From the Oxfort Dictionary, the meaning of "etiquette" means:
• noun the code of polite behaviour in a society.
— ORIGIN French, ‘list of ceremonial observances of a court’, also ‘label, etiquette’, from Old French estiquette (see TICKET).
— ORIGIN French, ‘list of ceremonial observances of a court’, also ‘label, etiquette’, from Old French estiquette (see TICKET).
I still remember, to be admitted into the Malaysian Bar in the West Malaysia, everyone of us have to pass the Professional Etiquette course and/or exam. Some people struggle throught the course and of course for us, those who sat for the Certificate for Legal Practice course, we did this course twice. And the Sabahan who came back after we got our Malaysian Bar, we did another time of Professional Etiquette course before we were admitted to the Sabah Bar. So, we did a total of 3 times.
For some reason, I thought it is very important for us to observe the professional etiquette until some senior lawyers breaks it in a very nasty way. Some of those, I can understand, but this one that I am having, I don't think I like it the way it is. I received a phone call a few weeks ago telling me (by my client) that I introduced this "C" to deal with his matter. For a while, I puzzled... yes, I do know "C", but I don't know him that much until I need to give him a business. I was somehow, struggle with my finances as I just came back from England then and for a month of not having income, a right mind will not push away a business to someone whom she doesn't really know well. However, I tried to be nice, I told my client, I do not know how it happen, but it must be your loan agent that passed the case to "C", but if he has no problem with that, "C" should be able to deal this matter for him. He didn't ask much and he said he will call me back. Obviously, he didn't call me back until today.... and only by now I get the whole story. This "C" used my name to tell my client that I introduced him to "C" and so on and so, to cut the story short, they somehow got my case passed over to "C"'s firm and ... the loan was approved but nothing much has been done since then and today, they sent my client a bill with an excessive legal fees and disbursement charges. My client thought it's ok with it and so, they issued a cheque and called them to inform them that the cheque is ready. Shockingly, her phone call was being entertained by some very rude and arrogant staff who said something like this: "ah, so? bring over lah. want me to go and get it is it?" Hmm... that's not the point. If they do not want to come and get it or if they don't have office boy, I do not think that should be the tone ... my client do have office boy and delivery guy. Oh wait..... we are talking about a commercial loan here, not a normal housing loan. So, yes, with that kind of attitudes towards clients, that's it... that how all these anger, disagreement, dislike, hatred, all came about.... They called me back and asked me why I introduce such a law firm to them. I was then shocked and told him, I didn't introduce ...etc. etc... and only then we found out, the person behind all these, could be just the bank officer. With whatever reason they gave later, my client just insisted that they want us to deal with the case. Ah ha... tricky part came... where "C" wanted to charge a fee to close the file. So, I asked one simple question: "What have they done?" and my client told me, just a company search, land search and bankruptcy search. .... I am puzzled..... I thought I am being unreasonable, or may be that's the practice from all the law firm? So, I asked my partner... and nope... think they just trying to be nasty.
Oh well, I don't know ... I can only try to help my client in this since they insisted ... this matter won't get into this stage if, only if they staff didn't speak in such a tone i think... but yet,... to 'steal' away someone's client isn's something nice and even if they succeeded this round, they will have no chance for a second round. I have been told that if there's no way out and they have to use "C", then this will be the first and last time dealing with them. Hmm... again, we are talking about commercial loan, not a one time, housing loan...
Oh well... tell me now, if there's professional etiquette here? I am seriously disappointed with "C". I do know him, but not personally. I knew him because he is a christian and we attend the same church and he is so and so's nephew, so and so's son. And this, has somehow disappoints me a lot... now imagine this... the non-christian client of mine saw us, the 2 christian lawyers 'fighting'... or rather ... 'disagreeing' works... of a lawyer... how good it is to lay a seed of a gospel to them? My heart is pain... so pain that it I almost stop breathing.... I haven't started with the christian etiquette or law yet.... I am just stating the professional etiquette.... and even this, ... we failed? Hai...
- professional etiqueette -
