Tag Archives: Pro Bono

General Legal, Irreconcilable differences, Opinion

Happy Birthday! Donate to Mississippi Legal Services

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In lieu of birthday presents this year, I’m asking that you consider making a donation to Mississippi Center for Legal Services Corporation.

Legal Services afforded me my first legal “job!” The summer of my first year of law school I volunteered with them. I was assigned to work with an amazing attorney, Lula Anderson.

Attorney Anderson was one of the contract family law attorneys at the time and I heard Irreconcilable Differences Divorce 101 more times than I could count that Summer. Due to that experience it helped me get a paying clerkship with the family law firm Chinn & Associates, paving the way for Thompson Law Firm.

I’ve chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me. Legal Service’s attorneys represent low income families, pro bono, in Mississippi that need civil representation.

A lot of the great people I worked with are still there, including; Tara Bryant Walker, Richard Hitt, and Lindia Robinson just to name a few.

Since establishing my own firm, I have continued to volunteer with Legal Services. I now serve on the Board of Directors and routinely speak at Continuing Legal Education seminars for Legal Services. I’ll be presenting a Family Law Update on July 27 in Hattiesburg.

I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help the goal.

This link goes to the Facebook donation page.

331197450751450/331197460751449/https://www.facebook.com/donate/

No Facebook? Donate directly here.

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law attorney and Board member with Mississippi Center for Legal Services.

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, General Legal, humor, Irreconcilable differences, Opinion

3 things NOT to say the First time you call a Lawyer.

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Calling a lawyer for the first time feels worse than going to the dentist or seeing a letter in your mailbox from the IRS.

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In addition to being nervous, you are typically calling because you are having legal problems and need help.

3 things NOT to  say on that first call:

  1. TLF:  Thompson Law Firm, this is Sara speaking. How may I help you?

           PC:  This is John. Y’all have to do free (or pro bono) cases, right?!

 2. TLF:  Thompson Law Firm, this is Sara speaking. How may I help you?

           PC:  This is John. How much is a No Fault divorce?

         TLF: Well, John, that depends upon whether all of the issues are agreed upon with regard to…

        PC:  Attorney “So-and-So” said he’d do it for $500.00 dollars!

     3. TLF:  Thompson Law Firm, this is Sara speaking. How may I help you?

           PC:  This is John. I need a bulldog! I want a Junk Yard Dog that will get down and dirty, do whatever it takes and be willing to go lower than Trump or Hillary!

         TLF: Well, sir,  all we do at TLF is family law, but there is a right way of handling matters…

BONUS:  TLF:  Thompson Law Firm, this is Sara speaking. How may I help you?

           PC:  This is John and I need a divorce…hold on just a second…(said into speaker) I need a #5, super biggie sized, extra ketchup and pickles, and a diet coke…(back to TLF)…now, where was I?

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce Attorney and knows it’s hard to make that first phone call, but NOT doing the above and being prepared will make it easier.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

 

 

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, Grandparent Visitation, Irreconcilable differences, Modifications, Visitation

DONATE NOW to the MVLP; Helping Low-Income Mississippians attain Lawyers

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Low-income Mississippian’s have a definite need for legal services and lawyers and the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project is working to make sure those Mississippian’s get the help they deserve.  MVLP needs your help too.

MVLP

Click Here to DONATE Now.

Q: What is the MVLP?
The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project, or “MVLP,” is a 501(c) (3) non-profit legal aid organization.

Q: What is the Mission of MVLP?
MVLP enables volunteer attorneys to provide equal access to justice for Mississippians of low-income and limited means through high quality pro bono legal assistance.

Q: What types of cases does MVLP handle?

  • Divorce
  • Child support contempt, child support modification,  and visitation.
  • Emancipation
  • Simple wills 
  • Adoption, guardianship, and conservatorships
  • Name change, birth certificate correction,
  • MVLP hosts legal clinics throughout Mississippi which are staffed by local volunteer attorneys and law students.

