Chuck Newton

Newbies

Along the argument of whether law is a profession or a trade (I say both), I thought this cartoon from F-Minus was humorous.

For The Record

Given all of the legal wrangling this past week about Anna Nicole Smith, I do not really know why I need to say this except to make the record clear.  I am probably one of the few virile men in this part of the country that is not claiming to be the father of Ms. Smith daughter.  In fact, I am NOT the father of her child.

We all want our day in the spotlight, but come on.  This is the Judge Jerry Springer Show.  Gentlemen (and I use that word lightly), is this really how you want to be remembered?

I never met Anna Nicole Smith.  I do not know her.  And, if not for the vicious rumor that I might be the father of her child (which I started), I would not have to deny this grossly inaccurate allegation.

Now we all agree that Anna Nicole Smith put the "fun" back in dysfunctional, but when does this just turn into a circus sideshow?

Anna Nicole Smith stands for most everything for which I do not care.  Plastic boobs.  Bleached blond hair.  She had a smile like Mr. Ed.  She even use to work at Red Lobster and, with the exception of their cheese biscuits, I do not like that restaurant.

Please.  Please.  Please.  I like watching the news.  Can we please cover something else?

For Your Weekend Enjoyment - Louis Armstrong - Mac The Knife

Know Your Niche

There is a good post in the New Jersey Law Journal by Paramuit Mahli entitled Know Your Niche.  It is a common refrain that I have blogged about a number of times, and it is something that I follow.  As the author states, "knowing your target audience will help distinguish you from the competition."  As she points out too many law firms "spend more money, time and energy than they’d like on marketing activities that don’t bring the desired results; there is no difference between their firm and the competition; and they’re trying to be all things to all people and getting nowhere."

A Lawyer Walks Into A Bar

Man 'o man, when I went to study for the bar exam, I wish I could have said I will wait for the movie.  But, what movie? 

That is about to change.  Coming soon to a theater near you (hopefully) is the documentary A Lawyer Walks Into A Bar.  The movie chronicles the lives of six wannabe attorneys as they prepared for last July’s bar exam in California.

One of the wannabes is Donald Baumeister, an ex-Marine, who had failed the California bar 41 times and is shown in the movie gearing up for number 42.  Is that even possible?

The documentary also interviews such notables as Alan Dershowitz and Vernon Jordan, who share their views on the profession and their own bar-exam horror stories.

The movie will debut in March at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas.

My concern is that I do not like to watch horror flicks, and a slasher movie such as this might be too gorey for me.

Going Doughnuts Over Legal Education

Professor Darren Bush and Professor David Crump of the University of Houston Law Center argue over Cameron Stracher's article stating that law schools rarely teach students to be lawyers.  You can find this give and take on UH's Law Center Faculty Blog.

You could call the argument a food fight only because Professor Crump brings a doughnut analogy to the argument.  He states:  "Most of the law is not intellectual debate. Instead, it is about fact development, transactional planning, and such matters—which require a lot of intellect, but are not developed very well by law school."

Medical Innovation -- Now This Is What I Am Talking About

Ash Wednesday

I feel a little bad and a little devilish at the same time.  Ash Wednesday is here. 

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days before Easter.  At Mass worshippers are blessed with ashes by the celebrating priest, who marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross, which the worshipper traditionally retains until washing it off after sundown.  The symbolism honors the tradition of throwing ash over one's head signifying repentance before God.  In attendence, it is actually larger than Christmas Mass for us Catholics.

I went to 7:00 Mass tonight.  And, as I sat there all relaxed and satisfied after summing up work and having a nice leisurely dinner with my children before going to Church, I noticed everybody else rushing in to church in a huff.  Most, frustrated after a long hard day at work, had to rush back through Houston traffic on the commute home.  Pick up the family.  Miss dinner.  All so they could meet their obligations.  Most looked ragged, aggravated, frustrated and just plain pooped out.  Most have to chore of helping their children with their homework when they return home.

Church is about 5 blocks from my home (I mean office).  No, I mean home and office.  I recognize the look and the exhaustion on other's faces because that use to be me until I found the Third Wave practice of law.  Cut out the commute and I have two to three hours more a day to take things easy.

It is worth it.

If you are jealous, do not be.  You can do it too.  Move home.  Create a Third Wave practice.  Go virtual.  Take control of your schedule.  You will be a better person for it.

Do Law Schools Lack Dexterity?

I saw an article of late in which the writer asked if law is a profession or a trade?  I guess my point is, does it really matter?  Whether you have your name stitched on the breast of your shirt or your initials embroidered on your french cuff, it matters little.  The philosophy of the law is a wonderful thing.  It is a joy to ponder and to argue.  Ultimately, however, law is a means, in our capitalist society, of making a living for those who graduate from law school.  A student trained in the art of legal philosophy and not trained in the practical practice of the trade is little more than a ne'er do well, a prodigal, bootless, banal, otiose, resultless, unsubstantial, a sluggard, or however you wish him or her to be labeled.  The point is that one without the other leaves the newly minted law student bankrupt in the area of practice practicality.  Nobody wants this.

Flashback Break

How about a little break from all of that research, writing, collaboration, client contact, court appearances, and appointments for a flashback.  Try the Flying Nun.  Sally Fields as Sister Bertrille whose various mishaps sent her flying over the convent San Tanco and the landscape in San Juan, Puerto Rico with the use of her wing-like coronet.  Oh, Sister Bertrille who sent many a young male Catholic TV watcher to confession for grossly impure thoughts.  And frankly, even with age, I think Sally Fields in those Boniva commercials is still hot.  Only now we Catholics now call confession "reconciliation."