Post by Swimmy on May 12, 2009 19:46:36 GMT -5
Yesterday, I interviewed a prospective client and his sister. No biggie, I have interviewed hundreds of clients before him. As I walked into the waiting room, his sister jumps to her feet, rushes over and introduces herself. She's quite attractive with blue eyes, short brunnette hair, nice smile, and other attractive features. I show them to the conference room and notice her backside. Trying desperately to be professional and not a typical guy.
We enter the conference room and I organize my papers. "So, Ryan, how old are you?" "Well, ___, I'm 28." "26." "Cool." "So, Ryan, what can you do for us?" "Let's start with your brother, ____." I begin to ask a bunch of questions regarding the case. Things seem to be filling out the big picture and The potential's sister pipes up about her involvement in the matter.
I ask her for her last name for discovery purposes. She doesn't answer. "Well, are you married or do you go by your maiden name?" Mind you, I'm used to clients from legal aid, sisters have different last names than brothers and parents but are not married. The sister smiles, "Well, Ryan, that's an awfully personal question, but I am single and very available," as she struts out her chest and grins. Meanwhile I begin to blush not realizing that the innocent question I have asked of countless others was being considered a personal question for pleasure, not business.
We continue with the interview and I ask her if she's employed. "Is that for personal knowledge or professional?" "Well, out of curiosity be-" "I knew" "-cause if we end up in trial and I put you on the witness stand, I want to know all I can to rehabilitate any credibility issues that may arise on cross." "Oh..., well, that's a good save, but I'll still mark it as personal. You can rest assured I'm employed and stable," and she winked at me.
It's getting harder to focus on the issues at hand, but I must say I think I did a good job. We conclude our interview and the brother excuses himself to go to the restroom. She starts playing with her hair and asking me questions about what I think about the case and whether I would pitch a winning argument to my boss to convince him to accept the case. I advise her I will give him my notes and answer any questions he has but that I cannot promise anything.
The secretaries tease me all evening long after the potential client and her sister leave. "Ryan, you were in there an awfully long time. You sure you explored all the facts? "
"They just kept on going..." "Yeah, ok. She's cute, you so should take her up on her offer."
Today, the potential client's sister calls and asks for me specifically. She doesn't leave a message, just her number. Unsure what to do, I talk to my boss and advise him of the situation. He smiles and says, well she wouldn't be a client so go for it. I looked at him blankly shocked that that was his response when I was looking for, "Ok, let me take that and I'll talk it over with her." Instead, he says, "Go give her a call and see what she wants, though I have a pretty good idea."
I call the potential client's sister back and identify myself. "Oh good, and now you have my number... I was calling, Ryan, to say that we would loooove you to represent us, Ryan." "Oh good, ok, then I will tell my boss and let him know." "I know my brother was wishy washy, but I mean business, and I know that we really need your representation, Ryan. We would really loooove for you to represent us, Ryan. Please convince your boss to accept our case, Ryan."
Meanwhile I'm sitting here unsure whether she's flirting out of desperation to find her brother some legal representation or just that shameless. I told her brother to contact my boss if he decided to retain our office. And, instead, she calls me.
So I share this new information with my boss. "Did she ask to see your office or meet you after hours?" And my boss couldn't keep a straight face, he burst out laughing. I tried to ignore it and tell him that she said she would like us to represent her brother. "You sure she really said 'us' and not 'you'?" "Umm, you in the plural, "vous" if we were speaking french."
"Ok, sounds good. So what I'll do is look over your notes and if I decide we will take the case, then I'll tell her you will pick her up at 8."
I swear to God....
We enter the conference room and I organize my papers. "So, Ryan, how old are you?" "Well, ___, I'm 28." "26." "Cool." "So, Ryan, what can you do for us?" "Let's start with your brother, ____." I begin to ask a bunch of questions regarding the case. Things seem to be filling out the big picture and The potential's sister pipes up about her involvement in the matter.
I ask her for her last name for discovery purposes. She doesn't answer. "Well, are you married or do you go by your maiden name?" Mind you, I'm used to clients from legal aid, sisters have different last names than brothers and parents but are not married. The sister smiles, "Well, Ryan, that's an awfully personal question, but I am single and very available," as she struts out her chest and grins. Meanwhile I begin to blush not realizing that the innocent question I have asked of countless others was being considered a personal question for pleasure, not business.
We continue with the interview and I ask her if she's employed. "Is that for personal knowledge or professional?" "Well, out of curiosity be-" "I knew" "-cause if we end up in trial and I put you on the witness stand, I want to know all I can to rehabilitate any credibility issues that may arise on cross." "Oh..., well, that's a good save, but I'll still mark it as personal. You can rest assured I'm employed and stable," and she winked at me.
It's getting harder to focus on the issues at hand, but I must say I think I did a good job. We conclude our interview and the brother excuses himself to go to the restroom. She starts playing with her hair and asking me questions about what I think about the case and whether I would pitch a winning argument to my boss to convince him to accept the case. I advise her I will give him my notes and answer any questions he has but that I cannot promise anything.
The secretaries tease me all evening long after the potential client and her sister leave. "Ryan, you were in there an awfully long time. You sure you explored all the facts? "
"They just kept on going..." "Yeah, ok. She's cute, you so should take her up on her offer."
Today, the potential client's sister calls and asks for me specifically. She doesn't leave a message, just her number. Unsure what to do, I talk to my boss and advise him of the situation. He smiles and says, well she wouldn't be a client so go for it. I looked at him blankly shocked that that was his response when I was looking for, "Ok, let me take that and I'll talk it over with her." Instead, he says, "Go give her a call and see what she wants, though I have a pretty good idea."
I call the potential client's sister back and identify myself. "Oh good, and now you have my number... I was calling, Ryan, to say that we would loooove you to represent us, Ryan." "Oh good, ok, then I will tell my boss and let him know." "I know my brother was wishy washy, but I mean business, and I know that we really need your representation, Ryan. We would really loooove for you to represent us, Ryan. Please convince your boss to accept our case, Ryan."
Meanwhile I'm sitting here unsure whether she's flirting out of desperation to find her brother some legal representation or just that shameless. I told her brother to contact my boss if he decided to retain our office. And, instead, she calls me.
So I share this new information with my boss. "Did she ask to see your office or meet you after hours?" And my boss couldn't keep a straight face, he burst out laughing. I tried to ignore it and tell him that she said she would like us to represent her brother. "You sure she really said 'us' and not 'you'?" "Umm, you in the plural, "vous" if we were speaking french."
"Ok, sounds good. So what I'll do is look over your notes and if I decide we will take the case, then I'll tell her you will pick her up at 8."
I swear to God....