Awful feeling...

"Please list down by itemizing in details the services that you have rendered to this case, with charges, also with supported document to quantify the efforts you have spent in this case. Thank you."

This is what I received in an email after I told my client that I am discharging myself from being her brother's advocate and that she is still owing us the agreed 2nd instalment. My immediate reaction was, "You think I am a can food or a tooth brush is it? that I can itemize what i did?" Seriously, this case started like this: SHE BAGGED ME to take up the case even though I told her our fee is RMXX,000.00 (hereinafter referred to as "x" amount). I did told her to look for another lawyer if she think the fee is unbearable. She came into office not only once, but a few times... my fellow lawyer friends... wasn't I kind enough to not charge for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th legal advice? IT shouldn't be the BRIEF anymore, isn't it? They have made their decision to engaged us with x mount... but urge us to allow them to pay by instalment. We did. I DID. Just before the 2nd instalment, there's this mention and we contacted her, asked her for the 2nd payment and the only thing she said was she need a few days to pay us. I trusted her. Didn't doubt about her at all and ... there she goes... seriously, I didn't receive anything from her since the first deposit payment.

I explained to her that she agreed to the x amount and it's suppose to be a one lump sum as it is a criminal case and so on and on.. and she has therefore use all sorts of excuses just to tell us that she doesn't want to pay. And upon being told I am discharging myself, she wrote back said she accept our discharge (who does she think she is to said she accept or not) and I told her, she still owe us the 2nd instalment even though I discharge myself. And that's what she wrote to us...

That's the 2nd time she wrote asking for it. I have explained to her, and I guess she is a very stubborn women and she has a mind of her own and she just refuse to pay and she still think she is right. As she is introduced by a Priest whom I know and I really wanted to help her initially, I told her she has 'misused' us somehow and she was angry, scolded that i shouldn't use the name of God in vain... (like she is doing everything rightfully) and i seriously said, I let the God judge us in this.

Seriously... it's not about the payment... it's about how people look at me... I just hate being cheated and still being accused.

Upset and discouraged are what I am feeling right now...

- awful feeling -

Professionalism...

I walked into the court today fearing that I will be scolded for not filing the Bundle of Document earlier. It was not the Court's direction to file a bundle of document and hence, I didn't file any and on last friday, when I saw a copy which my opponent filed on last Wednesday while I was away to Labuan for another case, I was shocked. Oh well, it's not so difficult for me to prepare mine as all my documents were produced as Exhibits in the affidavits filed earlier on. However, that's what I thought and the judge might not think that way. Oh well, ... I walked into the court and thereafter, I handed the documents to the Court and everything seems fine. As usual, this opponent of mine wasn't really friendly and treated me like his 'worker'. hahaha.. just his character I think.

Oh well, ... I later notice that there were 2 pretty ladies walked in and I recognised one of them who are my 'far-relative' and my brother's ex-classmates who is doing her pupillege at my opponent's firm. She's here to watch the trial. We chatted as usual, not about the case, but about my brother, their classmates, etc, etc.... and later, she told me, her 'boss' - my opponent doesn't allow her to 'touch' the case since the day he saw us chatting (one of the previous mention). OH well, I can understand that... but to the extent she think my 'far-relative' doesn't know what is privilege and what is private and confidential, it's a bit too much isn't it?

After my case, when we came back after 2:30pm, my opponent was sitting there while the interpreter asked him a few questions and he answere, "whatever lah... I don't care ..." The interpreter of course gave me the look and I too wonder why he said that... Oh well, if he tried his 'trick' again, I am sure he should know by now, it won't affect me. Trial went on. I asked a few questions which his witnesses cannot answer and he started to show his frustration. He raised his hand asked why I asked such questions and so on and the judge allowed all my questions anyway.

Until we left the court, he didn't want to even talk to me. Oh well... you call this 'senior' lawyer has professionalism in him? I don't really know.... he may be more senior than me. He may be more experience than me. He may have a better english command than me. He may be smarter than me... still, I think his EQ is much lower than mine.

I was reminded of his 'offer' which he sent to my handphone asking if he didn't wanna call one of his witness, can I not call one of mine... cheaky as he is... of course I told him we can call both of them.

I just don't think he is as 'good' as he think himself as. Even if I lost this case, I don't think so either...

By the way, this is my first ever contested divorce case...

- professionalism -

Rest!

Upon finishing more than half of my works (preparation for trial on next Monday), I made myself to the Cell Leader's training yesterday evening in church. A traning given by a group of missionary and pastors from United States. The topic was about being a shepherd. Oh well, I was awfully tired last night. I noticed from the note when I received it then that ... there's this passage from Psalm 23. It reminds me on a book I read which was written by Max L. Then, during the training, the preacher did told us to take some time to rest....

I guess, it is so difficult for me to rest and that due to my tiredness, I raised my voice towards my office boy a few times. Oh well, he did mistake. He knew that too, but I guess I should have know he is new.... I can't expect him to do things even without me trying to tell him. I asked him to do 3 things, one after another at the same time and obviously, he get confused at the end. Oh well...

I took this morning to rest. First to charge my phone battery, my camera battery, then read some cases online, have my coffee, take some cake, then iron my clothes... and now, resting... I will be out later at 2:30pm until late night I am sure as I am needed in a church activity tonight... as well as preparing something for the drama. In the midst of my most busy and stressful weekend, I somehow... not doing much!

Oh well... may be it's time for me to cook something to eat now...

- rest! -