You certainly know that impression you have, when you lose something and then think "oh gosh, I didn't realise how good I fell before, when I still had it". Today is a wonderful day, because I got back something I had lost since last Thursday, at 8.22 am. It's called feeling secure.
That day, I woke up as usually at 7.20, brushed my teeth, had breakfast with my lover, dressed up for a nice day at the office without my boss, who's on holidays in Greece. I left the apartment at 8.17, a little late, and took the stairs instead of the elevator. When I arrived at my car, my simply good day became a sudden nightmare.
I hadn't seen it at first. It was only when I put my bag and a file on the passenger seat that I noticed something wasn't normal. Eggs. There were eggs all over my front window. I stayed there like someone had killed my cat, staring at the horrible and smelling things on my poor car. For some seconds, I lost all my balance, didn't know what to do. I took a few step back to the front door of my building, but then I changed my mind. I had to report this to the police.
So I entered the car and drove slowly to the office, praying for not hurting anyone on the way, because I couldn't see the road that good. At the office, I told the student working during holidays that I had to go to the police, what I did. They sent me elsewhere, and I finally was listened by an officer. Bad luck : all their computers had problems today, please come back tomorrow. As I insisted, because I was angry and shocked and because Ididn't want to keep my car this way until the day after two of them accepted to take a look at the car. I could read they were impressed : there were so many of those on the poor car. They told me again that I could come tomorrow and that they would report the problem, now they had seen it. I returned at the office, crying all the tears of my body, because I felt alone, threatened and dirty.
I couldn't wash my car properly, because the eggs stick very much and because I was too horrified to do it. I had just managed, thankful to the rain, to create a space through which I could see the road. On Friday morning, I had decided to go to the police at 10 am. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one to decide. When I arrived near the car, I saw that there were new eggs. More than the day before. All over the car, this time. Sustaining my anger and tears, I rode straight over to the police office, and found immediately my guy of the day before. He saw the car, wrote down the facts of the two days together, and I finally could go at the office.
There was another surprise awaiting me. There were eggs all over the walls, on the windows, on the door. I stood horrified there, because this time, I wasn't the only one targeted : my boss was too. I spent the day calling the police, making depositions, washing the horrible smelling things and fearing for my security.
On Friday evening, as I was visiting friends in another city, I knew my car wouldn't be touched. When coming back on Saturday, I checked the office : it was still clean. I was hoping it would all stop. To ensure I diminish the odds of another egg-attack, I parked my car in the street right in front of the building, so that I could see it from my windows. I also put a message inside the car, clearly visible for anyone who passed near the car : "I'm not scared of you. I did what I had to, and I will do it again. Haha!". My lover was furious against me for putting that message, but it reassured me a lot. I had spent two days crying and being angry, I wanted some peace. The idea that I never had done anything wrong in my job, which is true, made me stronger.
The week end was very good, and my car, what hadn't moved, was still clean. I washed it totally, so that you couldn't see anything of the attacks. But on Monday, at 7 am, the phone rang. I had the feeling that our student, who arrives at 7 o'clock every morning, had found something that wouldn't please me. Sure enough, it was the phone number of the office. I called her back, and she told me there were eggs all over the walls and the windows, and more of it on the door. I looked through the windows, but there still was nothing on my little car. Relief.
I had the same day as the week before : calling the police, taking pictures, telling neighbours,... The only ones whodidn't know a thing of all the story were my parents (so they wouldn't worry), my grandparents (who live near the office, but were on holidays) and... my boss. I felt I couldn't crash all his holidays for eggs. More specifically, he couldn't do anything at all anyway, so why worry him? I was worried enough for the two of us.
As the police didn't come on Monday, I had to wait until Tuesday afternoon to wash it up (or, this time, ask the student to wash it). We're Wednesday, and nothing happened, nor to the car, nor at the office. I feel thankful for the peace it offers me. I'm under the impression that it's over... Anyway, tomorrow's National Day, so I don't have to work. I hope, when I come back on Friday, I won't have to call the officer again... On Saturday, it won't be my problem anymore. my boss is coming back, and I'm going on holidays. I'll leave him a note to explain everything, even though I know he will be furious. The guy is hot-blooded, and I'm sure that the poor printer won't be alive after his anger this time. It has been punched so many times during the boss' tornados...
