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JULY 2022
LEGAL PLUMBER, AT YOUR SERVICE! WHY I LISTEN SO HARD TO MY CLIENTS
Being a lawyer is a lot like being a plumber — and I’m not just saying that because we both deal with a lot of crap (excuse my French!). I’m saying it because both jobs require a very important skill: listening. Here’s how I think about it. When my toilet is clogged, if it needs more than a quick attack with the plunger or a jiggle of the handle, I probably need to call a plumber. Fixing a toilet is just not a skill I possess. The plumber’s goal will be to take me from Point A (the toilet is broken) to Point B (I have a working toilet). There might be a lot of different ways to get from Point A to Point B. But his job isn’t to pick one of those ways. His job is to come in, assess what’s causing my toilet issue, and figure out all of the different options I have. Then, he should come to me and say, “Okay, Mrs. Emery. I looked at the toilet and here’s your problem. You can either go this route, which costs about $100 and comes with these pros and cons. Or, you can do this route, which costs $200 but has this other set of pros and cons. Now, what would you like to do?” A great plumber listens to what his client wants. He’d let me make my own decision, because he doesn’t know whether I’m getting ready to list my house on the market and only need a working toilet for a month, or if I’m going to die in this house and want a gold-standard toilet. He also doesn’t know whether I’m flush with cash or not (pun intended) — and it’s not any of his business!
His business is to know his craft and do a fantastic job taking care of me. The only way he can do the latter is by asking about my own personal goals and listening to my answer.
extremely tight for my family — but he walked me through all of my options and always offered a Band-Aid fix for my car as well as a real fix, just in case. Sometimes I took the Band-Aid. It’s easy for personal injury lawyers to assume that every client wants the same thing from their case: As much money as possible, as quickly as possible. But that’s just not true! By listening closely and asking questions, I’ve discovered that some clients aren’t in the financial position to wait for a bigger settlement — they need to take less now to make ends meet. Other clients are willing to sit through depositions, go to trial, and take time off work to get a few more dollars. Today, I not only listen to my clients, friends, and family, I also try to make sure I’ve heard them correctly. When someone says something that bothers or upsets me, I try to say, “Hey, this is what I heard you say — is this what you meant?” Oftentimes, they’re horrified by the misunderstanding, and we can avoid an argument right there! July 18 is National Listening Day, and it’s just around the corner. If you get a chance that day, try out my tactic for avoiding an argument. You might be surprised by just how much of a difference listening makes.
The same is true for my job as a lawyer. Listening is a valuable skill, because while a lawyer may know the law and how a case should run, if we don’t know a client’s goals, wishes, and their idea of best outcome, it can be very challenging to chart the right course for their case! I can do what I think is best, but just because it’s best for me and my circumstances, doesn't mean it's best for my client and their circumstances. I came into law with this perspective, partly because when I was a single parent, I was lucky enough to have people listen to me. My mechanic, for example, didn’t know that money was
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IS IT TIME FOR A DIGITAL DETOX?
• Turn off notifications. Constant notifications can be incredibly distracting, so silencing them allows us to focus more on our surroundings. • Disconnect before bedtime. Turn off all electronics an hour before you go to sleep to relax your body and mind.
When you need a break from your busy life, you probably look at your cellphone. And when you need a break from your cellphone, you might watch TV or browse social media on your other devices. This cycle of never-ending screens can be taxing on your mental health. Everyone hits their breaking point at a different time, and you may not even realize when you’ve reached your limit. If you find yourself getting angry or upset at posted content, consistently comparing yourself to others, or feeling depressed, it may be time for a digital detox.
Another benefit is that you’ll feel less stressed, especially if you compare yourself to others on social media or get lost in negative news cycles.
But what is a digital detox? It’s taking a break from electronic devices, such as your cellphone or tablet mindlessly scrolling through social media or news stories.
Perhaps the most notable benefit of a digital detox is reclaiming your own time. Checking your cellphone and scrolling through social media can quickly become a subconscious habit. Before you know it, an hour or two has passed. Even watching television can take up huge chunks of your day. With a digital detox, you get that time back, and you can reallocate it to healthier activities.
Now that you know what it is, how can you detox yourself?
• Schedule a break from your devices. Even if it’s just for a half-hour, use the time to do other activities, such as exercise, household chores, or even gardening.
If you feel like you need a break from your electronic devices, take one. It could lead to a healthier and happier life.
ACCORDING TO OUR ELO TEAM! THE BEST INVENTIONS SINCE SLICED BREAD
America is a country of invention — so it’s no surprise the U.S. patent office first opened its doors all the way back on July 31, 1790. Thanks to that office, American inventors can protect the weird, wacky, and wonderful things they create. To celebrate the patent office’s anniversary, we asked our team what their all- time favorite invention is and why they love it. Even Melissa chimed in! ASHLEY GRAY-ZIBA ATTORNEY The best invention since sliced bread is the airplane. I love traveling and flying to new places to learn and experience different cultures. I cannot imagine driving and/or having to take a boat to get to some places. ANDREA WHITTAM INTAKE SPECIALIST/LEGAL ASSISTANT Summing up 232 years is not an easy task! There are so many inventions that could top my list such as the personal computer vs. typewriter (by which I typed my first Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals brief) but that's so obvious, it's up there with GPS and cellphones and watches you can make calls on! Upon reflection, my favorite innovation has to be the way we can access music.
