Not Worth It in Book Four: Ichi-no-Tani 2017

Some days… things just don’t seem worth it.

Last week I worked Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I put in at least 3 billable hours every single one of those days (and quite a lot more in physical hours). I was physically present for a work-related required thing 6 days last week for no less than 5 hours. And yet....
Yesterday. My anniversary. Granted, Wife was working but… I needed a day of rest.
Middle of the afternoon… phone goes off. I answer it. It is a client calling from jail. Eye roll, whatever. Except, here is the kicker. (1) It is a client that I got at the eleventh hour on Friday; (2) so the first day he should expect his attorney would be the next available business day (Monday); (3) and he is calling using the MOST EXPENSIVE COLLECT CALLING OPTION… literally the machine said “Press 1 to accept the charges of 24.50 for 20 minutes or Press 2 to accept the charges of 14.75 for 10 minutes.” I selected hang up. Granted, there are some who would probably say that was unethical. But for Christ’s Sake. Sunday.

Then… and remember how I was saying after 6 days, I wanted ONE day where I could rest… I get 4 phone calls at 11 at night. And when I let each of those go to voice mail; I get 2 text messages at midnight (from the same Client’s girlfriend.) Apparently, she has gotten the money together for his bond but the jail says they can’t release him. Well.. fucking duh. It is midnight. Earliest they would release him would be 8 a.m. because he has been in jail for a week. If he was in booking, having just been arrested, different story. Less paperwork. But there is a lot to be done… you can’t just expect to walk into a jail at midnight and say “Why isn’t he out?” Good grief. Though, honestly, it makes sense. The Criminal Element is controlled by three factors (1) instant gratification; (2) a complete lack of forethought; and (3) an inability to consider other people’s needs or wants.

So… yeah. After a 70 hour work week… my Sunday is filled with phone calls, demands, and expectations. And… funny thing… I’m the only attorney in the office today. So… my professional career: bust my ass as often as possible for people who don’t deserve it, who don’t appreciate it, for less money. Because yeah. These are all appointed cases. Appointed Cases, in the state of Iowa, receive a mandated/required salary structure. The State pays me $60 an hour but puts a cap on the case. So any hours worked beyond that cap go unpaid. Oh, and the cap? And the $60 an hour? Those numbers haven’t changed since the fucking 1980s. Do the math on that via inflation. $1 in 1980 is equivalent to $2.91 today. So… not only am I making 30% of what most attorneys get paid already (most attorneys charge $200 an hour)… but just as an inflation perspective, I’m earning less than half of what was earned when those numbers were set.

Then again… maybe I’m just in a foul mood. I mean… bad enough that my one day off was filled with phone calls about work… but then I have to come in today (when SO many other people are off work)… and it is hot as balls. Me in a long sleeved shirt, wearing a tie, in a suit… walking to court (outside, obviously).... and yeah, I sweat through just about everything in a minute flat.

I think tonight I am going to shut off all electronic devices before I go to bed. Make absolutely certain my sleep can’t be interrupted.