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ILLETTE
GAZETTE
AUG/SEPT 2020
SMALL & SOLO LAW FIRM PRACTICE COURSE
DOING WHAT I CAN TO EDUCATE FUTURE LAWYERS
Starting in August, I’m going to be co-teaching a course at William & Mary Law School here in Williamsburg with a good friend of mine, and law school classmate, Mark Matney. We’ll be teaching the students how to start and build a law practice, something the two of us have been working on for years. We want to teach the kind of class we wish we had when we were in law school. Mark and I both graduated from William & Mary Law School in ‘92, and at that time, there weren’t any classes focused on starting your own small or solo law firm. Many law students going to law school have no experience in business. Fortunately, I had an undergraduate degree in marketing and finance, but I was still a long way from starting my own practice. Instead, I secured a job at a small law firm in Maryland after I graduated from law school. Around ‘94, I returned to Williamsburg and opened my own practice for the first time. I sublet office space from another attorney who shared some of his overflow of collections cases with me. I made enough to pay my office rent and was fortunate to be able to live in the condo my parents had purchased in Williamsburg when I started law school. After six months on my own, I decided to return to Maryland, where I got engaged. It wasn’t until 2007 that I again decided to start my own firm Before taking that step, I always wondered if I should have stuck it out years ago, before I was married and had kids and a mortgage. But at that point in time, I didn’t have a clear vision of the area of law I wanted to practice, who my ideal clients were, or how to run a law firm. I had some background in marketing and business thanks to my undergrad degree, and my experience working in a small business during college, but I still didn’t have a firm grasp on how to start and build a law firm. When I decided to start the Gillette Law Group, PLLC in 2007, I was in a better position to be successful. I had a home I could use as collateral to get a loan to start my firm, but maybe even more importantly, I had a clear vision of the people I wanted to help, and the team I wanted to build.
Because of the economic downturn we’ve experienced these past few months, graduating law students are likely going to have a problem getting jobs. I’m in contact with some law students, and they have had their summer internships canceled and summer job offers withdrawn because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By the time they graduate, some students aren’t going to have job offers, and they’re going to have to decide if they are going to start their own practice or try to get employment in another area. Our goal is to help these law students start thinking about their practice before school is over. Patricia Roberts, another classmate of ours, was a vice dean of the law school, and knew Mark and I had been thinking about teaching this course at our alma mater. As one of her last acts before she left Williamsburg to become the Dean of Saint Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas, Patricia reached out to us and ensured we were lined up to teach this course. While Mark and I have both started our own practices, we don’t claim to have all the answers, but we do have significant experience and insights we want to share with the students We know that to be successful our students will have to carefully consider and answer many questions for themselves. We’re excited to point the students in the right direction to help them on their way. One of my biggest goals for this class is to get the students thinking about creating a practice that serves their life, instead of spending their life serving their practice. I hope that with our Small & Solo Law Firm Practice course, Mark and I can give law students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed after graduation.
–Brian Gillette
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STUCK INSIDE?
Summertime means getting out of the house to enjoy the sunshine and the bright blue sky. But even during this great time of year, you may have to spend some of these precious days inside, not outside. Rather than scrolling through social media or reminiscing about better days, here are a few ideas you can use to turn a day spent indoors into a fun summer memory! Get Crafty You’re bound to have a few materials floating around the house that you can use to create a new art project or even start a new hobby. If you have extra sheets of paper lying around, then give origami a go. Do you have a shirt you don’t wear anymore but still love? Turn it into a new pillow cover or a bag. You can also create fun garden decorations by painting rocks, making a wind chime, or repurposing an old boot into a new plant holder. You never know — whatever you choose to do could become your next passion. Plan Your Next Vacation Spending the day inside might just be the perfect time to plan your next vacation. Use this time to calculate the expenses of the trip, such as travel, board, food, and souvenirs. You can also research and figure out where you’re going to stay ahead of time, whether that be
a hotel or an Airbnb, to optimize your experience. Once you have the groundwork done, you’ll have a better idea of how your trip will go and be able to focus on the fun stuff when the time comes! Change It Up If you’ve been putting off rearranging or reorganizing a room in your house, then a day at home is a great chance to get started. Switching up the layout of your stuff gives your home a fresh new look and provides you with an opportunity to deep-clean your space. If you have a patio or porch, then try sprucing up those outdoor spaces with new furniture, potted plants, or trendy decor. Just imagine how satisfying it will feel once everything is in a new place and sparkling clean. Even when you’d rather be outside enjoying the last days of summer, these indoor activities will keep you entertained and give you something fun to look forward to!
IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL WELL-BEING A Few Ways to Help You Through Hard Times
The recent pandemic has physically impacted all our lives in one way or another. Hundreds of thousands of people had to change their daily routines to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state guidelines. Many worked from home, lost their jobs, or were stuck inside. Yet, it also influenced our mental and emotional well-being. Recent studies have shown people across the world are reporting increased feelings of anxiety and depression. At the time this article is being written, the world is making an effort to return to “normal,” which will undoubtedly be a slow recovery. Although things are looking up, the uncertainty of the future can continue those anxious and melancholy emotions. However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do to improve our mental well-being. Meditate Meditation is an activity that quiets both the mind and body and allows you to sharpen your awareness of what’s taking place both externally and internally. Find somewhere with little to no distractions to sit, lay down, or even walk. Allow your thoughts and feelings to roam freely. Whether you’ve tried meditation in the past or are completely new to it, it’s never too late to give it a go. Simply find a quiet place, relax for a few minutes, and breathe.
