Half-life is something I thought about today.

I’m not talking about the scientific or biological half-life, which is basically the rate of decay, or the amount of time it takes for half a given substance to decay, be it a few seconds or a million years.

I’m referring to a conversation I had with some clients this afternoon, which got me thinking.

My client was seriously injured, and she had to make a decision on how to respond to an insurance company’s offer to settle. Her parents were there to help her out, and her dad commented that I’ve been “doing this stuff for a long time.”

I said: ” 26 years, more than half my life.”

Well, I’m 51 and that was a sobering thought.

I’ve been lawyering more than half my life.

The good news is that I have no intention of slowing down. I honestly feel like I can do the injury law “stuff” for many more years, God-willing.

I know that over the years I’ve seen a lot.

I’ve met a lot of good and decent folks; I’ve met a lot of crooks and thieves.

I’m thankful I have no desire to practice in an unethical or dishonest manner. That’s a sure way to lose business or even one’s ticket to practice law.

It’s one thing to be aggressive and go the distance on behalf of a client, to help a client.

It’s another to take advantage of a client.

For the crooks, the half-life is much quicker.

Keep your strength.

Charlie Donahue
personal injury attorney
Keene, New Hampshire