The 2021 theme for Black History Month is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity (https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/). Within our profession, we often discuss the concept of bias. A quick way to understand bias is that our brains create “shortcuts” based on whatever limited information or misinformation is available to fit a particular situation. These “shortcuts” allow … [Read more...]
I Found Myself On the Other Side of the Law
I was a public attorney who found myself on the other side of the law due to a highly-publicized drug arrest. I spent the weekend in jail before being arraigned by a clerk who was a friend, tears rolling down her cheeks. The arrest led to a drawn-out legal battle, employment issues, and the potential of losing my attorney’s license. As part of my treatment, my counselor recommended that I get in … [Read more...]
LCL Offered to Help
In 2006, my largest client went out of business. I could not absorb the 80% gross revenue decline caused by this closure. As a result, I went into foreclosure proceedings leading to the loss of my home followed by bankruptcy. In addition, the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board filed a petition against me. I later learned that LCL received a courtesy copy of the petition when it went public … [Read more...]