Connect We’re naturally social creatures, which is why it’s so hard when we can’t talk with family, friends, and others. That’s why, even in times when we’re unable to see one another face to face, it’s so crucial to stay connected. Having relationships is essential to our mental health, giving us the option to reach out when we need support. If you haven’t done so in a while, send someone a message or hop on a video call to chat for a while. Exercise MedlinePlus states that “your physical and mental health are connected,” which is why it’s so important to take care of your body. Eating healthy, sleeping regularly, and being active all benefit your overall health. Now is a good time to look at the habits you have today and create a plan to improve them. If you continue to feel high levels of anxiety or depression, it’s crucial to reach out to the people around you for help, whether that’s a family member, friend, or a doctor.
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GIVING BACK TENFOLD In the midst of the global pandemic, stories arose that warmed our hearts, from an Italian couple caught dancing to “Cheek to Cheek” on their balcony to teachers traveling to their students’ homes to help them through a difficult math problem. While many of these good news stories are taking place all across the globe, plenty of good news is happening right here in Williamsburg, Virginia. Rising up to help the community is Williamsburg House of Mercy. Their mission is to provide “quality compassionate human services to all people, especially the most vulnerable, regardless of faith.” Their volunteers feed families in need, help find housing for homeless people, and provide emergency assistance and supportive services to individuals who are struggling. When cases of COVID-19 began to appear in the U.S. and our state was put under stay-at-home orders, the Williamsburg House of Mercy leapt into action. Determined to support the community as much as they could, volunteers came together to give back to the community and encourage donations. Williamsburg House of Mercy put on many local food drives and were overwhelmed with the amount of support.
of Mercy made around 350 meals each day and distributed them from their community kitchen and local businesses. The team also managed to give over 28,000 diapers and feminine hygiene items to families who were struggling to afford them. None of these would have been given out if it weren’t for our community’s donations or the thousands of volunteers who joined us to help so many people. As the country and the world recovers from COVID-19, Williamsburg House of Mercy will continue to work hard and dedicate themselves to the people of our city for years to come. To learn more or to get involved, visit WilliamsburgHouseofMercy.org.
Through their drive-thru food pantry, they gave food to more than 10,000 people. From March and well into May, Williamsburg House
DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL QUESTION?
SWEET AND SPICY BACON WRAPPED CHICKEN
If we can’t answer your question, we would be happy to personally refer you to one of our trusted colleagues. We will even give them a call to let them know a summary of your issue so they are aware and ready to take your call. But it all starts by reaching out to our office. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office at 757-220-4529.
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp chili powder • 1 tsp paprika • 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs*
• 6-8 slices of bacon • 1/2 cup brown sugar • Optional garnish: chopped parsley
DAD JOKE
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. In a medium bowl, combine chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder. Roll each chicken piece into the spices and wrap in bacon. Place in a 10-inch skillet or a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the tops with brown sugar. 2. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until chicken reads 165 F and is no longer pink. I like to broil the tops of my chicken for 1-2 minutes to crisp the bacon at the end. Sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired. Recipe Notes *You can also use tenders; I just like being able to wrap the bacon completely around the chicken.
Q: Why do the Norwegian Navy ships have barcodes on their sides? A: So, when they return to port, they can Scan-da-navy-in!
Source: TheRecipeCritic.com/sweet-and-spicy-bacon-wrapped-chicken/
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GILLETTE LAW GROUP, PLLC
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INSIDE This Issue
Becoming a Law School Teacher page 1 Engaging Indoor Activities page 2 Staying Mentally Well page 2 Providing Support in Our Community page 3
Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Chicken page 3 Are Your Thrift Store Donations Being Thrown Away? page 4
ARE YOUR THRIFT STORE DONATIONS BEING THROWN AWAY?
Are you thinking about donating your kids’ old clothes or that slow cooker you haven’t used in months? Though donating your unwanted items is a great thing to do, amid the pandemic, many people have not considered the future of secondhand shopping and charity-based thrift stores like Goodwill. In 2018, Goodwill funded nearly $5.3 billion in charitable services, like educational assistance, job training, and work placements. But now, Goodwill and similar organizations are facing a unique problem: They’re receiving too many donations. To prevent your items from ending up in a landfill, consider the following before you donate. Under the circumstances, this situation is understandable. Thanks to nationwide stay-at-home orders, many took advantage of their newfound spare time to spring-clean and subsequently donate unwanted items to charity. However, with the confusion about how long the COVID-19 virus can live on clothing, secondhand shoppers have been staying home, worried about the health risks of buying used goods. Famously, thrift stores still keep unsold goods out of landfills. Up to 75% of Goodwill’s merchandise, for example, isn’t sold in their stores. Instead, it’s sent to discount outlets and then into global markets. However,
Mexican traders, who account for 30% of business at thrift stores close to the U.S. southern border, and Kenya, the world’s largest buyer of unsold secondhand clothes, have stopped buying during the economic shutdown.
Meanwhile, some good-intentioned Americans are leaving their goods
outside thrift stores’ front doors, not realizing that without enough space to house the excess donations, many of these thrift stores will have to pay disposal fees, costing the business potential revenue and sending your items into local landfills. However, Goodwill still wants your donations! You just might have to hold on to your items for a little bit. Check to see if your local thrift stores are open for donations. Many recommend waiting until the influx slows down, but others have expanded their inventory storage and are ready to keep up. Just make sure to follow their guidelines on acceptable items because any broken or worn items only add to their costs. Happy donating!
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