Types of Lawyers #4: The Lawyer Who Carries Another Lawyer’s Briefcase

It always begins innocently enough. “You’re coming with me to court,” the partner says to the associate. The associate, of course, cannot believe his good fortune. But then the partner completes his thought. “I need someone to carry my briefcase.”

Can you blame the associate for being confused? The partner is heading towards the elevator with empty hands, and the briefcase is sitting on the floor. Should the associate pick it up? He’s not sure. Though he received good marks at his last review for being a “team player,” he’s never thought of himself as a pack mule. What a dilemma! Figuring he has no choice, he picks up the briefcase and dashes for the elevator. 

And that’s how it happens. That’s how a proud and well-respected associate can be changed as quickly as a gunshot into the lawyer-who-carries-another-lawyer’s-briefcase. 

Should we pity the poor associate? To be sure, he could have told the partner no. Had he done it, the partner might have come to his senses, blushed slightly, and apologized for treating the associate as his personal valet. But the associate didn’t object, and he picked up the briefcase, and now his career will take a different path. Having carried the briefcase, it won’t be long before he’s assigned to buy a birthday present for the partner’s wife. The week after that, he’ll be ordered to take the partner’s shoes to be resoled. Before the month is out, the associate will either be cleaning the law firm’s toilets or supervising a two-year document review in Omaha.

Will any good come from this sad tale? Perhaps. At some point, the lawyer-who-carries-another-lawyer’s-briefcase will shake off the stigma of having carried another lawyer’s briefcase. By this time, he’ll probably be a partner himself. And one day, completely without warning, he’ll face a second test of his moral character. He’ll be rushing off to court. In his hand, he’ll be clutching a briefcase. There’ll be a moment’s hesitation as he turns to his associate. He’ll clear his throat, begin to say something . . .   

Will he hand the briefcase to his associate? It’s impossible to say. For the sake of the profession, let’s pray the answer is no. 

[Like this post? It's one of many included in my book How to Feed a Lawyer (And Other Irreverent Oberservations from the Legal Underground). Details here.]

Related posts: The "Types of Lawyers" Category -- all types-of-lawyer posts

Comments

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Yeah, been there. How about this: Senior Partner: "I'm taking some clients to a football game tonight, we're leaving at 5:00." You arrive at the stadium and he says, "thanks for the ride, you don't have to pick me up, Len will drive me home. See ya on Monday." This is the same partner who had our ace paralegal do all the paperwork for his son's medical school applications. And they wonder why I left the Evil Defense Firm for life in the Ginormous Corporate Entity.

[Roger]

I came to this site through a Google search for "different types of lawyers". Although it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, my time has not been illspent. As for the question at the top of the page- "Can lawyers be entertaining?" I've read some of this website and think the answer is definitely "yes".

Now I have a question of my own. Since this seems like a place with some people qualified to give serious advice about law, I ask you all "Are all lawyers overworked and incredibly stressed out?"

I'm a college student interested in law, but while working at a medium sized law firm over semester break every partner seemed to be constantly grumpy. Are there types of law that allow the attorney to live a more relaxed lifestyle with time for a family? Or is this profession doomed to high blood pressure and an obsession with money?

Thanks for your thoughts...

[Priscilla Fuentes]

IM a people person would a lawyer job be for me or would i fit in another category???? do you think its good for me??

[Evan]

This is a full service weblog, but not that full service. I'll leave career counseling to the professionals. I suggest taking a look at that "What Color Is Your Parachute" book, which is still selling lots of copies. Buy one of those and help make its author richer. If you demand an opinion from me, I'll give you one: "People persons" are well-suited to the law, but they also make great massage therapists. Good luck!

[jerry]

i came to this site looking for differnt types of lawyers, and while entertainig, this site did no have what i was looking for

[Evan]

I have no doubt that your complaint is a common one. My apologies.

[Maggie]

I would like to become a lawyer, but I'm not sure if you would have to work alot like on weekends to get a desent pay. Do you?

[Brittany]

Answer to Maggie b/c I'm sure Evan is busy :)
Most lawyers have a flat fee and additional work is billed by the hour. But being as you're working on a court schedule, to finish what needs to be done before a deadline pops up, weekend working isn't uncommon. If you're turned off by the idea of sacrificing a late night movie or a Saturday sleep-in, this may not be the career path for you.

Evan:
That was awesome! I was a briefcase carrier as a legal secretary working my way through Pre-Law, but used that to establish a relationship with the partner, who then helped me get into GSU's School of Law. So it's not always a bad thing, although I do imagine that it wouldn't be quite as beneficial to another lawyer, lol.

[Moneymaker]

Billable hours, Clients, Deadlines.. always keeping the good name of 'the firm'..
this seems so similar to my profession.. Accountancy. i work at an accounting firm and it is very similar to law firms.. except CPAs have to be really smart with numbers and tax laws.. as i am a tax associate. working at a CPA firm is no joke.. i work at KPMG .. and im workin weekends.. sundays.. ugh.. it better pay off when im partner

[Carolee Dupar]

very funny, hope my lawyers career doesn't end that way

[Kaye Wolf]

One of my earliest assignments as an engineer was to follow around a brilliant senior scientist at IBM. To this day I swear that my only job was to keep him from setting himself on fire when he would absentmindedly place his cigarette in his breast pocket. However, as a young Black female engineer, having an IBM Senior Scientist vouch for certainly helped my career. I have since held both the titles of Senior Scientist and Senior Electrical Engineer.

From where I sit, if the Senior Partner is worthy enough for you to want to learn from, you should be humble enough to carry his or her briefcase.

[Then again, law is so different!]