Two can play the game

I don’t know why people always feel they can play lawyers. May be because our services are mostly intellectual and intangible. Let me share one of many examples.

She came into my office. She was earlier scheduled to see my principal. But my principal was busy so I had to take her brief.  She had received a letter that her house is to be repossessed. She bought the house through a housing scheme and had made an initial payment. The rest payment was to be spread over a period of time. But the company involved had issued her a letter. They wanted her repossess the house at the end of the month. According to her story, she stopped paying two years ago because the company involved had a problem with the federal government and they laid an embargo on the scheme.

She claimed she told the lawyer but he said the issues had been resolved about a year ago.  I advised her to write a letter to the company’s solicitor detailing the schedule of payment and see if both parties can work something out. Perhaps a memo to be drafted to that effect after the initial service of the letter.

I took her brief and told her the fees. The story started. She was directed by a very close friend of my principal. She didn’t know she had to be financially prepared. She hadn’t been to a lawyer’s office before.

Could I please help? I told her lawyers don’t just write letters, we don’t just make appearances, we are not a charity organisation. How do we pay our bills? I told her to go wait at the reception. So I called my principal. He was quiet for a moment then said, “Dolapo. She really does not have money. She is a pensioner. Please just do it for her. But if she can pay up, no problem. Charge her reasonably.”

I agreed with my boss because I tried to see her plight. I had earlier told her we will serve the lawyer the letter but she said she can’t even pay any money for service, besides she will be seeing the lawyer the next day.

I called her back and told her I will write the letter. She needn’t pay a dime. She was very happy. So she waited back at the reception and in some minutes I drafted the letter, sealed it and it was delivered to her.

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She left, effusive with thanks.

About a week later, later, I saw her in my office. She came and was thankful.  She said that she had some mishap with her car and it was at the mechanic’s village. That’s why she has not reported back. Hmm.

Anyway, the company’s lawyer received the letter and said they were open to re negotiation. She told them she was ready to be paying the balance in #100,000 every month. Infact, she took them to the bank immediately to pay the first instalment and she showed me the receipt.

I stared at her silently.

She came back to ask what next to do.

I watched her for a moment, made sure she felt uncomfortable. Silently. Then said “Nothing.”

She was confused. “But I still want you to help me further. There is still a memo to be done. I want you to be in charge of another family property of ours. There are some issues on that property.”

“You want our firm on retainership?”

“I want you to be my lawyer.”

“Okay. We can accommodate you. We will open a file for you based on payment of a fee.”

She was quiet for a moment. Then said,“The person that said I should see Oga is a family friend…”

“Madam,” My voice was quiet and chilled. “I am sorry about your car that was totaled but you are not getting it out of the mechanic’s village without paying for their service. When you go to a hospital, you pay for a card and consultation fees,a lawyer’s office is almost the same. We don’t have syringes or injections, but we listen to your stories, try to reach your minds, understand your opponents and advice accordingly. We don’t run a charity outfit here. The person who introduced you is my principal’s close friend, yes, but this is a business organisation too.I won’t buy a thing from your shop and walk out without paying.When you are ready you come back, we are open for business.”

She stared at me obviously flummoxed. Then, “What –what about the memo?”

“Upon payment of our legal fees, we will have the memo drafted.”

She stood up on heavy legs. I watched her without blinking. I didn’t pretend to study a file.

She promised to be back by month’s end.  I smiled briefly. Nodded.

She left.

When you desire a service to be rendered, then you must be prepared to pay for it. Real or intellectual.