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Legal Mean Streets

  Bitter and Abused /   September 19, 2008 /   Columns, Lawyer /   15 Comments


I had just lateraled over to a major firm in a new city.  One day I receive a call from a partner asking me to come to his office, and to bring the “Acme” file.  When I get there, he says, “Walk with me.” I assume we’re on another Starbucks run “meeting.” Instead, we get to the curb, and he has a car and driver waiting.  We’re going over to meet with a client.

I made like a potted fern, as they expect me to do, and took notes.  At the end of the meeting, which was past the close of business, partner and I depart client’s office.  Partner tells me that he’s going to have the car take him home.  I blink.  It’s dark.  It’s winter.  I don’t have a coat.  I don’t have a purse.  Or any money.  Or ID.  I didn’t expect to leave the office that afternoon.  I don’t even know where I am.  I’m in a skirt suit and heels.  I don’t have a cell phone.  I’m a woman, alone after dark in an unfamiliar city without a dime or a can of pepper spray.

So I walk, for what seems like hours, past what seems like a frighteningly large collection of nefarious denizens of the night, gathering to do me harm.  And discover, to my relief, that I have put my subway fare card in my suit pocket that morning.  So, if I can find a subway station, I can at least get back to the office.

An hour later, heels blistered, palms sweaty, I return to the safety of my office.  Where the partner has had his secretary leave a stack of documents to be privilege reviewed by morning.

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Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer Tagged With: Associate Abuse

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