Scenes from Court or The Twinkie Defense

Sometimes when I go to court, the experience can feel like I have just entered a return of "Sex in the City."  For instance, take my trip to the Clerk's Office on Valentines' Day.  A young female attorney was bemoaning what to do about a bout of flirting she'd had with a colleague.   Apparently, the colleague had flirted and she'd flirted back.  And he was married!!  What to do?  The other woman and I in the Clerk's waiting room suggested that she text him and tell him that she hadn't meant to flirt and lay the blame on Valentines' Day and her 'contact' high with all the candy.  After all, we said, we all know about the infamous Twinkie defense.  She thought our suggestion was a good idea.  Then my own paperwork appeared and I left full of wonder about how life goes on at Court.

Legally Yours

A Paralegal's Rules of Court

As Gilbert & Sullivan* once wrote and I paraphrase "A paralegals lot is not a happy one"**

Here is the scene.  The attorney finishes an important brief and because it is so important you as the paralegal have to walk it through the court to get it stamped.  And time is an issue.  So, no pressure.  I am sure you are all familiar with this one because no matter how many times you have gone to that particular courthouse, the place will have changed slightly. It may be a good change or the Courthouse may have become "The Courthouse from Hell."  Getting through the security, up to the Clerk's Office, and out again depends on experience, persistence and charm.

There are three rules to remember once you get through security.

1. Be patient because the line at security is sure to have frayed your nerves and, who knows, the line at the Clerk's office may be huge.

2. Be persistent in your request to the clerk because you are just another of 30 gazillion pests she/he has had to deal with in the first hour her/his office is open
 
3. Be polite to the clerk and remember to thank her/him for helping you on such a busy day.

  
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_influence_of_Gilbert_and_Sullivan (who were Gilbert & Sullivan)
** When constabulary duty's to be done, to be done,
A policeman's lot is not a happy one, happy one  at http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/pirates/web_op/pirates24.html

Paralegal Office Supply Wars or Tabbies Are Not Just Cats

Found a website http://www.blumberg.com/ that understands the legal biz. I have been looking in the wrong places for years trying to find exhibit and number tabbies and a host of other items related to the legal field. http://www.blumberg.com/invoice.cgi?rm=view_cluster&cluster_id=170232

Please understand that I am not endorsing this link since I only just found it but stay tuned. I am just jumping up and down for joy back here on this side of the screen. Ok, I also belong to the society for the easily amused but truly when you've been looking as long as I have for something as essential as these items finding them is like finding the philosophers' stone.

Legally yours,