California’s budget crisis is now dramatically affecting our Los
Angeles Superior Court system and that affects the level of justice we
can expect. British politician, William Gladstone (1809-1898),
famously said: “Justice delayed, is justice denied.”
State financial support for 2012 has been cut by $30 million dollars
from the LASC system alone and more cuts are expected for 2013. Last
month 157 people were laid off and an additional 106 will be losing 40%
of their salaries when they are moved from their 5 day to a 3 day week
schedule, another 86 are to be re-classified to lower level positions,
etc. etc.
At the same time – according to the July 2012 issue of CALIFORNIA
LAWYER – legal fees are on the rise. Between 2009 and 2011 nearly 1 in
5 lawyers raised their hourly rates by $100 or more and the percentage
of high-end lawyers charging more than $1000 per hour in that same
period of time increased by 75% while all levels of law school
graduates are experiencing historically unsuccessful job hunts.
So, what’s up with that?
For me – it just continues to reflect the on-going disappearing act of
the middle class and the installation of our new third world society
that operates one way for its lower-class citizens (Legal Aid, Public
Defenders, Pro Bono services, filing fee waivers…) and quite another
way for its upper-class citizens – the latter of who, now more than
ever demand experienced legal representatives who will best navigate
their legal matters through our damaged and overburdened court system
while using their experienced negotiating skills and alternative
dispute resolution options to most effectively resolve their legal
problem(s). And for the middle class persons? Well they just have to
tough it out – and for some that may be a blessing in disguise.
My open recommendation to each of you is to re-set any of your
remaining middle-class goals to upper-class ones – and perhaps heed
such observations as this one from Ice-T as seen in the Dec. 2005 issue
of Men’s Health:
“The truth is, everybody I’ve ever met who’s successful is a
workaholic.”
So do get busy my friends and do note that these “workaholics” are
routinely having the most fun as it will be for each of you –
one-for-one with out exception. By the by, if someone tells you to
take it easy – just know that they know not of what they doth speak –
and just keep doing your thing.
Going back to work now!
Best,
Ron