In this job, you can do whatever you want, someone will always hate you. If you win, your adversary. I you lose, your client. In some cases, the judge, because you forced him to take a legal decision that doesn't seem right for him.
Sometimes, I wonder if I hate the job, or if it hates me.
July 20, 2011
July 13, 2011
Holidays!
Four months later, and still stuck at the office. But this time, something has changed. Exactly! Holidays! During July and August, lawyers have less work (or not, depending of your cases).
The best of it is I'm alone at the office for two weeks. Two great weeks! Relationship with my boss improved very much these times, like he trusts me for other things than just bringing the mails to the mailbox accross the street. I feel much more capable, and it feels great.
Many things have happened these last months. Globally, I have more personal work, more clients of my own, more time to work by myself. But some events have totally changed my opinion about ma situation.
First of all, my boss had insisted I went to a journey in Roma organized by the Jeune Barreau of my city. The Jeune Barreau is a group of young lawyers who have 25 years or less of experience as lawyer. They're elected each year by all the lawyers as young as them, with a President, important roles and trainees.
The tradition is, each year the Jeune Barreau organizes a journey. This year, they had chosen to go to Roma, because our President is very fond of that city. I never had been there, so I wanted to go, but the cost (fort the trainees, 350 euros) stopped me : I couldn't afford it. I couldn't believe my ears when my boss said : "You have to go, it's your first year and it's really important you get to know people. I'll pay for you". Well, the journey was planned for early June, but I was still very excited and scared about it.
The Jeune Barreau is also in charge of another event, taking place in January : a plea contest. Every first-year trainee must participate, as it is a part of our training. The best of it is that you can win prizes, one of them being a free ticket for the Jeune Barreau's journey. I made a pair with another trainee who I liked, and we choose to plea about the unemployment, which is quite important in our city. She was "defending" the State, while I was "defending" the unemployment. I must say I had fun doing that, but I still was very stressed.
We were due to plea as lasts. There were so many lawyers in the court room they couldn't get inside properly. Our jury was composed by elder lawyers and judges. I was terrified, and I sure went pink when it was my turn to speak.
Anyway, my adversary won a prize, and I won the Jeune Barreau's journey. It was a delightful day.
So, the 1st of June, I proudly took my suitcase to live the most intense holidays of my entire life. I couldn't give all the details, but you must know we drank much alcohol, danced until the sun rose almost each night and made friends. After discussing the matter again and again, I finally understood there was no way I could possibly leave this job after only one year. Not only because of all the good things and the colleagues, but especially because I have to get a good experience before hoping to become a judge. And that's what I want to do with my life, so... I decided I'd stay two more years. Even writing it now, I'm horrified by the idea!
A week after our return form Roma, we had the elections of the Barreau and the Jeune Barreau. I presented myself at the elections, but wasn't elected, because I didn't know most of the young lawyers. We were three candidates for three places as trainees : two guys (an old and a young fellow) and a girl, who had failed to be elected last year. I voted for her. The youngest guy had been the object of a vast campaign from the President-to-be himself (the identity of the next President is never a mystery), so he got a reasonable score. The older had an amazing score, because he's so friendly and knows so much people. The girl, which I like quite much, was elected, and I was so happy for her. But I lost, voices behind her. There happened a surprise : the new President was convinced by the other members of the Jeune Barreau, who I know quite good and who I appreciate, but who cannot vote for the trainees (only trainees vote for trainees), that I had to be with them. For once, it felt good being appreciated like this, and I don't regret entering the Jeune Barreau. Some of the others came to me saying very nice things, like they wanted me badly in their team, and everything. The President knew one of us was going to be cast aside, but apparently, and I'm glad about it, most of the Jeune Barreau members didn't want me to be left on the road. So I got "elected" too.
Now, the holidays are going on, and my life as a junior lawyer will continue...
The best of it is I'm alone at the office for two weeks. Two great weeks! Relationship with my boss improved very much these times, like he trusts me for other things than just bringing the mails to the mailbox accross the street. I feel much more capable, and it feels great.
Many things have happened these last months. Globally, I have more personal work, more clients of my own, more time to work by myself. But some events have totally changed my opinion about ma situation.
First of all, my boss had insisted I went to a journey in Roma organized by the Jeune Barreau of my city. The Jeune Barreau is a group of young lawyers who have 25 years or less of experience as lawyer. They're elected each year by all the lawyers as young as them, with a President, important roles and trainees.
