[Dueller]

There's an old lawyer anecdote, perhaps true, perhaps not, that goes something like this:

There was a small town lawyer, a solo practitioner, who was very conscientous and hard working that tried to help his clients without gouging them. He had an elderly client, an old gent of modest means who would frequently stop and and chat with the country lawyer and maybe have a cup of coffee.

The lawyer always obliged even though the old man didn't often have any serious legal matters to tend to. Perhaps a deed or a change to his will or some other such ministerial issue. The compassionate lawyer would rarely charge him the full amount he would normally expect. Maybe $25 to help him if he charged anything at all.

The elderly client was tragically involved in a rail road crossing accident and seriously injured. Fortunately, he regained his health. However, the old gent retained the services of another attorney to represent him for injuries received in te accuident. In short order, the old man received a settlement from the railroad for over $2 million.

This troubled the small town lawyer and finally one day, he decided to just ask the fellow why he hired another lawyer to help him in his suit against the railroad. He asked "After all those years where I handled your legal affairs, rarely charging you and if I did it was a modest amount, why did you hire someone else to handle your accident with the railroad company?"

The old man, oviously suprised by this question, replied "OHHHHH.....I thought you was just a $25 lawyer."



As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished." And I think I may just put myself in a similar position as the $25 lawyer. I try not to gouge my clients and take into consideration their plight and circumstances. I often discount my fees when I know they need legal assistance but can't afford paying the going rate. But then these same clients will often expect to pay nothing or slow pay me after I have done their work. It is very frustrating when you try to help someone and they want to take further advantage of you.

However, I cannot forget there are those who are honorable. Like the old couple I won a lawsuit for and saved their retirement. But that's for another time.

At least I can look at the man in the mirror.