Wednesday, December 1, 2010

How Not To Wake Your Lawyer If You Have One

It was a tiring day. I slept earlier than I planned to. At about 10.30 pm, i guess. 

Someone calls me on my cell. Thinking it could be from parents back in Kochi, I took it and then realized it was a client call. The queries were about filing a case relating to tax in Kerala. Okay, friends, don't think that its an attitude problem because frankly, lawyers can't afford to have attitude with their clients but what do you have clients calling up when you are sleepy? Imagine how difficult it would be to relate to taxes at that point or even make sense.


Well, thankfully, years of tax practice saved me. I managed to address the queries and talked to the client properly, appreciating the fact that he believed in my expertise to sort it out. However, after the call, sleep just seemed impossible. Tossing and turning, tossing and turning, then of course, quite fuming...I didnt sleep for quite sometime.


Has this happened to you? How do you deal with it?
I guess I could have switched off the cell phone but somewhere, some one may just need my help. Knowing that, I just can't.

14 comments:

Tarun Mitra said...

Not yet but my Bosses(ex) calls during holidays or after office hours does irritates me

NRIGirl said...

Interesting post... To get back your lost sleep, all you need to do is check my latest post.

It will doze you off right away...

Here's the link for you: Series: Handwritten Post:From NRIGirl

SG said...

If the call is to discuss something that needs immediate attention that night itself, I would say it is perfectly alright. Otherwise, I would be pissed off.

chitra said...

This happens to me very often but like you said there is a need hence they are calling. Nobody calls me just to disturb me otherwise.

Mridula said...

Aah sometimes students do the same call at odd hours but then they are usually so apologetic that you anyway take there call. But this is an exception for me. As a rule I don't encourage office calls after office hours.

Geeta said...

Interesting one. This one is easier to handle if you worked for another company/firm but gets delicate if you are self employed.

Are you willing to lose a client or potentially a few more by word of mouth?

I know its easy to give advise and here is mine - Get 2 different phones, one for personal and one official use. That way, you can switch off the one from work at a specific time every day.

Anonymous said...

Now I dont attend calls in my office mobile after a certain time at night...

Would appreciate your suggestion to have a few names about good Land/Property lawyers around Trivandrum who could help us to form a trust...

R. Ramesh said...

u r abs right ya...some people can irritate beyond imagintn

Felicity Grace Terry said...

A dilemma indeed. Husband dearest, a youth worker, used to leave his work phone on 24/7 just in case but it got to the point when some of the little darlings he worked with thought it was ok to ring at all hours. Explaining this number should only be used in emergencies after a certain time did no good and I'm afraid lack of sleep eventually saw the phone switched off at around about midnight. Thankfully we have yet to deal with a young person in trouble not being able to get in contact.

R. Ramesh said...

thanks thanks thanks

R. Ramesh said...

thanks thanks thanks

R. Ramesh said...

thankssssssss

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Just stopping by to say hello.

Sanand said...

Thx and cheers to you all!