The tradition is, each year the Jeune Barreau organizes a journey. This year, they had chosen to go to Roma, because our President is very fond of that city. I never had been there, so I wanted to go, but the cost (fort the trainees, 350 euros) stopped me : I couldn't afford it. I couldn't believe my ears when my boss said : "You have to go, it's your first year and it's really important you get to know people. I'll pay for you". Well, the journey was planned for early June, but I was still very excited and scared about it.
The Jeune Barreau is also in charge of another event, taking place in January : a plea contest. Every first-year trainee must participate, as it is a part of our training. The best of it is that you can win prizes, one of them being a free ticket for the Jeune Barreau's journey. I made a pair with another trainee who I liked, and we choose to plea about the unemployment, which is quite important in our city. She was "defending" the State, while I was "defending" the unemployment. I must say I had fun doing that, but I still was very stressed.
We were due to plea as lasts. There were so many lawyers in the court room they couldn't get inside properly. Our jury was composed by elder lawyers and judges. I was terrified, and I sure went pink when it was my turn to speak.
Anyway, my adversary won a prize, and I won the Jeune Barreau's journey. It was a delightful day.
So, the 1st of June, I proudly took my suitcase to live the most intense holidays of my entire life. I couldn't give all the details, but you must know we drank much alcohol, danced until the sun rose almost each night and made friends. After discussing the matter again and again, I finally understood there was no way I could possibly leave this job after only one year. Not only because of all the good things and the colleagues, but especially because I have to get a good experience before hoping to become a judge. And that's what I want to do with my life, so... I decided I'd stay two more years. Even writing it now, I'm horrified by the idea!
A week after our return form Roma, we had the elections of the Barreau and the Jeune Barreau. I presented myself at the elections, but wasn't elected, because I didn't know most of the young lawyers. We were three candidates for three places as trainees : two guys (an old and a young fellow) and a girl, who had failed to be elected last year. I voted for her. The youngest guy had been the object of a vast campaign from the President-to-be himself (the identity of the next President is never a mystery), so he got a reasonable score. The older had an amazing score, because he's so friendly and knows so much people. The girl, which I like quite much, was elected, and I was so happy for her. But I lost, voices behind her. There happened a surprise : the new President was convinced by the other members of the Jeune Barreau, who I know quite good and who I appreciate, but who cannot vote for the trainees (only trainees vote for trainees), that I had to be with them. For once, it felt good being appreciated like this, and I don't regret entering the Jeune Barreau. Some of the others came to me saying very nice things, like they wanted me badly in their team, and everything. The President knew one of us was going to be cast aside, but apparently, and I'm glad about it, most of the Jeune Barreau members didn't want me to be left on the road. So I got "elected" too.
Now, the holidays are going on, and my life as a junior lawyer will continue...
March 24, 2011
The day the sun came back
Today is just wonderful. This winter, we've had all nightmares we could possibly be afraid of : ice, snow, extra snow, meters snow, cold wind, frozing days, rain that becomes ice during the night, everything.
But today, on the 24th of March, we all take a deep breath of fresh new air. Even though it's the third day of spring, you can smell in the air that specific odour of houses being heaten by the charming sun. For the first time in months, I've put off my big warm jacket and walked in the light.
During my studies, I used to take many different little jobs all year long, but also during the summer vacation. For example, I worked in a beauty shop as a seller, I taught French, Dutch and maths lessons to young kids after school, I sold ice-creams in my favourite ice-creams shop,... and I also worked as a cleaning-lady. This was far the best-paid jobs of all I've known. But it was one of the most exhausting too. That summer, I had to wake up at 5am to catch the bus on time. You'd think there isn't anyone in the bus number 52 at 5.37 am : but there is. The only people you can see that early are all cleaners.
I arrived at 5.55, just in time to check my trolley, sign the presence sheet and take the elevator to the 12th floor. I didn't have to change clothes, for I just wore jeans and a t-shirt with the name of the cleaning society, so I wasn't losing time.
