Lately it seems that the only things I'm thinking about are the intersections between law and medicine. Up until this morning, I considered this a function of the national dialog about health care reform. Since I'm not in the health care industry, and since I don't like being left out of conversations, this was the simplest explanation.

The real answer is that the universe wants me to keep thinking about this topic.

On the way to work this morning I had another NPR driveway moment. (This would be understandable if I actually listened to NPR on the way to work, but that's what makes the story even better - I was so lost in a separate train of thought that I drove to work in silence, and for some reason turned my radio on only after parking.) Sitting in the parking garage, I heard an outstanding story about a group of retired health care practitioners called Bedside Advocates. This group of physicians and nurses do not practice medicine; rather, they provide information, facilitate better communication with health care providers, and develop a family-like relationship with clients.

In essence, they become zealous advocates.

For anybody who complains that lawyers simply do what their clients want, it is interesting to see the health care profession transplant a central tenet of our profession to improve their quality of care. When a client walks into my office, my job is to advocate for their interests. In order to know what their goals are, I have to listen. And ask questions. And educate. And ask more questions. And listen some more. A relationship forms through a shared common purpose, as well as through a discussion of our strategy to get there.

We talk a lot at Sumpter & Gonzalez about these things, and focusing on our "legal bedside manner". It's nice to see health care professionals acknowledge the need for "medical zealous advocacy", too.

Labels: doctors and lawyers, lagniappe, legal bedside manner, the role of defense attorneys, zealous advocacy

posted by David M. Gonzalez   permalink   0 Comments

We picked up one excellent word — a word worth travelling to New Orleans to get; a nice limber, expressive, handy word — "lagniappe." They pronounce it lanny-yap. It is Spanish — so they said. We discovered it at the head of a column of odds and ends in the Picayune, the first day; heard twenty people use it the second; inquired what it meant the third; adopted it and got facility in swinging it the fourth. It has a restricted meaning, but I think the people spread it out a little when they choose. It is the equivalent of the thirteenth roll in a "baker's dozen." It is something thrown in, gratis, for good measure.

In Southern Louisiana, one often hears the term "lagniappe" used to describe the small things that make life a little sweeter. This word often comes to my mind when I'm doing a little extra for my clients - this is one of my favorite parts of my job. The opportunity to put personal touches on my law practice at my firm is one for which I am grateful.

Last Friday, for example, I got the news that one of our client's felonies was dismissed. I emailed my client to let him know. I told him that I'd pick up a copy of the dismissal on Monday morning when I was at court and fax it to him. He was thrilled and indicated to me that he couldn't wait to have the dismissal in hand. Normally, our runner would be down there in no time to pick up the dismissal for us, but he was out of town visiting his new niece. As I was wrapping things up for the weekend, I decided to run down to the courthouse myself so that my client could have his dismissal over the weekend.

Everybody takes some satisfaction in being someone that people turn to, and that's a rewarding part of my job. I got a call earlier this week that really upset me - one of my former clients called to tell me that his pit bull had been shot by law enforcement. While I couldn't help him legally, I was able to make a couple of calls to people I know in the community and help him with both legal and veterinary options. My fellow dog lovers out there will be happy to know that the dog is doing much better, and hopefully we'll be getting good news about the legal outcome as well.

Labels: dismissal, dogs, lagniappe

posted by Kristi Couvillon   permalink   0 Comments