ALTER EGO

Lawyers and Bananas

‘I am a human being that practises law, not a lawyer that practises being a human being.’ This quote by a lawyer in Simon Tupman’s book, ‘Why Lawyers Should Eat Bananas’ had left a deep impression in my mind since reading the book in July. In his book, Simon tells lawyers how to do just that — be effective lawyers and human beings at the same time. I could not put the book down once I had begun reading it. It is a timely book for lawyers in Singapore who are continuously fighting to balance the demands of their clients, the tight deadlines set by the courts, the demands of their family and their personal lives. For many, it is a losing battle. The price that Singapore lawyers pay includes their health, singlehood, strained marriages which sometimes end in divorce, problematic children and distant relationships with family and friends.

‘Lawyers need to be innovative. Can they deliver the same quality of services in an innovative and more efficient manner? asked Simon when he was in Singapore recently to speak at the Law Society’s first personal development seminar.

A former English criminal defence solicitor practising in London, Simon packed his bags and moved to New Zealand with little money in his wallet. After having worked as a marketing manager in a law firm in New Zealand, Simon moved again and set up home in Byron Bay, a lovely, laid-back, idyllic seaside town on the most easterly point of Australia and nirvana to a battered city worker. Unlike most Australian towns, Byron Bay is a beehive of activity at night, complete with fire-eaters, magicians and hippie groups gathering at one of the several beaches to preach, talk, sing and eat simple home cooked meals. A home to alternative living and tourists, it is very common to see tourists walking barefoot around town. I will never forget its huge expanse of clean, virgin seabed and the sea which seems miles away to the human eye. I was glad that I came across this charming town in my guidebook by accident when I was travelling around Australia in 1999.

‘It is never too late to make such big decisions in life. Yes, I paid a price such as receiving no fixed salary, not having a family and marriage. The choice was clear to me: Keep a good job but live a limited life or have full control of my career. I have achieved a lot in my life. I am not a prisoner of my life now. I have learnt a lot about myself. My salary is the improved quality of life. One great lesson I learnt is to be non-judgmental,’ shared Simon who is now an author, accredited speaker and facilitator.

In his book, Simon asks the following questions:

If the answer is no to any or all of these questions, Simon advises that a lawyer should do something about it. Many disgruntled lawyers feel that their training restricts them from exploring other career options. Simon is of the view that life is not only the result of the choices a person makes but also of those that he does not make.

Information technology, knowledge management, marketing and practice management have made a significant impact on the legal profession in the last few years. Like Simon, the lawyer who is willing to step outside his comfort zone, is willing to take risks and dares to experience the adventures of life creates his own personal fulfilment in life. The coincidence of purpose, professional skills and passion gives lawyers personal and professional fulfilment.

‘We speak of the legal profession — I consider we are more than a profession — we are a calling; a calling in service of the people as much as a priesthood is a calling. The cry for human justice reverberates down the corridors of the centuries and we are part of the answer to that cry. It is we who enforce orderly and just relations between human beings; it is we who seek to protect the citizen against the arrogance of power.’ (Source: Unknown)

I grew up thinking that this was what lawyers stood for. As a lawyer, however, I discovered that it was a mere business with its incessant obsession over billable hours and fees. Simon says that the noble origins of lawyers have been abandoned and it has now become a business. In any event, lawyers have the duty to uphold the highest standards of honesty.

Does working hard produce the desired results? After spending more than 12 hours at work each day, many lawyers find that they have not completed their work at all. The next day, they find themselves spending even more time in the office. Working hard may not necessarily mean working smart. What motivates lawyers to spend such a lot of time at work? In a ‘Remuneration and Work Conditions Survey’ conducted by the periodical, Lawyers Weekly, in 2002, 70% of the respondents said that they are not concerned about attaining partnership. In Singapore, lawyers are motivated by stress caused by their bosses and clients. Of course, most lawyers are also motivated by money. It has been pointed out that the amount of time lawyers spend at work does not commensurate with the fees they earn. Simon is of the view that the billing model should be based on value based billing. ‘If a piece of work usually takes five hours to complete and one lawyer can finish it in two and a half hours, I do not see why he cannot bill five hours.’

According to Simon, smart workers possess the following attributes.

Simon recommends that lawyers should eat bananas because it is good for them and good value for money – just like a lawyer!

Rajan Chettiar
Rajan Chettiar & Co
E-mail: rajanchettiar@pacific.net.sg