Between 6am and 9am, I had to hurry along the endless corridor with the trolley. I counted once : I had to clean exactly 52 rooms, empty 126 bins, wash 12 toilets and clean 8 mirrors. Horrific. Three hours is really short for that kind of work, as I fast understood. I finished my corridor just in time to see nice people in suits arriving in their office. Except for one. As I planified my trajectory the first day, I found a room already busy. A man was there. We looked at each other. I pased my way and saw at my watch that it was 6.35 am. The guy went to the office at 6.30 each morning! Therefor, I had to change all my plans and clean his office first every single morning. His office was in the middle of my second corridor, and it annoyed me very much to have to clean it first, because I was losing about eight minutes just to go there and then come back and begin the correct trajectory. Eight minutes. A great, great loss.
At 9am, I had to put my trolley back at the ground floor and sign the sheet. Then, I had an hour to eat something and let my poor legs and arms get a bit rest. At 10am, I had to clean special things, and the task changed every day : doors (hundreds!), emergency staircases (20 floors...),... But the most horrible task I ever had to do was the parking lot. There were three underground parking floors without windows that had to be cleaned. I remember we were four young girls who had to do the work : clean doors, fire extinguishers, lights,... You can't imagine how much doors there were. What was very disturbing was the absence of windows. In the early morning, I saw the sun waking up accross the city, thanks to the huge windows that were in every room, every office, every corridor. But in the parking lot... I needed sunlight.
Anyway, I was coming with this story first because I will never see the cleaning-ladies the same way again. Their job is far harder than mine will ever be, but they do it every day without even being thanked for that. After twenty horrible days, I was sick of the same old corridor, the same rooms, the same bathrooms, the same desks each and every day. When I once said that to a cleaning-lady, she told me she had been cleaning the very same floor for eighteen years. I never complained again after that, but I never forgot her tired face. I wonder if she still cleans the same floor...
This story has a second interest. When you clean an office every day, you get used to the objects you have to clean around. I remember a bin where I found, each morning, a empty bottle of J&B... The guy was probably alcoholic, and no one had noticed. Sad. In another office, there were always empty packs of chocolates, sweeties,... I found once a small box with nice drawers on it. It had contained tiny cookies, called "Les petits sablés ronds et bons", from Michel and Augustin. You can still find them on the web ; these guys make the best little biscuits you can dream of. I recommand the ones with chocolate chips.
But my best discovery ever was the Flip-flap. On that time, the principle was brand new, but now, again, you can easily find them on the web. The first Flip-flap I saw was on a desk, right in a sunpatch. Every morning, when I arrived, this little fake plant happily moved her leaves. It works with sunlight.
The weeks after my jobs ended, I longed the Flip-flap and her gentle movement. Until I saw, a big day in September, a Flip-flap in a coloured shop in the capital city. I immediately bought it and never regret it. Today, my Flip-flap moved with all her strenght. She and I, we feed from the sunlight.
But today, on the 24th of March, we all take a deep breath of fresh new air. Even though it's the third day of spring, you can smell in the air that specific odour of houses being heaten by the charming sun. For the first time in months, I've put off my big warm jacket and walked in the light.
During my studies, I used to take many different little jobs all year long, but also during the summer vacation. For example, I worked in a beauty shop as a seller, I taught French, Dutch and maths lessons to young kids after school, I sold ice-creams in my favourite ice-creams shop,... and I also worked as a cleaning-lady. This was far the best-paid jobs of all I've known. But it was one of the most exhausting too. That summer, I had to wake up at 5am to catch the bus on time. You'd think there isn't anyone in the bus number 52 at 5.37 am : but there is. The only people you can see that early are all cleaners.
I arrived at 5.55, just in time to check my trolley, sign the presence sheet and take the elevator to the 12th floor. I didn't have to change clothes, for I just wore jeans and a t-shirt with the name of the cleaning society, so I wasn't losing time.
Between 6am and 9am, I had to hurry along the endless corridor with the trolley. I counted once : I had to clean exactly 52 rooms, empty 126 bins, wash 12 toilets and clean 8 mirrors. Horrific. Three hours is really short for that kind of work, as I fast understood. I finished my corridor just in time to see nice people in suits arriving in their office. Except for one. As I planified my trajectory the first day, I found a room already busy. A man was there. We looked at each other. I pased my way and saw at my watch that it was 6.35 am. The guy went to the office at 6.30 each morning! Therefor, I had to change all my plans and clean his office first every single morning. His office was in the middle of my second corridor, and it annoyed me very much to have to clean it first, because I was losing about eight minutes just to go there and then come back and begin the correct trajectory. Eight minutes. A great, great loss.
