Barb guides clients through the maze of taxes and other challenges to growing a business, some of the most technical and demanding work we do, and she does it with a puppy in her lap. At least she will until Cuba gets too big.
What do clients think? They love it. A dog in a law firm sets a human tone, especially a young dog being trained to work with the blind.
Before Cuba, Barb raised Larabee and Army. Now each is helping a blind individual. Many of our clients know these dogs and they love to hear their stories and see their pictures.
The whole firm chips in when needed. My job is to drop by Barb’s office on the way to the men’s restroom so I can bring the dog with me. This way, Barb explains, the dog will understand the different restroom routines of men and women. I’m glad I get that tricky part.
There is a lawyer joke that goes like this: “The law firm of the future will consist of a computer, a lawyer and a dog. The computer is there to do the legal work. The dog is there to keep the lawyer away from the computer. The lawyer is there to feed the dog.”
A coming post will focus on a project called FutureFirm 101 and some ideas for real improvements percolating in my profession. There are no dogs proposed in the FutureFirm, but based on our invasion experience, a dog in the right hands for the right reason can make a firm a better place.
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