Q: How does MVLP work?
Qualified clients are matched with volunteer attorneys who will represent him/her on behalf of MVLP. MVLP staff periodically review the client’s case to ensure that the match is successful, to assess the progress of the case, and to record pro bono hours contributed by the volunteer attorney.

Q: How is MVLP funded?
MVLP receives funding from the Civil Legal Assistance Fund, the Mississippi Bar Foundation, Legal Services Corporation, special events and seminars, donations from law firms, other business and individuals like you. Over the past several years, MVLP’s funding from the Mississippi Bar Foundation and the Legal Services Corporation, in particular, has been substantially reduced because of the country’s current economic situation. MVLP anticipates additional cuts from both sources in 2015, making this year’s fundraising campaign especially critical.

Q: How will My Donation be used?
Annual campaign donations will help MVLP to do the following:
• Recruit more volunteer attorneys to provide much-needed legal services to the poor;
• Increase the number of legal clinics and public awareness workshops offered throughout Mississippi;
• Increase the number of training sessions to volunteers on the types of matters handled by MVLP;
• Provide financial support to clients who cannot afford filing fees and other court costs; and
• Allow the organization to actively engage in short- and long-term, strategic planning with a focus on ways to expand its capacity to reach more individuals in need.

Q: What are the fundraising levels?
Benefactor $10000
Sustainer $5000
Partner $2500
Advocate $1000
Patron $500
Friend of MVLP $250

Or any amount.

Q: How can I Donate?
A: Donate online through PayPal at www.mvlp.org/donate.

Mail your donation to MVLP at PO Box 1503, Jackson, MS 39215 or

Call MVLP at 601-960-9577 and a MVLP volunteer can pick up your donation.

Please make a Donation Now!

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Family Law Attorney, Board Member for the MVLP, a volunteer attorney for MVLP and has made his donation for the 2014 campaign and challenges you to help as you are able to this worthy cause.  

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Signs of an Unreasonable Client…

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Does your lawyer avoid you like the plague, saying he’s  in “Court,” or she’s in depositions? Maybe they are, or maybe you are an unreasonable client!

Signs of an Unreasonable client:

  • You want it yesterday. (Most things are not emergencies and even the basics take time to get right.  Allow adequate time.)
  • You want it your way. (This is not Burger King.  Usually, doing it your way leads to the mess that you are now in.)
  • You do not heed advice.  (Similar to wanting it your way, you ignore instructions such as “DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH HIM IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER!” and then you call, text, email and send smoke signals and a fight ensues.)
  • You blame the messenger.  (A lot of times attorneys have to deliver crummy news due to bad circumstances.  It’s is not because we want you to suffer, but it is because that is the way it is.)
  • You think everything is an EMERGENCY. (It’s not.)
  • You want something for nothing. (You may well get what you pay for.)
  • You paid last year and think they owe you.  (That was a year ago. See You want something for nothing.)
  • You call the office, leave a message, call the cell phone, leave a message, send 2 texts, send 1 email, and call the paralegal all within 3 minutes and it is NOT an emergency.  (This is wholly unnecessary.)

Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi Divorce attorney and knows a thing or two about unreasonable clients.  If you identify with 2 or more of the above you may well be an Unreasonable Client, see your lawyer at their next available appointment for treatment.

Follow the blog:#BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm  You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

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Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Why I HATE Being a Lawyer.

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I don’t really hate being a lawyer.  Most days I enjoy it.  It can be rewarding emotionally, financially, even spiritually, but…

pastemagazione.com/ Better Call Saul

being a lawyer has its downsides.

