Reader Beware: Novice Blogger Ahead

Welcome! I am happy to start this endeavor of writing occasionally about our practice, and practicing law in general. My goals in writing here are several, and a word about the "whys" would be a good start. But reader beware: I know just enough about IT and blogging to be dangerous. Whether what I write even makes it to this mysterious place on a server that is who-knows-where is far from certain as I type.

First, yes, this is a blog relating to Carpenter & Capt, Chtd., and yes, it is to market our practice in a very fundamental way I suppose. It will help clients and would-be-clients know who they are paying. In a broader sense though, I won't be simply writing to hawk our services. Instead, the content will reflect 3 parts information, 2 parts color commentary. Though all blogging constitutes a pulpit of sorts, I hope this will be classroom first, pulpit second.

The title of this forum reflects what I hope it will convey. "Immigration Frustration" may be more appropriate; but Savvy is what I hope it makes you in the face of your frustration that if you haven't experienced, you will probably will.

A note about style. Lawyers write like, well, lawyers. I do that too, especially in briefs and correspondence. I don't plan to write like that here (note that I've really gone crazy and used very loose language already :)) . I plan to write with one thing in mind - allowing the reader to digest useful information and at the same time understand who it is we are as professionals and as people.

In the 12+ years I've been practicing immigration law, I've learned more than I'll ever be able to convey here. But the one resonating lesson I have pocketed so far is that people are good. Asylees who have been the victim of prolonged torture smile, joke and bring gifts. They call and ask about my family before talking about the fact that the rest of their own family is stuck in a refugee camp waiting for their own asylum status. In the face of horrendous hardship, at their core, most people are good and want to share that goodness. For the better part of the first 11 years practicing in this arena, my conclusions were different. I didn't focus on the smiling torture victim. I focused on the torturer. I didn't focus on the client asking about my family; I focused on the clients who call wanting to know what is taking so long. And then, like most people, I learned to grow a bit and change my perspective. That is a choice we can all make - we get to choose what angle, and what aspects of any situation we look at and give credence to. That will carry over here, anecdotally and practically.

What this forum is not is legal advice. This stuff is complicated. Please don't think you can check out this blog, or our website, and gain an understanding of the law that is sufficient to safely go at it alone. You may be able to do just that, but if you do, you'll be doing so knowing that it's a bad idea, because I just told you it is. Nor is anything here legal advice, or communication that establishes a lawyer/client relationship. It's thoughts, it's information, and the latter will be dead spot-on accurate in most cases. The thoughts - well - I can't vouch for those, and that's the essence of blogging, right?

Last, the photo in this posting was taken by Dianne Giancaspro, an enormously talented photographer who is also a friend. If you want her contact information, let me know.

Robert