Thou Shalt Not Be a Pompous Ass

In the next series of posts we turn from “Thoughts on Personal Injury Practice” to “How I Practice Law.” These posts discuss rules for myself in the practice of law. I hope you find them helpful in your profession even if it is not law.

The  first rule I came across several years ago reading C. S. Lewis. Lewis writing on sin discusses sins of the mind and sins of the flesh. To Lewis sins of the mind are worse than sins of the flesh. Lewis writes the greatest sin of the mind is to be judgmental as in thinking I am better than another.  

As an attorney I work on treating all  people with dignity and respect. The great Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius writes he always takes time for his subjects.  He knew every Roman citizen is important as all of the citizens make up the body of Rome.  

Whenever I think I am too busy to deal with a client, staff member, or anyone in my life, I step back and remember C. S. Lewis and Marcus Aurelius and make time for the person.

This rule recognizes we are all in this together, and no one is more important than another.

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24 Responses to “Thou Shalt Not Be a Pompous Ass”

  1. Roxanne says:

    Pat,

    I just laughed out loud when I read the title of your post.

    I certainly agree with your philosophy of how to treat my clients and also opposing counsel.

    I wish all lawyers would get on board so we can return some of the “professionalism” to the “profession” of being a lawyer.

    Roxanne

  2. […] Thou Shalt not Be a Pompous Ass | Zen Lawyer Seattle […]

  3. you have a good taste.

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  5. Emery Claud says:

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  6. What a gem. I found your site on google searching for something else entirely- now I’m gonna need to read through all the old material! Good bye free time this morning, but this was a great find

  7. Trudell says:

    Thank you all for your kind comments on this my first rule on “How I Practice Law.”
    This post hit a nerve with my readers. This I believe is a combination of all of us having dealt with a pompous ass, and the fact there is nothing worse then someone who thinks they are better then another. The overwhelming response shows I have quality people reading my blog.

  8. Howdy, your site is on air in the radio! Good job mate. Your posts are truly great and bookmarked. Regards

  9. Jake Bednar says:

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  10. Whilst I do believe your write-up is on the proper track there are actually a number of factors that i don’t agree with.

    • Trudell says:

      Thanks for the comment Alfonzo. To take from Abraham Lincoln: My posts will please all of the readers some of the time, and some of the readers all of the time, but they will never please all of the readers all of the time.

  11. Mary Fallin says:

    Well I’m going to have to read up some more but this is a good spring board.

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