At 9am, I had to put my trolley back at the ground floor and sign the sheet. Then, I had an hour to eat something and let my poor legs and arms get a bit rest. At 10am, I had to clean special things, and the task changed every day : doors (hundreds!), emergency staircases (20 floors...),... But the most horrible task I ever had to do was the parking lot. There were three underground parking floors without windows that had to be cleaned. I remember we were four young girls who had to do the work : clean doors, fire extinguishers, lights,... You can't imagine how much doors there were. What was very disturbing was the absence of windows. In the early morning, I saw the sun waking up accross the city, thanks to the huge windows that were in every room, every office, every corridor. But in the parking lot... I needed sunlight.
Anyway, I was coming with this story first because I will never see the cleaning-ladies the same way again. Their job is far harder than mine will ever be, but they do it every day without even being thanked for that. After twenty horrible days, I was sick of the same old corridor, the same rooms, the same bathrooms, the same desks each and every day. When I once said that to a cleaning-lady, she told me she had been cleaning the very same floor for eighteen years. I never complained again after that, but I never forgot her tired face. I wonder if she still cleans the same floor...
This story has a second interest. When you clean an office every day, you get used to the objects you have to clean around. I remember a bin where I found, each morning, a empty bottle of J&B... The guy was probably alcoholic, and no one had noticed. Sad. In another office, there were always empty packs of chocolates, sweeties,... I found once a small box with nice drawers on it. It had contained tiny cookies, called "Les petits sablés ronds et bons", from Michel and Augustin. You can still find them on the web ; these guys make the best little biscuits you can dream of. I recommand the ones with chocolate chips.
But my best discovery ever was the Flip-flap. On that time, the principle was brand new, but now, again, you can easily find them on the web. The first Flip-flap I saw was on a desk, right in a sunpatch. Every morning, when I arrived, this little fake plant happily moved her leaves. It works with sunlight.
The weeks after my jobs ended, I longed the Flip-flap and her gentle movement. Until I saw, a big day in September, a Flip-flap in a coloured shop in the capital city. I immediately bought it and never regret it. Today, my Flip-flap moved with all her strenght. She and I, we feed from the sunlight.
February 02, 2011
The day the ice came back
Weeks have become months, and to my annoyment, I'm still stuck in that awful job.
To be totally honest, I must admit that I've found some advantages in my activity. Even if I do have a boss and am accountable of all the work he gives me, I still can leave the office a bit sooner or choose to do something else.
Recently, I decided to go to an audience just to hear people plea and improve the way I talk or act when in court. Fate guided me to a criminal audience. A glance to the rôle sheet informed me that the afternoon would see many cases. I soon discovered that all these cases were actually linked with the past elections that had taken place during June 2010. The prosecutor's office sued every single person who had been called to cont the votes but hadn't come that day. The audience was the most boring, but I didn't dare to go back to the office saying that my smart afternoon had turned to a stupid hide and seek game. For every person, the prosecutor asked : "so, where have you been that day, what was so important you couldn't fulfill your citizen's duty?". Every time, with or without lawyer, the answers were really pitiful. The winner is beyond all doubts the lady who explained she was ready to come, but unfortunately fainted just before departure and woke up only at 5 pm, when it was obviously too late. If you set that laugh aside, the afternoon was just uninteresting and I had not a single idea of what a good plea was when I finally gave up and went back to work at 4 o'clock.
During Christmas time, I haven't been allowed to holidays or free time. I was still beginning at 8.30 am and finishing at 6 pm. But this couldn't bother me. The last time I had had a peaceful Christmas, far from examinations or stress, was 6 years ago. It tasted joyfully and exciting. I could prepare Christmas again during days before, pin little things and sugar canes on my very own tree and cook Christmas bakeries all week. Freedom is a gift, and I had forgot how good it was.
My lover, however, had to study during weeks ; this was a difficult moment. He saw me come back from work and smiling for having a free night for baking, decorating, shopping, while he had to say "I think I will study a bit more tonight". I was frustrated, because our time together was very tight. But still, it was one of my best Christmas ever.
The winter is still there. In December and January, we have had the most snowy weeks I ever heard of in this country. We usually have a bit of snow around the 15th of December, and everybody finds it fine. But this year, it was almost impossible to drive. My car has had many problems to fight the weather, and I had to ask my mum to bring me my moonboots. It wasn't very classy to arrive with two big white old-fashioned boots at the Courts of Justice, but my colleagues still envied me because my feet were dry.
