EXCERPTS FROM "IMPOSED WISDOM" - Fall10-Spr11-Sum11

Excerpts from Journal Responses which were sent in reply to Journals submitted by University of Hawai‘i School of Law students serving academic Externships in various venues in and about Hawai‘i, and elsewhere are included hereinbelow. They are segregated into academic years: Fall-Spring-Summer for each Semester that I served as Director of the Externship Program.  To see if a Journal response that I sent to YOU is included, HIGHLIGHT the link and click on go to https:

All Journal Responses are anonymous and harvested from my book, "Imposed Wisdom." Just for fun, check it out.  You'll get a pretty accurate picture of who I am, what I value and treasure about my years at Richardson and which carry on into the future.  " ... that's Dale."

Below, ten Teasers. To see ALL of the Journal Response excerpts from Fall10-Spr11-Sum11 (they are all there), HIGHLIGHT the below link and press "Go to:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_80dwkOGDrXWV9ObEk0Y29MZWs/view?usp=sharing"

Awesome comments.  Amazing, the things you DO know, “humble law student.” ‘Told you before, ‘tell you again: According to the licensing authorities you'll be my colleague in a few months, but on the strength of these kinds of journal reflections, you are already there.

‘Just wanted to say, if I have not before, thanks for working on these exercises and spending the time that you do – lots of teaching in them – when you look back at them – you’ll realize, you were teaching yourself.

For the most part, everyone’s journals are interesting, and relate some eye- opening kinds of things, and that’s where the learning is. Yours fall squarely in that category.

You are seeing “the good, the bad and the ugly.”

The lesson to be learned: there's bad lawyering on both sides of the aisle, all across the country. What you don't want is to see is bad lawyering by the defense that results in a conviction where there shouldn't be one. You'll never forget this incident.

Your trepidation - as you related is/was absolutely normal, and given Judge ___’s position, one that might be expected, especially to one who does not know him.  Were it in my power to have convinced you in advance, and saved you some anxiety, I would have told you that he is, as you discovered after your gnashing of teeth, pretty down to earth. That being said, the learning in this is that no matter who they are, top or bottom of the barrel, lawyers/judges are after all human beings and as little league and youth sports coaches have been saying for decades, “they put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you do.”

Before long, you’ll be in a position to intimidate a young lawyer/student, quite unaware of your ability to do so, but it comes with the territory.  A lesson to be learned is to early-on develop a “bedside manner,” as lawyers (like doctors) need to take the time to alleviate fears of those who deal with us. Lay people who don’t know lawyers or what lawyers do are especially susceptible to being intimidated and we do them a great service by calming their fears and developing a comfort level for them which eventually makes for providing them the kinds of service that they need, a great deal easier.

“I never realized …” It sucks. No two ways about it.  We’ll all run into unfair situations. They’ll bounce back. Lesson for you, too: “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”

How one steers clear of, side steps or steps over the “land mines” that appear in the most unlikely and oftentimes, most apparent and open venues, is a walk that obliges maturity (that you evidence in your comments and observations) and, for lack of a more inspirational charge, maintaining a "stiff upper lip."  A lesson to be learned - truly - the "real world" is nothing close to what we want it to be.  To borrow from the wisdom of another (I think it was "the Cable Guy"): "If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be."

… a provocative piece. One that is at once troubling and then, one that emotes a reality and truth check to remind us all that a law degree is no shield from the foibles and pettiness of human frailties and "office politics," a sadly, very real "downside" to the otherwise wonderful experience (and life) of a lawyer. Don't let any of this steal your joy.

"... that's Dale."