I am not a number!!!!

I’m a great believer that age is a state of mind.

Most days I have to remind myself that there is a significant age gap between myself and some of my staff, which means that there are things that I will talk about, such as old practices, old cases and old laws that not only do they know nothing about, but all happened before they were born, and then ceased to be relevant long before they joined the profession!

Recently I asked one of my team to prepare some F&BPs for me on a court case – after several blank looks, we established that I meant a Part 18.  When I went into more detail, I explained that Part 18s used to be called Further and Better Particulars (shortened to F&BPs), and they asked me when it changed.  After a moment’s thought, I recalled that the change arose as a result of the overhall of the Court Procedure Rules….. in 1999!  They all giggled, and reminded me that none of them had been born at that point.

Way to make a girl feel old!

Which is why it is quite surprising that I should be redeemed by the Law Society, of all people.  Today they sent me an email, inviting me to partake in some on line training, aimed at…..Junior solicitors.

So, despite the fact that I have held a practicing certificate for over 27 years, and have been in the industry for over 35 years, they still consider me to be junior!

I could choose to be insulted (how dare they think that I’m still a junior and that I haven’t progressed in my career) or I can choose to be flattered (I obviously don’t look my age).

Or I can choose to recognise that not everyone’s marketing strategy is well thought out.

Or I can remember that everything is relative – as a wise man once said, to a canary, a cat is a monster!

Whilst it’s a funny story, it’s also a useful reminder on the downsides of too much automation.

I have no doubt that the Law Society’s marketing department are happy to send out as many invitations to events as possible, because it’s a numbers game.  However, if they insult me in the process, that could damage their brand.

Similarly, if you’re relying on automated responses, or standardised terms of business (cribbed from a rival many years ago perhaps!) then they may no longer be fit for purpose.  I and my business may remain the same no matter how old I get, but laws and practices change, meaning that standard documents such as contracts of employment and privacy policies should at least be reviewed, and probably updated from time to time.

If you feel that time is passing you by, you might want to pass your documents by me for a quick once over, before it’s too late!

Kleyman & Co Solicitors.  The full service law firm.  Time for a drink.