We thought it was over when, in January, the snow smelt and finally let us move easily, receive our mail, drive safely, and so on. But these past three days, the weather played with our nerves. Some snow flakes were falling from time to time, as if hesitating to stay over there or really come down hard. My night hasn't been this good, because I knew I had to come to an audience of the Youth Tribunal. This law court has a very special way of organization. An huissier d'audience stays in the corridor, were all the lawyers and all the people (and especially all the children) are waiting their turn, and notes who is present and who is not. Everything depends on your time arrival : if the two lawyers check in really fast, you'll get number one. If you arrive early, but your adversary only comes at 10 o'clock, you have good chances to be stuck in the corridor forever. This sounds simple, but it is not. There are more rules that complicate all the thing. If you do have a lawyer, if you adversary does or if you both do, you'll get a number. If not, you'll get no number and you have to wait until every single lawyer has had his turn. Even if it's your turn, if a lawyer checks in, he has an absolute priority, because it's his job. No matter if you left yours, if your children are missing school or if you're losing your remuneration while waiting during hours : you are just a citizen. The system is totally unfair and frustrating. No wonder we are hated by everybody. We just are unbearable.
There is another rule. If you just want to ask the Judge to postpone the case, which arrives more than you can imagine, you get a special number with an "R", for "remise". This means you just need two minutes with the judge : "Sir, I would like to postpone the case because we are negociating a possible solution with our clients and would like to see if this doesn't work first". The judges love when you come with an agreement, because it's very relieving, when you're permanently inside conflicts, to see that people can still talk and accept to act their own solution. The judges have the power to implement these agreements, which become then as strongly mandatory as a real judgment. "When do you think we can meet again, Maître?" "Within the month would be perfect". Then everybody takes his calendar, negociating the day and hour, "Thank you, sir. Good audience" and everbody's out. That's in theory. In practice, as the R-numbers go first and before any other number, many lawyers are a bit cheating. So, if I arrive very early and get number 1, I know I'll have to wait for at least an hour, even if there's only three R's. Imagine a lawyer who arrives at 10, having three cases to deal with. One of them is an R, so even if we already have seen number 1, he gets R5 and passes before everybody. No problem. But his two other cases are numbers 12 and 13, and he knows he'll stay there like forever waiting his turn. So, once he's inside, he asks for a remise, he gets it, but instead of leaving to join the corridor and the waiting, he says : "Sir, I have two other cases. Shall we take them now?", and he goes before number 2, who arrived at 8.45 so he could get a good number. Sorry, number 2, you'll have to wait until 11.45, because some bastard decided he could come late and avoid the queue. It isn't right. The worst is that most of the time, you don't realize what's happening, because the lawyers stays inside, but only the people go in and out.
There is more. Logically, and fortunately, the people who came with young children have priority amongst the other people without lawyer. But actually, the judge has the complete right to choose who comes first. He can change the ordre whenever he wants, and he has no explanation to give. So my advice is not to look eagerly at the judge while he takes a coffee-break at 9.30 : he could decide to take your case as last.
Even as a lawyer, I sometimes have to wait very long before entering the Youth's Judge's Office. I remember a day, in December, when I had a very simple case there. I arrived at 8.30, hoping to get a very good number, which I got. I was R3, but only because another lawyer saw me arrive and ran so she could have a better number. Crazy, they are. My lawyer adversary arrived too, our clients were present with their 13-years-old daughter, the judge began his audience in time, the morning was perfect so far. When I came back at the office, it was 11.30 and I was angry. My colleague, the other lawyer, had disappeared during more than an hour, and our turn had been skipped many times. I finally found her, drinking coffee in the lawyer's cafeteria with a friend of her. I wasn't very pleased, but she told me she was coming after her coffee. I went back to the corridor to tell the clients our turn was next, without telling why we had been waiting so long. As I went out the corridor to walk a bit while waiting the negligent coffee-drinker, I saw her outside with her friend, lighting on a cigaret. I rushed outside the building, feeling my cheeks redening with anger. "Oh, it's you, she said. I was smoking a bit, you know, hard morning. Want one?" At this very moment, I thought I could slap her in the face with my file. I told her our turn was again skipped because she was absent and that our clients were missing their wors and school. "Well, I just wanted a cigarette". I choose to not mention the coffee and the hour during which she had just disappeared, but I couldn't believe she was such a jerk, and such a nice jerk, because she was very friendly and funny. Her disrespect for the people we defend every day let me speechless. How could the citizens trust us if some of us act this way? You can't blame people for actually liking this job, but seriously, sometimes it's hard to be on the same page as my colleagues.
