The real work of justice: form filling.

I have worked my first day in a real legal office and I have uncovered the real work of justice. From my lowlly position of a back office with cubicles, I have come to see that the real footwork of the law is in filling out forms and in keeping track of lots of paperwork. And what kind of forms will I be spending three days a week filling out. . .settlement demands on behanlf of plaintiffs sent to insurance companies. Yup. . .I am an taking an internship in ambulance chasing and my work life will soon be filled with all sorts of accident reports from fender benders and medical records from chiropractor's offices.

On another note, I was back in the homeless shelter today doing intakes for the social security benefits legal services organization I volunteer for. Our clients are decidedly grateful, but many who are also present in the shelter loath our presence. Part of this is because they are not allowed to smoke during the time when we are in the shelter and the staff makes hourly announcements, by hollering at the top of her voice, that there is "no smoking 'till the lawyer's leave." This is combined with a general distrust of lawyers, or maybe anyone in a position of authority. I am still trying to get comfortable with my future position in life and I am sure I will come up against various attitudes toward lawyers, but I guess few like the one I had today.

After being at the shelter for 3 hours and putting down as many cups of coffee as the schitzoids, I really needed to use the restroom. I figured it was alright, because they always seem to be cleaning around the place. What I didn't realize was that there were no doors on the stalls in the mens restroom. There were several men already in the restroom when I went in to use the urinal. As I went to wash my hands in the sink, an older gentleman sitting on the crapper ostensiably serving nature, and because there were no doors he decided to ask me, "you're a lawyer. . .are you from the IRS?" I assured him that I was not there to discuss his back taxes and quickly made my way out of the restroom.

I think there are three lessons I should take from today's experience. One, when you are homeless, restrooms provide a certain protection from the rest of the world that lend a man the confidence to proffer proclamations from the throne. Two, everyone has an opinion about lawyers. Three, unless you are using your skills to help someone get money/justice, the opinion is just above their opinion toward the IRS.