I'm a Lawyer

I help my clients.  I meet them in-person.  I listen to them.  I ask questions.  I know how to ask the hard questions.  I advise my clients.  I know how to explain complex legal concepts in an understandable way.  I take notes.  Very detailed, well-written notes.  I know the statutes and most relevant case law.  I know how to do legal research, and do it quickly and well, if I need to confirm the state of relevant case law.  I'm an excellent legal writer.  I don't misspell words.  I know how to use punctuation.  I know how to apply facts to law.  In writing.  And at Court.  I'm confident of my ability to analyze legal issues.  Very confident.  Because I'm thorough.  I work hard.  I am intelligent.  Since I am confident, I'm not intimidated by other lawyers.  Not by women lawyers.  Not by men lawyers.  Not by lawyers from this law school or that law school.  Not by the big names.  I respect the judges.  But I'm not scared of them.  I'm confident.  So I can present my cases with confidence.  I'm good at making evidentiary objections, although I can get better.  I respond to my clients' communications, although I can get better at that too, especially if I have a lower client volume.  I care about my clients.  I develop a sincere relationship with my clients.  I help my clients achieve their legal objectives.  I'm good at what I do.  I present well.  I'm professional.  I treat all people with respect: clients, opposing parties, attorneys, court staff, judges.  Some lawyers calls clients names in their notes or among colleagues in private.  I don't.  Some lawyers call opposing parties names in their notes or among colleagues in private.  I don't.  Some lawyers speak disparagingly about other classes of lawyers or about certain demographics of clientele or even about individual lawyers or parties.  I don't.  I treat all people with respect.  To their face.  In my notes.  And in private.  There are some clients I don't completely like.  There are some opposing parties that I don't trust, or whose actions I do not condone.  There are some lawyers that I don't hold in high esteem, usually for their character as noted above.  But I don't name-call any of them.  Those who do so simply diminish themselves.  I'll continue to do my work.  Continue to be a good lawyer.  Continue to help people.  I win cases.  Did I mention?  I win.  And I win.  And I win.  Yes, I'm competitive.  I've won a lot of things in the past, before becoming a lawyer.  I win.  This is a competitive field of work.  This is a competitive world we live in.  Am I competitive?  Hell yes.  And I win.  Why?  I'm intelligent.  I work hard.  I know my shit.  I'm not scared of anyone.  I'm confident.  I win.  Have I made mistakes?  Certainly, let she who has not sinned throw the first stone.  Do my mistakes take away from the truth of everything above?  No, not one bit.  If there is one who hates me or is jealous of me, it is because they know the truth of everything above but have difficulty accepting it.  That one will try to shine a light on my mistakes, but by pointing the light on me she will have put herself in darkness.  And remember: "To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of ocean by the frailty of its foam.  To judge you by your failures is to cast blame upon the seasons for their inconstancy."  (Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, p. 93).  I was a good lawyer before I went to law school.  Before I became a lawyer.  I have been a good lawyer.  I am a good lawyer.  I will continue to be a good lawyer.  I will help people and I will win cases.  You'll see.  Or you don't have to.  It's fine by me either way.  I am an excellent lawyer.