry tonight.  It’s almost Christmas, year-end at work, no time for pointless back and forth so I just went with Gardipee.  However, after the clerk rummaged around for a while I said, “Try looking under Evans. That’s actually her name now.”  Eventually, the clerk found the books under Gardipee and the photos under Evans.  That’s better, I guess.  The clerk did not ask if I wanted to update her account, but I did not mind.  I just wanted to pick up dinner and get home.  In addition to the 50% off discount my wife used online when she ordered the books she had given me a ten-dollar coupon to use and I used five dollars of Walgreens rewards, which left my total at just over $50.   

THAT’S MY FAMILY 2015 & MORE

My most successful post has been about my family because they are far more entertaining than anything I write.  So without any ado here are the antics from my family over the last year as seen on Facebook: 

December 2015

This morning Daphne pooped out a gold bead. I think it was from the Christmas tree skirt. ‪#‎IthinkwewatchedClaycloser‬ ‪#‎secondchild‬

ACT YOUR AGE

The following posting is made with permission from the State Bar of Wisconsin who originally printed it as an article with the same name included in Fresh Perspectives, State Bar of Wisconsin, October 2015, Vol. No. 18, Issue No. 4:

This past Sept. 24 and 25 I attended the State Bar Joint Leadership Orientation in Elkhart Lake on behalf of the YLD.  The orientation brought together the leaders from all the sections, committees, and divisions of the State Bar plus the entire State Bar Board of Governors.  The meeting is a chance to learn more about the bar and the strategic planning process. 

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The following posting is made with permission from the State Bar of Wisconsin who originally printed it as an article with the same name included in Fresh Perspectives, State Bar of Wisconsin, July 2015, Vol. No. 18, Issue No. 3:

Dear Young Lawyer,

“Behold the turtle.  He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.” – James Bryant Conant

For the past two years I have been the editor of this newsletter.  This is my last issue serving in that capacity, and I want to take this opportunity to encourage you to consider writing for this newsletter and the other publications of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS WRONG!

The following posting is made with permission from the State Bar of Wisconsin who originally printed it as an article with the same name included in Fresh Perspectives, State Bar of Wisconsin, July 2015, Vol. No. 18, Issue No. 3:

“You know what your problem is, you were raised in a retail setting and that doesn’t work here.  Here, the customer is always wrong!”  This is advice I recently gave my colleague.  Now, for context, we both understood that I am generally full of it.  But there is truth in what I was saying.