All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.
   – Anatole France

Chapter 3

The goal of being a lawyer was never something Tina ever questioned.  She knew it was what she was destine to be from the first memories she ever had of the idea.  But Tina wouldn’t be Tina if she didn’t put her own twist of the notion.  Lawyer yes, robotic minion of her father no.  This drive to do it her way leads Tina to pursue employment in a small two man shop.  A small firm that was as different from her Father’s firm as night was from day.

The small firm atmosphere was one Tina liked best.  It suited her to be around people who spoke in a more straight forward fashion.  Just because she’s been trained since she was a toddler to understand legal double speak didn’t mean that she liked it. 

No for her it was refreshing the environment that is found walking into a small office with people who looked you in the eye and seemed genuine when they asked “Can I help you”.  At a small firm atmosphere she didn’t find the agenda laden double speak which Justin was so fond of speaking these days.  Much of the time Tina just rolled her eyes wondering who he was trying to impress.  It was the language of lawyers.  Full of hidden agendas and lost meanings, it was the talk used and found in many larger firms. 

Unlike at large firms, there weren’t enough hours in the day to complete all the details which needed to be covered at the small firm.  Tina liked that too, no time to waste on legal double speak just to sound impressive.  The end result was earnest frank discussion about the matters at hand. 

Tina felt lucky to have found this oasis that epitomized the values she wanted to have front and center in her life.  Compassion, empathy and kindness were all ideas she was determined to incorporate into her life.  All could be found in abundance in a small firm.