So, today, I woke up tired because I knew I had to go to the Youth Tribunal, and I feared a bad morning. I left very earlier than usual to be sure I'd arrive at 8.30 and get a good R-number. The weather had tricked me. Yesterday, it had been raining slightly. I ignored it had been very, very cold during the night. The streets, the cars, everything was covered with a very thin touch of glistering ice. I was forced to walk on the road, because the pavements were slippy. I had to break the ice all on my car with my fingers totally frozen, having forgotten my gloves.
With all this, I could have a bad morning and come back at the office very late. But no. When I rushed, at 8.13, in the office to take the file and leave, I couldn't find it. I received a message that said "Don't worry, I took all files for today". My boss had decided to spare me... He was back at 10 o'clock.
To be totally honest, I must admit that I've found some advantages in my activity. Even if I do have a boss and am accountable of all the work he gives me, I still can leave the office a bit sooner or choose to do something else.
Recently, I decided to go to an audience just to hear people plea and improve the way I talk or act when in court. Fate guided me to a criminal audience. A glance to the rôle sheet informed me that the afternoon would see many cases. I soon discovered that all these cases were actually linked with the past elections that had taken place during June 2010. The prosecutor's office sued every single person who had been called to cont the votes but hadn't come that day. The audience was the most boring, but I didn't dare to go back to the office saying that my smart afternoon had turned to a stupid hide and seek game. For every person, the prosecutor asked : "so, where have you been that day, what was so important you couldn't fulfill your citizen's duty?". Every time, with or without lawyer, the answers were really pitiful. The winner is beyond all doubts the lady who explained she was ready to come, but unfortunately fainted just before departure and woke up only at 5 pm, when it was obviously too late. If you set that laugh aside, the afternoon was just uninteresting and I had not a single idea of what a good plea was when I finally gave up and went back to work at 4 o'clock.
During Christmas time, I haven't been allowed to holidays or free time. I was still beginning at 8.30 am and finishing at 6 pm. But this couldn't bother me. The last time I had had a peaceful Christmas, far from examinations or stress, was 6 years ago. It tasted joyfully and exciting. I could prepare Christmas again during days before, pin little things and sugar canes on my very own tree and cook Christmas bakeries all week. Freedom is a gift, and I had forgot how good it was.
My lover, however, had to study during weeks ; this was a difficult moment. He saw me come back from work and smiling for having a free night for baking, decorating, shopping, while he had to say "I think I will study a bit more tonight". I was frustrated, because our time together was very tight. But still, it was one of my best Christmas ever.
The winter is still there. In December and January, we have had the most snowy weeks I ever heard of in this country. We usually have a bit of snow around the 15th of December, and everybody finds it fine. But this year, it was almost impossible to drive. My car has had many problems to fight the weather, and I had to ask my mum to bring me my moonboots. It wasn't very classy to arrive with two big white old-fashioned boots at the Courts of Justice, but my colleagues still envied me because my feet were dry.
We thought it was over when, in January, the snow smelt and finally let us move easily, receive our mail, drive safely, and so on. But these past three days, the weather played with our nerves. Some snow flakes were falling from time to time, as if hesitating to stay over there or really come down hard. My night hasn't been this good, because I knew I had to come to an audience of the Youth Tribunal. This law court has a very special way of organization. An huissier d'audience stays in the corridor, were all the lawyers and all the people (and especially all the children) are waiting their turn, and notes who is present and who is not. Everything depends on your time arrival : if the two lawyers check in really fast, you'll get number one. If you arrive early, but your adversary only comes at 10 o'clock, you have good chances to be stuck in the corridor forever. This sounds simple, but it is not. There are more rules that complicate all the thing. If you do have a lawyer, if you adversary does or if you both do, you'll get a number. If not, you'll get no number and you have to wait until every single lawyer has had his turn. Even if it's your turn, if a lawyer checks in, he has an absolute priority, because it's his job. No matter if you left yours, if your children are missing school or if you're losing your remuneration while waiting during hours : you are just a citizen. The system is totally unfair and frustrating. No wonder we are hated by everybody. We just are unbearable.
