most important part of any letter is usually the P.S. (I’m trying to be more up front; the third paragraph shows emerging mental health.) I’d like Ms. Diehl to act asmy lawyer. I know she’s not an experienced divorce lawyer, but she’s smart and I don’t think she’d be cowed by the thugs at Kahn & Boyle. (I can’t believe Daniel hired them. I didn’t think they represented anyone who’d actually filed an income tax return.) The expert you have could help her out—I’ll cheerfully pay double if that’s what it takes. I don’t think our situation is all that complicated; I can’t imagine we’ll have to go to court. I’m not out for blood. Well maybe blood, but not bone.
Is it possible to have Ms. Diehl take my case? I would like it. I told my father what a great lawyer I thought she was. He was very pleased; he liked that I liked his lawyers. He and I usually don’t agree about people—my mother and Jane being the exceptions. His judgment may be better than I thought. Could it be he was right about Daniel all the time?
I hope you’ll forgive the casualness of my tone. My father has spoken so often about you, I feel I know you. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.
Yours truly,
P.S. I’ve just reread this letter. “Casualness of tone” hardly does it justice. It is downright garrulous and indiscreet. I’m not quite myself these days. I
know
better. I just can’t seem to
be
better.
TRAYNOR, HAND, WYZANSKI
222 CHURCH STREET
NEW SALEM, NARRAGANSETT 06555
(393) 876-5678
MEMORANDUM
Attorney Work Product
From:
David Greaves
To:
Sophie Diehl
RE:
Matter of Durkheim: Attorney Reassignment
Date:
March 23, 1999
Attachments:
Maria Durkheim’s Letter of March 19, 1999
Sophie—
I’m going to have to go back on my word. I need you on the Durkheim divorce. Maria Durkheim wrote me a letter, requesting you to act as her lawyer in the divorce. She liked you. I’ve attached a copy of her letter with this memo. She knows you aren’t a pro. She’s offered to pay for two lawyers to have you. It’s a serious compliment, though, understandably, you may not be able to see it that way.
I’ll work things out with the boys in the back room. And I’ll see that there’s extra remuneration for the work you put in on this case.
David
Advice Sought
----
From: Sophie Diehl
To: Maggie Pfeiffer
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 14:31:39
Subject: Advice Sought
3/24/99 2:31 PM
Mags—
I am so angry I can’t think straight. The firm is doing a divorce. Fiona was out of town when the client (female) came in for intake. David asked me to do the interview. He promised that was all I’d have to do on the case. The client then turns around and asks for me to act as her attorney (she “liked” me, David said, calling her request “a serious compliment”), and he now says I’m to do it. I am beside myself. Did I mention that the client is the daughter of a Very Important Client?
What really galls me is the way he asked. He didn’t ask. He just said I was on the case. Do you remember how my mother used to ask my sibs and me, when we were little, to do something? “Est-ce que tu veux le faire maintenant, ou plus tard?” As if she was giving us a choice. Maybe that’s David’s attraction for me. He’s like ma chere Maman, only less ruthless, no subterfuge. I could quit, of course, and go work for the Legal Defender, but then I’d have to represent wife beaters and shoplifters, instead of major felons. I can’t believe David’s doing this to me. I thought he was a pal, my rabbi.
And then there’s Fiona. She will not be pleased. Oh, well. I’m already in her bad book. Ever since she found out I clerked for Judge Howard, she’s been so unpleasant, as though I did it simply to one-up her.
Love,
Sophie
----
Re: Advice Sought
From: Maggie Pfeiffer
To: Sophie Diehl
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 15:26:43
Subject: Re: Advice Sought
3/24/99 3:26
Is it possible to have Ms. Diehl take my case? I would like it. I told my father what a great lawyer I thought she was. He was very pleased; he liked that I liked his lawyers. He and I usually don’t agree about people—my mother and Jane being the exceptions. His judgment may be better than I thought. Could it be he was right about Daniel all the time?
I hope you’ll forgive the casualness of my tone. My father has spoken so often about you, I feel I know you. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.
Yours truly,
P.S. I’ve just reread this letter. “Casualness of tone” hardly does it justice. It is downright garrulous and indiscreet. I’m not quite myself these days. I
know
better. I just can’t seem to
be
better.
TRAYNOR, HAND, WYZANSKI
222 CHURCH STREET
NEW SALEM, NARRAGANSETT 06555
(393) 876-5678
MEMORANDUM
Attorney Work Product
From:
David Greaves
To:
Sophie Diehl
RE:
Matter of Durkheim: Attorney Reassignment
Date:
March 23, 1999
Attachments:
Maria Durkheim’s Letter of March 19, 1999
Sophie—
I’m going to have to go back on my word. I need you on the Durkheim divorce. Maria Durkheim wrote me a letter, requesting you to act as her lawyer in the divorce. She liked you. I’ve attached a copy of her letter with this memo. She knows you aren’t a pro. She’s offered to pay for two lawyers to have you. It’s a serious compliment, though, understandably, you may not be able to see it that way.
I’ll work things out with the boys in the back room. And I’ll see that there’s extra remuneration for the work you put in on this case.
David
Advice Sought
----
From: Sophie Diehl
To: Maggie Pfeiffer
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 14:31:39
Subject: Advice Sought
3/24/99 2:31 PM
Mags—
I am so angry I can’t think straight. The firm is doing a divorce. Fiona was out of town when the client (female) came in for intake. David asked me to do the interview. He promised that was all I’d have to do on the case. The client then turns around and asks for me to act as her attorney (she “liked” me, David said, calling her request “a serious compliment”), and he now says I’m to do it. I am beside myself. Did I mention that the client is the daughter of a Very Important Client?
What really galls me is the way he asked. He didn’t ask. He just said I was on the case. Do you remember how my mother used to ask my sibs and me, when we were little, to do something? “Est-ce que tu veux le faire maintenant, ou plus tard?” As if she was giving us a choice. Maybe that’s David’s attraction for me. He’s like ma chere Maman, only less ruthless, no subterfuge. I could quit, of course, and go work for the Legal Defender, but then I’d have to represent wife beaters and shoplifters, instead of major felons. I can’t believe David’s doing this to me. I thought he was a pal, my rabbi.
And then there’s Fiona. She will not be pleased. Oh, well. I’m already in her bad book. Ever since she found out I clerked for Judge Howard, she’s been so unpleasant, as though I did it simply to one-up her.
Love,
Sophie
----
Re: Advice Sought
From: Maggie Pfeiffer
To: Sophie Diehl
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 15:26:43
Subject: Re: Advice Sought
3/24/99 3:26
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