Chuck Newton

Lawyer Disbarred For Being An Asshole

I got this from Bob Sutton's blog.  According to the Village Voice, attorney Kenny Heller has been disbarred for ... (wait for it) ... obnoxious behavior.

As the Village Voice states:

After 50 years of heaping abuse on everyone within earshot and hurling accusations of conspiracies, "favoritism," and "cronyism" at countless judges and lawyers, the 77-year-old Heller has earned this distinction: No other lawyer in the city but Heller, according to records of his disciplinary hearing, has been ousted for "obstructive and offensive behavior which did not involve fraud or deception."

Heller was disbarred for basically "being an asshole," as one adversary puts it. And in their profession, the rival adds, "that takes some doing."

But even though he lost his law license nearly three years ago, Heller continues to wreak havoc on the judiciary.  Heller told one judge recently to "Kiss my tuchis!"  He called another attorney a "Schmuck!"  He introduced one of his staff members as "dum-dum", and he barked at another lawyer in his office to "Get your brain working! The minute you walk in the door, your brain goes out to lunch."

(Mr. Heller is pictured above).

To Get Your Week Started - The Chordettes - Lollipop (1958)

Notice Andy Williams doing the pop!

Law School In A Box

Three years of actual law school, a bar exam, and over 20 years of practice before they come out with this -- Law School In A Box.  Cost of the box is only $14.95.  Boy, I am going to have to have a serious talk with my college counselor.

Inside the box there are a number of important items that are meant to substitute for the real-life experience of law school, including a set of Heroes of the Courtroom Trading Cards, a mini bar exam, a diploma awarding owners a Juris Doctor degree "not only in English, but also in Latin, because it appears more impressive that way", and, a book entitled "Law School in 96 Pages," written by the John Cascarano and Jacquelyn Oña Cascarano.

I Have Been Busy Collaborating

I have not blogged much in the last week (at least not here) because I have been attempting to think through a new practice area.  In doing so I discovered something new as to how I used blogs and email.

What Would Be The Lawyer Equivalent Of This?

This cartoon makes a point that I think we lawyers too often portray.  Too many tactics, and too much thinking around the problem and issues involved, while ignoring the key issue and what the client is telling us.

Absolutely Feaking Amazing

That would be Fotowoosh.

It might also be Rick Georges and his blog, Furture Lawyer who alerted me to this site.

Although it is completely impossible to reconstruct a 3D scene from a single image, Fotowoosh has done it.  They have figured out which parts of the image correspond to ground, vertical surfaces, and the sky,  and then they have allowed for the construction of a simple 3D model of the scene.

Michael Buble-Moondance

Just take a short break in your otherwise busy day, and enjoy a little good music.  It is kind of like a mini-vacation and makes the day a little more tolerable.

Michael Buble-You Don't Know me

I Present To You Licensed Attorney Gregory Kelly

There is great news in the Third Wave.  I have blogged about Greg Kelly before as he has graduated from law school and is venturing into the solo practice of law.  Greg has contributed to my blog.  He is working hard toward his goal.  And, today I have learned that Greg HAS PASSED THE MISSOURI BAR EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!

To Greg I say, as do all of Third Wavers, carpet commuters, solo attorneys, practice builders, home office lawyers, and shingle hangers -- CONGRATULATIONS.  This is no small feat.  It only comes after a lot of planning, goal setting, and years of hard and unappreciated work, effort, and sacrifice.  We all know exactly how hard it is to achieve, and we know what a relief it is when you finally pass the bar.

Everybody, give Greg a round of applause.  He richly deserves it.

100 Year Old Attorney Beats Law Of Averages

Carolyn Elefant at MyShingle reported on this first, but I like the story a lot for a lot of reasons.

According to the Dessert News, lawyer Richard Bird of Salt Lake City, Utah just turned 100 years old and still puts in a full days work at his own law firm.

As the old lawyer joke goes, I wondered if he was actually a 100 years old or if that was determined by adding up his time records?  As it turns out, Mr. Bird graduated from Harvard Law in 1933.  He has worked for the government, and has been in private practice for a good number of years.

Apparently, Mr. Bird enjoys practicing law.  For me, I will probably be practicing law this long because of my dismal retirement planning.  I will not be able to quit.  I think that is not the case for him.

I stockbroker once cold called me and asked me, "How are you invested, and how is it appreciating."  I told him, "I was heavily invested in children, and they do not appreciate it one bit".  The stockbroker hung up on me.  Being from Salt Lake City, I would assume Mr. Bird might have had the same problem.