You have got to be kidding. What the …? One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars for a Will, Power of Attorney and Living Will? Get real. I had laser surgery that cost $1400. I doubt the lawyer spent more time, energy and money to get where he is than the surgeon who repeatedly zapped my eye to correct a botched job done by another surgeon. Yes, surgeons do make mistakes and mess up patients. There is always risk for doctor as well as patient with surgery of any kind. What was that $1500 lawyer risking? Nada. Zilch, Zip. I find it downright insulting.
Of course I almost immediately thought of Dick the Butcher in Shakespeare’s Henry the Sixth. “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” I know he was speaking of corrupt lawyers, not all. But one can’t avoid the line coming to mind even when one, I, would not advocate terminating people of any profession.
I don’t know how to deal with my umbrage. I guess the only thing I can do is try to write a story that happens in Lawyertown. A place in which legal people who offend basic sense and decency get justified comeuppance. I’ll have to avoid being too vicious, although I suspect some of you might want to urge me on in that direction. Those of you who’ve had dealings with lawyers. Perhaps dealings similar to mine. A lawyer friend, who now writes legal articles for a major publication, had recommended some one who I decided not to use after getting his fee quote, which was not as bad as the Attorney at Insult, Esquire. Two or three days after the recommendation I got a “Don’t use him until we talk” warning from my friend. I still don’t know why I was warned but it’s got to tell you something about lawyers if they can so quickly be warned against after being recommended. Another lawyer who couldn’t get around to completing legal documents for me has been disbarred. Misappropriation of client funds. I won’t bore you with my long tale of woe with him.
Okay, I’ve vented. I’ll go work on the tale of Lawyertown. I suppose I’ll include the Shakespeare quote as an epigraph. Won’t be able to resist.
Good luck with any of your dealings with lawyers. Lots of luck.