  1. For one, we have to deal with OTHER LAWYERS.  Other lawyers do things differently than you do them.  They are slow, they don’t do what they say they will, they tell you things that are just wrong and they give their clients crummy advice.
  2. All of our CLIENTS HAVE PROBLEMS.  That is why they are seeing you.  Lawyers purposely make other people’s problems their own!
  3. All Lawyers are NOT RICH.  What?!! They never told you that before law school.  Lawyers struggle to find their niche’, find their market and some just don’t like being lawyers.
  4. JUDGES.  Judges judge you.  They judge me.  That’s their job, but some let it go to their head.  A Judge’s attitude alone can make or break a Court experience, even with the same outcome.
  5. CHURCH COMMITTEES.  Being a lawyer gets you the hot seat for every church, social, civic and community committee in known existence.  You are automatically the chairperson and the questions never stop.
  6. DOCTORS.  Doctors don’t like lawyers.  Sure, I have some doctor friends, but I have to tell them that I DO NOT sue doctors. (That’s not entirely true, as I do sue doctors that cheat on their spouses…)
  7. We have to CHARGE $.  Lawyers cannot afford to take your case for free.  (see #3, above).  I tell potential clients that I cannot afford to do it for free and that if they find one that will you better watch out for getting what you “paid” for.  Most people deserve to have a lawyer. Most lawyers deserve to be paid.
  8. FRIENDS that just have 1) question. It will only take a minute…
  9. NOT KNOWING THE ANSWER.  Of course lawyers don’t know every answer to every possible question.  I tell people when I don’t know something.  Yes, I am still a lawyer.
  10. MANY CLIENTS.  To be a successful lawyer you must have clients.  Because of this you must have multiple clients.  The downside is sometimes a client, a person you genuinely care for and want to help, has to wait on you.  This is tough.  It is a balancing act.  You, as a lawyer, cannot be in 2 places at once.  Most clients understand. Some do not.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and enjoys being a lawyer most days.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@wmtlawfirm.com.

Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

How NOT to Ask for Free Advice; Tips for On-Line Lawyer Q&A

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There are a number of free, on-line Q&A opportunities for unrepresented persons to pose general questions of law and have lawyers answers those questions.  This is really in the form of a public service and the responses do not create an attorney-client relationship, nor are they considered legal advice.  But, they do prove helpful. (Examples include; AVVO, Law Q A, LawGuru, LawZam, JustAnAnswer)

David Castillo Dominici/free digitalphotos.net

However, I have noticed several trends by Askers of the questions that result in no responses.  Below are just a few of “what not to say.”

  • DO NOT start the Question with “I am __ (age 13-17 ).
    • You won’t get a response if you are a young’un, and if you are older than that it probably is not a necessary fact for the Q&A.
  • DO NOT start the Question “I ain’t got no money, but….”
    • We already assume that. You’re posting on a free Q&A.
  • DO NOT start the Question with “My attorney said ____, but…
    • We know what you want (I want you to say what I wanted to hear, instead of what he said)…” We won’t.
  • DO NOT start the Question with “Don’t you attorneys have to do free cases or pro bono cases…”
    • We do, but it does not have to be your case.
  • DO NOT use ALL CAPS, ALL THE TIME. IT IS PERCEIVED AS YELLING, IS POOR SOCIAL INTERNET MANNERS AND MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL TO READ YOUR QUESTIONS.
  • DO NOT use terrible grammar.  It’s not an English Composition exam, but it needs to be coherent.  Sentences should have a beginning AND an end.  There should be multiple sentences, but…
  • DO NOT write a novel.
  • DO NOT leave out necessary facts.
    • If you’re question is about how much child support you will receive  have an idea on the paying parent’s income.  If you don’t have an idea, how would the lawyer?
  • DO NOT ask the same question multiple times.

Finally, a free Q&A is not an excuse to not hire an attorney when you need one.  After all, the saying you get what you pay for comes from somewhere.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and cautions those that use the free Q&A sites to be careful, you might get what you pay for.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@wmtlawfirm.com.

Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That (Unhappy Clients)

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What’s the fastest way to have an unhappy client?  Charge too much?  Not return calls?  No, the fastest way to have an unhappy client is to represent them for FREE.

Gift horse

What?  We all love stuff that is FREE!  This is true in a lot of instances, but in professional services it is decidedly not.  Legal representation is different from giving someone a free box of donuts.  Most of the time the legal services needed are important and have risk associated.  Typically the person seeking assistance has contributed to the predicament that they are in.  You, as the attorney, think you are doing them a favor, but are you?