There is another rule. If you just want to ask the Judge to postpone the case, which arrives more than you can imagine, you get a special number with an "R", for "remise". This means you just need two minutes with the judge : "Sir, I would like to postpone the case because we are negociating a possible solution with our clients and would like to see if this doesn't work first". The judges love when you come with an agreement, because it's very relieving, when you're permanently inside conflicts, to see that people can still talk and accept to act their own solution. The judges have the power to implement these agreements, which become then as strongly mandatory as a real judgment. "When do you think we can meet again, Maître?" "Within the month would be perfect". Then everybody takes his calendar, negociating the day and hour, "Thank you, sir. Good audience" and everbody's out. That's in theory. In practice, as the R-numbers go first and before any other number, many lawyers are a bit cheating. So, if I arrive very early and get number 1, I know I'll have to wait for at least an hour, even if there's only three R's. Imagine a lawyer who arrives at 10, having three cases to deal with. One of them is an R, so even if we already have seen number 1, he gets R5 and passes before everybody. No problem. But his two other cases are numbers 12 and 13, and he knows he'll stay there like forever waiting his turn. So, once he's inside, he asks for a remise, he gets it, but instead of leaving to join the corridor and the waiting, he says : "Sir, I have two other cases. Shall we take them now?", and he goes before number 2, who arrived at 8.45 so he could get a good number. Sorry, number 2, you'll have to wait until 11.45, because some bastard decided he could come late and avoid the queue. It isn't right. The worst is that most of the time, you don't realize what's happening, because the lawyers stays inside, but only the people go in and out.
There is more. Logically, and fortunately, the people who came with young children have priority amongst the other people without lawyer. But actually, the judge has the complete right to choose who comes first. He can change the ordre whenever he wants, and he has no explanation to give. So my advice is not to look eagerly at the judge while he takes a coffee-break at 9.30 : he could decide to take your case as last.
Even as a lawyer, I sometimes have to wait very long before entering the Youth's Judge's Office. I remember a day, in December, when I had a very simple case there. I arrived at 8.30, hoping to get a very good number, which I got. I was R3, but only because another lawyer saw me arrive and ran so she could have a better number. Crazy, they are. My lawyer adversary arrived too, our clients were present with their 13-years-old daughter, the judge began his audience in time, the morning was perfect so far. When I came back at the office, it was 11.30 and I was angry. My colleague, the other lawyer, had disappeared during more than an hour, and our turn had been skipped many times. I finally found her, drinking coffee in the lawyer's cafeteria with a friend of her. I wasn't very pleased, but she told me she was coming after her coffee. I went back to the corridor to tell the clients our turn was next, without telling why we had been waiting so long. As I went out the corridor to walk a bit while waiting the negligent coffee-drinker, I saw her outside with her friend, lighting on a cigaret. I rushed outside the building, feeling my cheeks redening with anger. "Oh, it's you, she said. I was smoking a bit, you know, hard morning. Want one?" At this very moment, I thought I could slap her in the face with my file. I told her our turn was again skipped because she was absent and that our clients were missing their wors and school. "Well, I just wanted a cigarette". I choose to not mention the coffee and the hour during which she had just disappeared, but I couldn't believe she was such a jerk, and such a nice jerk, because she was very friendly and funny. Her disrespect for the people we defend every day let me speechless. How could the citizens trust us if some of us act this way? You can't blame people for actually liking this job, but seriously, sometimes it's hard to be on the same page as my colleagues.
So, today, I woke up tired because I knew I had to go to the Youth Tribunal, and I feared a bad morning. I left very earlier than usual to be sure I'd arrive at 8.30 and get a good R-number. The weather had tricked me. Yesterday, it had been raining slightly. I ignored it had been very, very cold during the night. The streets, the cars, everything was covered with a very thin touch of glistering ice. I was forced to walk on the road, because the pavements were slippy. I had to break the ice all on my car with my fingers totally frozen, having forgotten my gloves.
With all this, I could have a bad morning and come back at the office very late. But no. When I rushed, at 8.13, in the office to take the file and leave, I couldn't find it. I received a message that said "Don't worry, I took all files for today". My boss had decided to spare me... He was back at 10 o'clock.
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