How Did Attorney At Largesm
Become a Lawyer?
As a child, my mom continually told me in
a loving way, as well as all her friends, that I would be a lawyer. I got
embarrassed when she said such things in front of me, mainly because I
had no aspirations of becoming a lawyer. Nonetheless, moms are moms and
you love them even though at times they may embarrass you. I loved my mom
in return for all the love she gave me ... even during those embarrassing
moments. She would support her prediction with constant referral to how
I could convince her and Dad why they should not punish me for my mischief.
Some 20 plus years ago, I established my mother
as a bona fide seer when I was admitted to the California State Bar on
January 7, 1977.
The road to that achievement was, in
some ways very easy yet, in other ways, very difficult. Nonetheless, I
traveled that road by way of undergraduate study at various campuses of
the University of California system, including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara,
Berkeley, and again at Los Angeles where I received a Bachelors of Arts
degree in the field of Sociology. Why Sociology? Well, it seemed like an
appropriate study for someone who loved, and loves, to watch and study
people. In fact, Disneyland is one of my favorite places to visit, not
for the rides and attractions, but for all the different people to watch
who are there just to have fun. That's an enjoyment.
Having graduated from U.C.L.A. in June of
1973 with honors made it easier for me to gain admission into Southwestern
University School of Law in Los Angeles. I suppose because I loved school
so much, and loved to learn, it was somewhat easy for me to work as a law
clerk almost full time while still taking a full course study program.
Despite the heaviness of this workload, I found time to become president
of Delta Theta Phi law fraternity and helped develop that organization
from a membership of a mere 11 students-- who periodically met in the school's
basement--to one of more than 400 by the time I relinquished my presidency
during my last year of studies. Indeed, it was very fulfilling to see what
I helped create and to see that creation help society and the legal community
at large. All the photos and letters of appreciation I received, and which
now fill my scrapbook, are but a smattering of all my wonderful memories
of those years.
I suppose it was my basic attitude of "energy-conservation"
that instilled my determination to only take the California State Bar exam
once. That determination overrode any fear I had regarding the difficulty
of that 3 day test and allowed me to maintain a clear head during those
3 days so I could spew forth the knowledge gained during my 3 years of
law school. That determination paid off.
Reaching my goal of lawyerdom, I faced
the question "What now?" Fortunately, the uncertainty of the answer was
short lived because I was immediately invited to associate with the firm
for which I law clerked. However, did I want to spend my career defending
doctors who were being sued for malpractice? Heck, it mattered not to me--at
the time--because I WAS A LAWYER and I loved that fact. I also loved the
fact that I was given the opportunity to be in the courtroom--a milieu
I found to be my "briar patch", to paraphrase Briar Rabbit.
Some 7 years later, I left that corporate
arena to hang my own shingle. I envisioned my firm to be "boutique".
I felt it necessary to be available to clients whenever I was needed, including
evenings and weekends; for clients to have the ability to speak directly
to me and not a paralegal or secretary; for clients to know I was
the one handling their legal matter; for clients to have my home phone
number so I could be reached any time. So, I created that boutique firm
and it exists today, just as I envisioned. So when you come to my office
you get me, my home phone number, and my personal attention and representation
of you and your matters.
LAW OFFICE OF CHRISTIAN MENARD
3600 Harbor Blvd., Suite 162
Channel Islands Harbor, California 93035
(805) 981-1928
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Does He REALLY Like to Sail...Or is he Blowing Smoke?
chris@chrisesq.com
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