The Secret Society of Happy Lawyers

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In the discussions that led up to the Lawyers Appreciate…  countdown, Stephanie West Allen mentioned the Secret Society of Happy People to me.  The name captured me – raptured me! — and it kept floating back to the surface as we were choosing the name for the countdown.

Stephanie recently requested authorization from Pamela Gail Johnson, the creator of the Secret Society of Happy People, to establish a Secret Society of Happy Lawyers, and permission was gladly granted.  Visit Stephanie’s Idealawg post for further details.

Now, before we introduce The Secret Society of Happy Lawyers, Stephanie and I are curious: what does that name conjure for you?  Does it bring up images, tales, jokes, dreams?  Please share!  Post your comments here, on Stephanie’s blog, or email Stephanie or me.  Or post something on your own blog, and I’ll add a link here.  We’re eager to hear your thoughts and ideas about the new Secret Society of Happy Lawyers.  And stay tuned: there’s lots to share!

Joining in the “Lawyers Appreciate” countdown

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Here’s a list of those who’ve joined in the “Lawyers Appreciate…” countdown.  I’ll keep updating it as new posts are added.  Thanks to those who are participating!

Added 1/9/07: Although the Lawyers Appreciate… countdown was officialy set to run 12/22-31/06, I’m thrilled to see continuing appreciations!  I’ll keep updating as long as legal bloggers keep posting.  Appreciate on!

December 22
Austin Defense Lawyer — Jamie Spencer  (Lawyers appreciate discussing interesting issues in a collegial atmosphere)

December 23
Amazing Firms, Amazing Practices — Gerry Riskin  (Lawyers appreciate the same things other people do)
Settle It Now Negotiation Blog — Victoria Pynchon  (Lawyers appreciate integrity)
Workplaces That Work — Blaine Donais  (Lawyers appreciate fairness)

December 24
The Lawyer Coach Blog — Allison Wolf  (Lawyers appreciate other lawyers who work diligently in service to their clients)

December 25
Counsel to Counsel — Stephen Seckler  (Lawyers appreciate the rule of law and separation of powers)

December 26
More Partner Income — Tom Collins  (Lawyers appreciate being appreciated)
Lawsagna — Anastasia Pryanikova  (Lawyers appreciate their mentors)

December 27
Legal Blog Watch — Carolyn Elefant  (Lawyers appreciate their clients)
the [non]billable hour — Matt Homann  (Lawyers appreciate gifts.  Be sure to read the gifts that Matt wishes for his lawyer friends.)
SETTLE IT NOW BL AR G — Victoria Pynchon  (Lawyers appreciate legal bloggers)
Build A Solo Practice, LLC — Susan Carter Liebel  (Lawyers appreciate the balue of their education)

December 28
Basquette Case — Basquette  (Lawyers appreciate freedom.  An exceptional peek into one lawyer’s life.)
Legal Andrew — Andrew Flusche  (Lawyers appreciate clients who foster productivity)
Futurelawyer — Richard Georges  (Lawyers appreciate those who blog about lawyering)

December 29
Ernie the Attorney — Ernie Svenson  (Lawyers appreciate good clients, good judges, other lawyers who are fair and straightforward, and an efficient and sensible legal system)
The Common Scold — Monica Bay  (Lawyers appreciate beautiful places and times — can’t begin to summarize this evocative post!)
Robert Ambrogi’s Lawsites — Robert Ambrogi  (Lawyers appreciate civility among their peers)
shlep: the Self-Help Law ExPress — David Giacalone  (Lawyers appreciate courts friendly to pro se parties)
f/k/a… — Prof. Yabut and dagosan  (Lawyers appreciate good haiku)

December 30
Blawg Review — Ed. (Lawyers appreciate link love)
Minor Wisdom — Raymond P. Ward (Lawyers appreciate being appreciated, professionalism in other lawyers, and good opponents)
StayViolation — Chuck Newton (Lawyers appreciate thrilling cases, and more… in verse!)
Bag and Baggage — Denise Howell (Lawyers appreciate clients, especially those who keep their accounts current, and law firms that offer options to build a satisfying career)
May It Please the Court — J. Craig Williams (Lawyers appreciate the opportunity to use their legal skills to make a difference)

