Tag Archive: Personal Thoughts

Annual Blawg 100 Amici Legal Blog Nominations

The ABA Journal has opened the nomination process for its annual Blawg 100, a list of the 100 best law-focused blogs on the Web.

The publication is requesting short submissions from people who have found that my blog, LawBiz Blog (www.lawbizblog.com) has provided valuable and timely information in my area, law practice management.

If you have enjoyed my blog postings over the past year (and prior years), I hope you will act as one of my “friends of court.”  The process is quick and easy, and will take no more than a few moments of your time.

Simply click on the link below and fill out the short form. The deadline for submission is 7 p.m. ET on Friday, September 7th. 

Thanks in advance for taking part!

The Blawg 100 Amici Nomination Form


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Liars cannot be rehabilitated but drunks can

Can one ever be rehabilitated from moral turpitude?

Remember Stephen Glass? He was the young journalist (in his 20’s) who lied and fabricated news stories. He was found out, disgraced and fired, never again to be hired as a journalist. A movie was made of his escapades, Shattered Glass. Fast forward through psychoanalysis, moving from New York to California, studying law, writing a successful  book about journalism and “growing up.”

He went to law school, clerked for two federal judges, and interned in a law firm. He applied to the New York Bar, but withdrew his application when he learned that he would be rejected on moral turpitude grounds. He has now applied for admission to the California Bar. He worked for a California personal injury lawyer. Each of his employers has supported his application.

Despite his literary success, his scholastic achievement, and his apprenticeship in the law … and the passage of more than 10 years since his misdeeds, the State Bar of California opposes his admission to the Bar, as did New York. He pursued, however, and the matter is now before the California Supreme Court, after a 10 day confidential bar trial.

The real question is whether Glass is rehabilitated. If you defile one profession (journalism), are you forever tainted thereafter? Is our “penal” system meant for retribution or rehabilitation? We allow lawyers who have stolen from trust accounts because of alcoholism and drug addiction (diseases) to reenter the practice of law. Is there a different standard here? Not being privy to the trial testimony, one can only wonder why the Bar is so adamant in its position, given the support for Glass that is public.

We don’t have a really good definition of moral turpitude beyond platitudes; it’s on a case by case basis. And we don’t have a really good definition of rehabilitation; again, this is on a case by case basis. But, Glass’ experience in the legal community suggests that he has learned his lesson … a particularly important lesson when one is an officer of the court and the court relies on attorneys’ assertions representing clients.

Perhaps I am a bit cynical here. But, I wonder why the Bar is so harsh on Glass when we all can call out the names of lawyers who misquote case citations in briefs and otherwise misrepresent to the court in order to advance their position. Yet, these lawyers are seldom reprimanded, let alone disbarred. And in the field of sport, we know athletes “cheat” in order to better their chances of winning a race, often with impunity. Yet, here we have a person who has “paid a high price” for his cheating, has done what he could to rehabilitate himself, and yet is being denied the license of his new chosen profession.

Why is it that drunks and alcoholics can be considered rehabilitated even when they have stolen from their clients trust accounts or have been involved with terrible accidents, sometimes causing death to their victims? But, liars? Liars who have not caused anyone physical injury? With due respect to the Bar of which I am a member, Glass did not commit a heinous crime and should be given another chance.


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Breakfast in Chicago

For those in and around the Chicago area, come join me for breakfast (my treat) on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Allerton Hotel at 701 Michigan Avenue.  Aug 23, 2012. Please send me a note that you will be attending. I look forward to visiting with you.


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Remembering a major event – and training for a repeat!

Today, I realized that it is the 10 year anniversary of my riding up one of the most famous mountains in the world, Alpe d’Huez!

I rode a major mountain here in California earlier in the year, Mt. Figueroa about 1/2 hour north of Santa Barbara. It is the same mountain climb that many professional cyclists ride in the early months of the year to train for the Tour d’France and other major races. When I reached the top, the coaches at CTS Training (Chris Carmichael, then the coach of Lance Armstrong) assured me that this climb confirmed that I could climb any mountain in France. Well, in some disbelief, I made reservations the following week to go to France in July 2002.  And I did climb several of the other major climbs in that year’s Tour, as well.

It’s now 10 years later; time has taken its toll. But, I did start training to climb Mt. Fig. again this year. Wish me luck, though I’ll need more than that …

What’s in your bucket list? What are you doing to achieve your goals?


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20 years on the Board of Directors of the Mammoth Estates.

Ed and Paula

I was very touched by the inscription on the wooden box I was given in appreciation of my 20 years on the Board of Directors of the Mammoth Estates Board of Directors.

This is the inscription:

Ed Poll Please accept this as a token of our grateful appreciation and thanks for your many years of counsel both personal and professional. Your concern and conviction, time and input on committees of the Board, have been invaluable. You will be missed.

Happy travels with Paula and family. Mammoth Estates Homeowners Association July 2012

 


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Tour de France begins

The  "Super Bowl" of cycling, the Tour de France, has begun. It’s a joy to see how the cycling teams work together. While there is serious competition amongst the teams, there is still civility and respect for one another. Lawyers would do well to see this as an example for their own conduct.

The Belgium countryside is exquisite; one scene pictured 3 frisky horses reacting to the passage of almost 200 cyclists (and the entire entourage) right in front of them. What a site!


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