Certainly there are circumstances of appreciated and gratifying Pro Bono work.  In Mississippi attorneys are required to work at least 20 hours per year on Pro Bono matters, but the client does not get to decide.

It seems that clients getting something for nothing are more demanding, are more suspicious and are more prone to complain.  This is because the typical arms length transaction, which provides for the exchange of compensation for services, when not used creates an imbalance.

  • The FREE client is more suspicious because they wonder how good a job the attorney is doing.  
  • The FREE client is more demanding because they have to get all that they can for free because they know it will end soon.  
  • The FREE client complains more because they do not have to refuse to pay and wonder what that attorney is going to do about it.  
  • This is not intended to disparage Pro Bono clients and their cases, but rather to warn attorneys and other professionals to be careful when taking on FREE representation.

Beware of FREE representation and to the clients seeking a free attorney, sometimes…you get what you pay for.

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@wmtlawfirm.com.

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General Legal, Opinion

10 Annoying Client Traits

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I recently wrote of 10 Annoying Attorney Traits.  I only listed 10 of them, though there could have easily been 100+.  A colleague suggested I write about Annoying Client Traits. I agreed to do it.  Disclaimer:  This applies to none of my past, present and/or future clients.  Any resemblance to you is purely coincidental.

  • 10.  Calling at the Last Minute.  You have a trial tomorrow?!  You have had the papers for  months, were served and ignored the other attorney’s calls and letters for weeks.  Then you are upset with the attorney because we cannot get involved…
  • 9.  Petty Cases.  You want to sue your neighbor because some leaves blew on your side of the fence, or in the family arena, because he was 5 minutes late for visitation drop-off.  The Court does not want to hear it unless it matters.  
  • 8.  Expecting Something for Nothing.  I get multiple calls a month where the potential clients say they “don’t got no money, but…don’t you attorneys have to take some cases Pro Bono…”  All Mississippi attorneys donate at least 20 hours per year on Pro Bono cases, or pay $200 dollars to the Mississippi Bar.  Just because you don’t want to pay doesn’t mean your case is Pro Bono.  
  • 7.  Declaring War.  Okay, so you have a serious case.  It does not mean that the right move is to put on your helmet, arm yourself  and put on war paint.  Listen to your attorney.  Sometimes resolving your differences or settling your case is a better long-term outcome.
  • 6.  Suing for the Principal.  Your case just got 3 times more expensive.  Moral victories do not taste sweet.  Suing on principal costs you lots of money, gets you in a quagmire and it may not end up the way you were hoping.
  • 5.  Not Taking Our Advice.  You paid us to tell you what to do.  Don’t follow at your own peril.
  • 4.  Weekend Calls About Non-Emergencies.  Emergencies happen.  We are paid to deal with them. However, it is not an emergency because your friend’s cousin in Toledo just settled their case without an attorney and you were wondering why we did not tell you about the Toledo case.  What?  Are you okay? Yes.  Call me Monday.
  • 3.  Not Responding to Your Attorney.  Attorneys get a bad rap for not returning calls.  Well, clients don’t return calls either.  We cannot effectively represent you if we cannot speak to you when needed.  Please do not avoid calls.
  • 2.  Not Paying.  You hired a lawyer.  In most instances you caused the mess you are in or at least contributed to it.  You agreed to the fees.  Pay your bills. Not all lawyers are stinking rich.
  • 1.  Lying.  Why on Earth would you lie to your attorney?  We are so immune to judging you based on whatever it is that you did due to the fact that everyone else did it too. They just did not get caught.  Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth…to your attorney.

Matthew is a family law attorney and when he gets calls on the weekends, for non-emergency “emergencies” it goes something like this…

Client:  Matthew, I hate to call on the weekend, but…

Attorney:  Are you safe, are your kids safe, are you in jail, are your kids in jail…? 

Client:  What? No, we’re all fine. My Cousin’s friend in Toledo…

Attorney:  Call me on Monday.

 

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer    Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at(601) 850-8000 or Matthew@wmtlawfirm.com.