December 31
Adam Smith, Esq. — Bruce MacEwen (Lawyers appreciate professional management at senior executive levels of their firms)
Home Office Lawyer — Grant D. Griffiths (Home office lawyers appreciate technology, freedom, and more — all those things and people that allow the home office lawyer to operate)
The Adventure of Strategy — Rob Millard (Lawyers appreciate law firm consultants who deliver on their promises, exceed their expectations and strive to develop mutually valuable, professionally respectful long term relationships)
Transcending Gender — Jennifer Burke (Lawyers appreciate good blogs)
South Carolina Family Law Blog — J. Benjamin Stevens (Lawyers appreciate excellent clients, excellent staff, and excellent ideas)
a fool in the forest — George M. Wallace (also posted on Declaration and Exclusions)  (Lawyers appreciate inquiry)
Life at the Bar — Julie Fleming Brown (Lawyers appreciate colleagues, staff, clients, and laughter)
Online Guide to Mediation — Diane Levin (Lawyers appreciate community)

January 1, 2007
that lawyer dude — Anthony Colleluori (That lawyer dude appreciates clients, courts, judges who rule quickly and impartially, court personnel, police officers, blogging and teaching, fellow bloggers, staff, home, and family)

January 6, 2007
Patterico’s Pontifications — Patterico (Prosecutor who appreciates that he (?) can always do what he believes is right; colleagues; and honest and courteous defense attorneys) (Be sure to read the comments for additional appreciation)

January 9, 2007
What About Clients?  — J.D. Hull (Appreciating lawyers who practice with enduring joy, enthusiasm, and dedication)

Lawyers Appreciate… A 10-day countdown

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Welcome to Day 1 of the 10-day “Lawyers Appreciate” countdown!

Stephanie West Allen, the voice behind Idealawg and TrackKnacks, and I have been corresponding for some months now.  One of the many topics we’ve discussed is our shared desire to launch an appreciative look at the law, lawyers, and practice in the legal blogosphere.  And that’s how the “Lawyers Appreciate…” countdown was born.

Here’s how it works:  Stephanie and I are each inviting 3 legal bloggers to join the countdown.  We’re asking them to post a blog entry that begins with the words, “Lawyers Appreciate…” and then to invite 3 more bloggers of their choice to do the same.  We’ll keep this up for 10 days, until December 31.  Can you imagine the swell of appreciation that will be generated by the end of the year?  Talk about riding the wave into 2007!

I’m sending my emails now.  So keep your eyes open for appreciation, creativity, and an adventure… Because Lawyers Appreciate!

Readers: How would you complete the sentence?  Your comments are, as always, welcome.

Updated: Visit here for a list of all “Lawyers Appreciate…” posts.

Echoes of law school exams

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I enjoy working with law students; I consult with a law school and often join in panels and roundtable discussions with and for students.  Beginning just before Thanksgiving, students get very quiet, and those who aren’t quiet are anxiety-ridden.  That always prompts me to overwhelming gratitude that I no longer have to suffer law school exams.

Remember them?  The frantic outlining, the cramming, the procrastination… And worst of all, waiting for grades.  Now that my career no longer hangs in the balance while professors do the grading, I’m much more sympathetic with the chore they face.  I remember speculating about how professors grade: how much does neatness count?  Is original thought good, or does it run the risk of sounding like panic-inspired raving?  How do professors possibly come up with a consistent grading method?

Finally, the truth outs.  Professor Daniel Solove of George Washington University Law School has posted A Guide to Grading Exams.  He claims it’s a joke, but I’m not so sure….

A fun link

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What’s better than a really funny lawyer joke?

Funny cartoons by a lawyer, about lawyers/practice, using “insider humor.”

To find out what I’m talking about, visit Scribble-in-Law.  I guarantee a smile.

Fun Monday

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Is “Fun Monday” an oxymoron?  Thought I’d share some humor today… Most of us can use it on Mondays:

Legal Humour is just what it says — good legal humor, no lawyer jokes.

Law Ha-Ha is Andrew McClurg’s brainchild.  Love it.

And then there’s Law Laughs, which is more of the same.

For dark non-legal humor, visit the Darwin Awards website, which proclaims an honorable mission: “We salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who remove themselves from it. Of necessity, this honor is generally bestowed posthumously.”

Enjoy.  Perhaps for at least a few minutes, today can indeed be Fun Monday.