In the case of Robert Bowman, New York judges overruled the Bar’s entrance committee. He lacks the requisite character and fitness to be a lawyer, according to the judges, because of his extensive student loans accumulated over 26 years of study. He will not be granted the license to practice law.
Because of a very tough youth and at least two major accidents that required extensive rehabilitation, his education was extended … and during that time, Mr. Bowman accumulated somewhere between $270,000 and $400,000 in student loans. He admits to not paying any of it back … yet. He needs a job to do so. He’s passed the bar and been deemed to be morally fit and of good character by the entrance committee. Oh, yes, except for the student loans he’s not repaid or even paid down. (A side question might be, who made such loans, and why? But, I digress.)
As with a number of our politicians of recent note, I find it both interesting and disturbing when small-minded (yes, I know, this is a moral characterization) people sit in judgment on others on issues of this nature. Mr. Bowman apparently faced incredible physical odds in his life, not of his own making, and overcame them. But, in the process, he needed financial help.
I guess it was just bad timing for Mr. Bowman. Because had he accumulated this debt after he were licensed, and then went into bankruptcy, there would be nothing said about his character fitness. Before today, I had not experienced lawyers going into bankruptcy. Today, that is no longer an uncommon occurrence. In fact, bankruptcy is an approved strategy to avoid debt payment, used by a number of large law firms, including the Heller Ehrmann firm recently … to avoid payment of the firm’s lease obligations … and therefore protecting the financial interests of their equity partners who might otherwise be exposed to collection efforts. I have difficulty understanding why the lawyers of Heller are morally fit to practice law, owing millions of dollars, and Mr. Bowman is unfit because of a few hundred thousand dollars.
Oh, and how about some of the lawyers in our community who give the profession a bad name by virtue of the way they practice, and the scams they pull on their clients … and theft from client trust accounts that result in slaps on the hand or temporary suspensions? No, that seems to be o.k., but somehow, Mr. Bowman’s case is different.
Perhaps moral integrity and character fitness should be grounds at least every five years for investigating every lawyer who renews his/her license. After all, don’t we do that when we renew our driver’s license?
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Today, I’m a super proud parent (though I’m always proud of my kids!)
My daughter received a certification as a WCS (Women’s Health Certified Specialist), 1 of only about 50 in the country.
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Take a look at today’s WSJ in the Personal Journal section … talks about our personal critic … our worst enemy … and suggests that challenges to our self-esteem are so devastating to our well-being. This may be one of the most important lessons I’ve learned and re-learned … and continue to deal with … in recent years! I always knew it, but never put it in the right context before listening to my coach. Self-esteem goes beyond the bravado attributed to lawyers and that has been dubbed "arrogance" by those outside the legal community.
Just one of many benefits I’ve received over the last few years from being in my own business coaching program with someone I trust and have a high regard for.
Self-worth may be more important than any other attribute. It allows one to hold one’s head high, a very important angle for the human anatomy.
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I competed in two events at the Senior Olympics held this week in Los Angeles. I previously reported my results. I’ve been thinking further about the process of the competition and came up with ideas about how the competition relates to my life, and the lives of many people in our profession. Below is how I see the Senior Olympics on the one hand and how they are a metaphor in real life. If you have other events in your life that you care to share, please write me.
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Just returned from the 10K … can’t believe I did it … yesterday’s 5K was 10:03 minutes; today’s 10K was 19:57 minutes… Today equalled two 5Ks, back to back. And my time for the first half of today’s ride was 6 seconds faster than the time from yesterday … With my average speed for twice the distance today being the same 18.4/18.5 mph. Verry good for me…
So, I did better than I’ve ever done. I wasn’t first, but I wasn’t last. I was 8th out of 9 in yesterday’s competition … a bummer … but then I was ahead of thousands who didn’t even show up …
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Tomorrow, I ride in the cycling 5K Time Trial event of the Senior Olympics. This will be my third competition on the bike in my life, and I’m eager to ride. I chose to ride the Time Trials rather than the road races because I want to compete against myself without fear of an accident. Lance Armstrong can go down in a road race, but then he’s riding for millions of dollars; I’m riding for fun!
I’ll let you know how I did. 🙂
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I normally refrain from any political observation or commentary. But, in a speech in front of the US Constitution, President Obama made an important observation. President Obama said: "Prolonged detention should not be the decision of any one man.."
In other words, if several people agree, we can imprison people without charges and without power. In Britain, 28 days is the longest someone can be detained without charges. Wow! I didn’t really appreciate the discussion in England when Tony Blair proposed 3 months’ detention as the maximum detention without being charged with a crime. The House of Commons finally adopted a 28 days standard. I guess I figured that discussion was there, and we don’t have that here, so not my problem.
But, we now have it here!!!!
I’m sorry, but threat of future criminal activity has never been allowed in the US … But, then, perhaps I’m too much of a Constitution stickler … Some might call this "too liberal." I call it "conservative." Conserving the principles of our founding ancestors who left such behavior to create a new, safer and more open society.
What happened to us?
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Yesterday, I took my restored 1983 Porsche Cabriollet out for a spin. I’ve always loved this car, but some of its aging has caused me to enjoy it less. No more! It’s as fit as new, even with a new coat of paint.
I returned to the car from an appointment. As I was standing there, opening the door and getting ready to get in and return home, a garbage truck pulled up next to me. All kinds of images went through my head, but I certainly didn’t expect what happened next.
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In today’s WSJ, there is an article about a blogger being sued for defamation. There is greater leeway for "reporters," and this may be a threshold case. Is a blogger a "reporter" or "journalist" that would provide the writer with greater latitude? But, even reporters cannot defame others. As a regular blogger, I will be interested in the outcome of this case.
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