Young Lawyers Section

THE JOYS OF BEING A LAWYER

One of the best things about being a partner at any law firm is the opportunity to choose your office. At our law offices, I was given the opportunity to have an office with windows that overlook Charleston’s Capitol and Quarrier Streets and the Kanawha County Public Library. On bright, sunny days this view allows me to look out onto the hustle and bustle of downtown Charleston, as well as take a view of the torch of liberty fountain that sits in front of what used to be the United States Federal Courthouse.

It is on one of these bright spring days, while looking out the window (not to say that this is the only time I look out my window), I have an opportunity to reflect on the joys of being a lawyer.

As I reflect, I try to think back to see what was it that caused me to want to become a lawyer. The story is relatively uneventful. In the summer before my senior year of college, I made the fateful decision. At the time, I was a Business Administration major getting preparing to graduate. All I really knew at that time is that I did not want to have to become a blue collar worker like my father. I had an opportunity to observe my father, who worked hard and had to work in the cold winter days and in the hot blistering heat of summer, in dirty and often unsafe conditions. I only knew I did not want to do that.

I also knew that my field of study would not produce the income level I wanted. I had the belief that if you wore a suit to work then you did not have to work that hard, yet would be paid handsomely. My father, to this day, still says that I have soft hands which means I have never seen a hard day’s work.

With this background, I applied to law school. I applied to one law school and they were kind enough to accept me. Three years later, I became a lawyer. At that point in time, I still was under the mistaken belief that lawyers wore suits and did not work all that hard to make sizeable incomes. It turns out that with even an advanced degree I was wrong on all counts.

So then what are the joys of being a lawyer. Joy comes every day, coming to a law office that I love and seeing my law partners, all of which are committed to a common goal, the upliftment of our society by use of law. One of my heroes, Charles Houston, used to say that lawyers can either be "parasites on society or social engineers". The other joy is being able to come to an office, look around and observe the number of legal assistants and paralegals that our office is able to employ. This gives me a great sense of pride knowing that I help provide jobs, income and health benefits to numerous individuals and their families.

Of course, there is the happiness that comes with being able to maintain a steady living. Being a lawyer, I know that all the monthly bills will be paid. I know that my income level allows a certain amount of travel to fun and fair places. I know I can purchase electronic gadgets and gizmos, that substitute for the toys I was denied when I was a child. Did I mention cognac and Cohiba cigars?

However, the joyous part of my law practice, is being able to represent common every day walk-of-life individuals. Being a personal injury lawyer allows me to have a steady stream of new client faces in my office on a regular basis. The vast majority of these individuals have never considered using a lawyer. Only during this one traumatic time in their life did they ever have the need to seek out a lawyer. I am pleased to say that during this traumatic time, these individuals have sought my knowledge and advice. As I explain to all of my clients, I understand their dilemma, both as it pertains to these injuries, being out of work, and how to deal with legal concepts.

I harken back to my childhood and to my father, to exercise every effort to make sure that legal concepts are explained in a common way. As my father says, "If you really know what you’re talking about, you can explain it to anyone." It gives me the utmost joy to make the complex medical/legal issues simple, so that everyone can understand. Moreover, I find great pride in being able to help these individuals weave through the complicated web of police investigations, insurance adjusters, health insurance providers, medical office bill collectors, defense lawyers, medical examiners, judges and juries.

It also gives me great fulfillment to be able to know all of these clients on an individual basis. Every one of them is part of the fabric that makes West Virginia great. They all come different walks of life, different races, different ages, different socio-economic backgrounds, yet their needs, though sometimes the same, are often quite unique. It takes time and effort to reach out and get to know these people. I want to be their friend and I want them to consider me their friend, too.

Finally, and most importantly, the things that gives me the utmost joy is the day when I can tell the client that the matter has been resolved, that they have been fully and fairly compensated for the harm done to them and the justice system works. Nothing gives me more joy than to look into my new friend’s eyes and shake his or her hand as they say, "Thank you, Mr. Twyman, you have been a good lawyer and a good friend."

So despite the fancy house, car and clothes, maybe that’s what the joy of being a lawyer is all about.