I've always enjoyed music and would buy albums, then 8-track tapes, then cassettes, then finally CDs. Now you can get songs or entire collections of your favorite music with such ease, and less cost. I also love the added bonus of being able to listen to a book on tape for those times I can't sit down and read.
JESSICA MAZA RECEPTIONIST
My answer to the question would have to be: The airplane! It's incredible that in a matter of hours you can be across the globe. I love to travel and learn about new cultures … it would be a pretty hard task (although not impossible) to do so without flying. MELISSA EMERY FOUNDER/ATTORNEY I’d have to pick the wheel! Without it, we wouldn’t be able to go places like we do, or have the civilization we have right now. My team and I also wouldn’t have jobs if we didn't have wheels, because people wouldn’t be out there driving cars.
What’s your favorite invention? Send us a message with your answer on Facebook (Facebook.com/EmeryLawOffice ). Your note might just make a future newsletter!
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HAVE YOU MET OUR NEW RECEPTIONIST? JESSICA MAZA JOINS THE TEAM Before our new receptionist, Jessica Maza, started with us, she worked in a place most Kentuckians don’t even know exists: the hidden community on the back side of Churchill Downs. “There are actually dorms back there that house like 600 of the workers who take care of the horses,” Jessica explains. “They live there in this little city. There’s a learning center, a rec center, a chapel, and even a restaurant/cafeteria.”
HAVE A LAUGH!
PEANUT BUTTER AND PUMPKIN DOG TREATS Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Jessica worked in the chapel, but because she speaks fluent Spanish and has a big heart for helping others, she “kind of became a social worker overnight.” She stepped up to translate for workers from Guatemala and Mexico, working to help them find housing and becoming a liaison with their lawyers on immigration and family law cases.
“It was a fun, unique experience. I enjoyed it, and I actually did some translation in the courtroom. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing because the court translator didn’t show up. I liked the process and getting to tangibly help people in big ways,” Jessica says. Thanks to this unexpected work, Jessica fell in love with the legal field and decided she wanted to learn more. That led her to us! For the last few months, she has excelled as our receptionist. We keep her busy with tasks like answering the phone, handling correspondence, scheduling, faxing — and learning about personal injury law along the way.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help. 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients. If needed, add water to make the dough workable, but ensure it remains dry and stiff. 3. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick sheet. Cut into 1/2-inch square pieces or use a cookie cutter to make individual treats. 4. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, and place cookies an inch apart. Bake for 40 minutes, or until hard, and let cool before serving.
“I hope to train to be more of a paralegal in the future,” Jessica says.
We can’t wait to see Jessica grow! Her Spanish skills have already been a big help. When a potential client who prefers to speak Spanish calls in, she can jump on the phone to help them and translate in the office. “I learned Spanish in college as part of my degree (International Studies and Global Development in Latin and South America),” Jessica says. She also speaks a lot of Spanish at home because her husband, David, is from Ecuador. When Jessica isn’t busy in the office, you can find her hanging out with David or exploring Kentucky with their Aussiedoodle, Bowie! If you’re a Spanish speaker, make sure to ask for her when you call in.
call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
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INSIDE
LAWYERS AND PLUMBERS NEED THIS 1
THE BENEFITS OF A DIGITAL DETOX
ELO CELEBRATES INVENTION 2
MEET OUR NEW RECEPTIONIST!
PEANUT BUTTER BACON DOG TREATS 3
TEEN LIFE SKILLS 4
READY TO SUCCEED
3 IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS TO TEACH YOUR TEEN
Leaving the nest can be tough for young adults. There are so many things to remember, like making sure they have all the right supplies and remembering to keep important paperwork. So, before your child heads off to college, help them strengthen these three skills. How to Ask for Help Being capable starts with understanding what you need and asking for it. By having your child order their own food at a restaurant, make medical and dental appointments for themselves, and check out at the supermarket alone, you’ll be helping your child develop independence while encouraging them to take the lead.
traveling on their own on a bus, on a plane, by car, and by foot, so they’ll need to understand how to navigate airports, subway stations, bus hubs, and roads. Ask your child to give you directions when describing how to get to the mall or have them even drive you there if they are licensed. This will reduce stress during solo travels, and they’re less likely to feel overwhelmed if plans unexpectedly change. How to Handle Emergencies When children are fairly young, they learn how to call 911 in the event of life-threatening and serious emergencies. But other emergencies tend to pop up in life that don’t necessarily warrant a call to the police. Show your child how to put on a spare tire, turn off utilities, patch a hole in clothing, and other basic but necessary skills so
they don’t panic when something goes wrong in their dorm room or on the road.
As a parent, it’s your job to teach your children the right skills to set them up for success and independence so they can take care of themselves when they finally go off on their own.
How to Seamlessly Get From Point A to Point B When your teen leaves the house, they’ll be
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