Everyone lies.
Maybe that was a bit cynical.
How 'bout...
Don't believe everything you hear.
Let the documents speak for themselves.
But don't believe everything you read either.
Be prepared for surprises.
Everyone has those clients.
They either tell outright lies,
hide things because they think they know what they're doing,
think they're telling the truth but aren't, or
think they know but don't.
You can be so convinced of your case one day, and totally undone the next.
"Surprise!"
Not fun.
Some have met *'bad learned friends', as Chelsea put it.
They either tell outright lies,
hide things because they know that will win their case,
teach their clients to lie,
butter up the judge when everyone's looking, or
stab you in the back when no one is,
or maybe all of the above.
I used to think - if everyone just played by the rules and seek the truth, the way we're supposed to, then we can be proud of our legal system. And maybe people will stop telling lawyer jokes. (ok, this one is a bit far-fetched)
But now I think - Ok, people are not going to play by the rules. So what do I do?
I do occasionally come across lawyers who wear integrity underneath their robes. It's refreshing, really, to be able to look at a lawyer in court and not have to worry that he's lying through his teeth.
It's also refreshing to meet clients who prove that they are honest people making a genuine claim in court.
It's refreshing to not have to stop myself from saying,
"Yeah, right,"
"Yeah, whatever you say,"
"Yeah. Idiot."
It can be quite confusing sometimes, to be skeptical at work, five days a week, then go to church and trust. Trust that I can trust my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Trust that I can trust.
I think that's why it's important to trust Him day after day.
Not just after TGIF Day and before Blue Monday,
but every day of the week,
from Blue Monday to Blue Monday.
It's easier to trust that way.
Because in the midst of all the untrustworthy people I meet everyday, there is one who remains steadfast, come what may.
*Lawyers refer to opponents as 'learned friends' in court.
