Run away As the blog world gets larger and more diverse, I find that I enjoy a lot of blogs in which people talk about the stuff they do for a living. I’m always up for overhearing professional backstairs chat.

For instance. Bill Altreuter is a lawyer in Buffalo, New York who writes a blog called Outside Counsel. Here he is with an observation that could apply, mutatis mutandis, to the heartburn of a lot of jobs:

Under New York law, certain types of people get the trials of their cases prioritized. Mostly you see this in the context of old folks: people who are over seventy get a special preference. Municipalities do, too, as do the terminally ill, and the victims of medical, dental or podiatric malpractice. I propose a special “pain in the ass” preference, for those clients that one never wants to see again. “Your Honor, I move for an expedited trial, on the grounds that my client is a pain in the ass.”“What is your basis for requesting this relief, counselor?” “She does not return my calls. She refuses to follow my advice. She calls at the end of the day, and talks for hours about the stuff I have spent hours explaining, then has her cousin who is a lawyer call and ask me the same questions two days later.” “Motion granted. Your client is a pain in the ass. May g-d have mercy on your soul.”

[05:00 PM]