Lawyers' Welcome Signs

Dear John

My lawyer has erected a sign by the front door of his law firm saying “Welcome”. Do you think that this applies to all his clients, or will the next step be that he will require some of us to go around the back?

MC

Dear MC

I do not think a lawyer is behind this, it is more likely some brash young marketer.

I am all for throwing out the threadbare carpets but a sign saying “Welcome” raises dangerously unrealistic expectations. 

Having said that, law firms should not foster an impression of hostility and that is one of the reasons that many small law firms have removed their receptionists. 

In the 1990s, law firm receptions were as busy as those of doctors. However, with the advent of email, fewer clients attended personally for interviews and due to isolation, many receptionists turned to drink. Greetings to clients, which overnight turned from stern to welcoming and even jolly, often became morose by late afternoon.

To counter this, receptionists designed higher reception desks to hide the bottles, ear pieces were employed to explain the occasional muttering and they remained seated to avoid collapse or in some cases, unseemly dancing. 

Clients became used to peering over high reception desks to see the receptionist on the telephone, looking into the distance, absentmindedly mumbling.

But eventually receptionists were taken into the back office, dried out and rehabilitated. Many have gone on to achieve successful careers as prison camp guards.

Recently, a conveyancing lawyer was persuaded by his marketing manager to put up a sign outside his office which read, “Prepare to be Amazed and Astounded”. His wife quickly took it down.

J.F.

Send your legal questions to john.fytit@lawanddisorder.com.au

Extract from John Fytit’s International Legal Problem Page. For more go to http://www.lawanddisorder.com.au/legaladvicepage.html 


Warning:

Relying on legal advice from a fictitious cartoon character although cheap, is imprudent. However, your own lawyer is always available as a poor second.

John will try to deal with your questions. Nonethless, as John is a two dimensional cartoon character it will not be possible for him to enter into personal correspondence with readers. 

John like some other lawyers, is not to be trusted with serious legal questions.

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