Comments on: Being a party to a legal action

By: skepticlawyer » The cost of the law

skepticlawyer » The cost of the law — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:35:22 +0000

[...] have long thought that it is difficult for the average person to know where to turn when they are presented with a [...]

By: Like a wounded bull « The Legal Soapbox

Like a wounded bull « The Legal Soapbox — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 04:35:14 +0000

[...] there’s a need for something to change. As I said in another very early post, I think legal services are beyond the range of many ordinary people. And this may lead to the high [...]

By: Would you like fries with your writ? « The Legal Soapbox

Would you like fries with your writ? « The Legal Soapbox — Mon, 21 May 2007 11:37:31 +0000

[...] of my first posts described a horrible situation where we were sued by our former landlords. I am an educated [...]

By: Justice for all? « The Legal Soapbox

Justice for all? « The Legal Soapbox — Mon, 21 May 2007 10:40:13 +0000

[...] that the legal system is weighted towards those who can pay for legal representation. One of my first posts on this blog was on how awful it was to be sued by our former landlords. And I am an educated [...]

By: "Take it or leave it" « The Legal Soapbox

"Take it or leave it" « The Legal Soapbox — Mon, 21 May 2007 09:02:09 +0000

[...] a lawyer is empowering. As I have said in a previous post, it is very helpful when dealing with nasty ex-landlords and such people. It is good to know what [...]

By: Litigants in person « The Legal Soapbox

Litigants in person « The Legal Soapbox — Mon, 21 May 2007 08:49:34 +0000

[...] person, they may lose their grip on reality entirely. However, as I have pointed out in a previous post, hiring a lawyer can be expensive and it can be very difficult to know where to turn. Sometimes, [...]

By: Legal Eagle

Legal Eagle — Sat, 27 May 2006 03:19:00 +0000

As I mentioned in this post, it’s so hard to get up the courage to go out there and seek legal advice in the first place. So, if there’s one thing I really, really hate, it’s lawyers who provide bad service! I am very sorry that you experienced this.

I have also noticed the irony that often lawyers treat their employees terribly, while going around self-righteously telling other people how to run their lives. I have heard some pretty bad things about some of the plaintiff law firms - it goes back to my long-held view that one should not assume that one is morally right, because that is when the worst wrongs are committed as you can’t even contemplate that you might be doing a bad thing.

And as for petty civil servants masquerading as quasi-legal decision-makers… Don’t even start me! We just had a bad experience at VCAT in our action against our landlord - why is it that women seem to treat other women so badly sometimes? The (female) VCAT member we got openly sneered at me, seeming to despise me for being young, legally-trained and female. I presume the same is true for your EOC claims officer. However, I hear that the equal opportunity arm of VCAT has better Members, and I wish you all the very best of luck in your claim.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 27 May 2006 02:32:57 +0000

I’m a lawyer, and self-represented litigant. I didn’t want to be - but the service of lawyers out there is terrible!

I was unfortunate enough to experience conduct at my former law firm which contravenes the Equal Opportunity Act, amongst other things. I contacted solicitors to represent me, but they were terrible - slow to respond to my requests, provided incorrect advice, allowed my employment suit to become statute barred, and I’m sure used to pretend they weren’t there when I called.

I used to be a Plaintiff lawyer, but I have grown to despise them - because despite their outwardly noble sentiments and extreme self-righteousness, on an individual basis they often don’t seem to actually make an effort to help people at all!! And is it just me, or are all Plaintiff law firms permeated with a culture of sleaze, harrassment and an over-work/extreme-under-pay attitude? Irony does not even cover it!

I also feel sorry for anyone who has had to run the gauntlet of the Equal Opp Commission; I had the most stupid, selfish, nasty b**ch of a claims officer, I’ve had to refer the matter to VCAT. I’m now self-represented, and still in the middle of my case (hence my anonymity), and trying my hardest to keep perspective on the situation. It certainly makes me feel badly for any non-legals who find themselves drawn into the circus.