Great Additions in Book Five: Working Through the Maze 2018

I know I don’t need more reasons to leave.... and I know this is just a standard part of working with International Clients.... but this is yet another reason why I’ve been saying **you need to hire attorneys that speak the client’s language… and if you won’t, then don’t give all the Chinese Speaking clients to the attorney that doesn’t speak Chinese.

I got a Domestic Violence client who was in a bit of a spot. He and his girlfriend were moving to a new state the day after the arrest. Obviously, they hadn’t planned on there being an arrest. But this puts all parties into a precarious position. (1) Can the client continue to move? (2) The alleged victim has all of her belongings in boxes waiting to be moved; how does she access her stuff? (3) As No Contact Orders are automatic in these cases, how do the two people figure out the move and access to possessions?

Even in these cases, I’m not a bad attorney. I acknowledge the issue, can see this needs to be fixed ASAP and get to work on it. Within 24 hours, the Prosecutor and I had agreed that the No Contact Order should be modified. The prosecutor and I had agreed that communication is allowable by phone or text message but they could not have “in person” contact. They could still move; but during that move they could not have “in person contact” so they would have to work that out via the phone. This is my client. Whom Chinese Boss had me contact via phone. Whom Chinese Boss had me go to his house for a meeting. So when I was able to resolve a serious issue for them quickly, I wanted to let them know as fast but as clearly as possible. So I wrote a carefully worded e-mail that used simple language to explain this to the client. Apparently, that was inappropriate. Chinese Boss e-mailed me to tell me that I need to communicate through her. So… my client, that I’ve spoken with on the phone, that I’ve been to his house… Chinese Client, so Chinese Boss gets to take lead on Client Interaction while I do all the work? I get it. That is part of how this business runs. That is part of how this business “needs” to run. But I can’t/don’t want to do business that way. If I have to do the work… hearing things 3rd hand and needing to go through various other people just to communicate with my client? Sorry, I’m going to have to pass.