The first thing you notice when you walk through the door into Family Litigation is that it�s dominated by women. Of the twelve Litigation solicitors, only four are men and all the senior solicitors are women. Men are out-numbered among the legal assistants too. Only two of the eight are men. While some men might find a female dominated workplace threatening, I quite enjoy it. When men dominate a workplace there tends to be a lot of testosterone flying about the place. Women seem to create a more balanced mix.
Contrary to some rumours, Family Litigation is a pleasant place to work, though working on the reception desk does have its frustrating moments. Apart from abusive callers and demanding staff it�s the little things that can really frustrate you. Having your pens pinched several times a day gets under my skin and answering a call of nature can become quite difficult when you can�t find someone to �relieve� you. On a more serious note: some clients think the receptionist is a miracle worker and can answer every question from, �Can you grant me legal aid,� to �Will I win my case.� Staff also sometimes think I�m gifted. One example was the time when I was asked to photocopy documents while answering the phone at the same time. My arms just aren�t that long. While I can�t perform miracles I sometimes think that I come close.
It�s not the easiest job in the world but being a receptionist does have its own rewards. One of the best rewards is meeting colourful characters. As confidentiality does not permit me to name out more colourful clients I will use legal terms to �name� them. Mrs Affidavit is best known for her voice - it�s as loud as a foghorn. In fact, it�s probably louder. Whenever she phones she instantly demands to speak with her solicitor: �I want to talk to him NOW� she shouts down the line. If you say he isn�t in she�ll slam the phone down in your ear. If you don�t comply she�ll yell louder. The irony is that when she arrives in person she doesn�t need to use the phone outside the security glass. You can hear her straight through the glass! I feel sorry for poor Mark O�Shea. When he interviews Mrs Affidavit, you can hear her shout outside his office, even with the door closed!
Mr Tort has even fewer social skills. Every third word in his sentences starts with an F. He has sworn at just about every senior Litigation solicitor and even called the head something I would not repeat in polite company. Whenever these people pay us a visit, or phone, we all groan but at least they brighten up our day in a warped kind of way.
Litigation staff can be almost as colourful. Judy Ryan, the head of Family Law, is famous for her bright attire. Judy�s bright red and orange jackets not only stand out at
work but also make a pleasant change in the courtroom. As Judy says, Legal Aid is leading a style revolution in the court and our solicitors make their presence felt and noticed among the boringly familiar black and blue suits.
Other Litigation solicitors also defy convention. Eva Karagiannis is as good with weights as she is with briefs and her body building championships have even featured in a popular legal magazine. Judith Walker used to be a teacher and you can still tell. When she corrects you for making a mistake she spells out every word. I sometimes wonder if I�m going to be canned, but Judith, like all our solicitors, has a good sense of humour.
