Authors Note

Something a bit different for this post. Welcome to  Chapter 1 of my new fictional series, “Chronicles of A Blind Lawyer” .

I’m embarking on a storytelling journey to unveil the curtain on some real-life scenarios that can, occur for lawyers and law firm employees. While the central character, Humaid, is a blind tax lawyer, this series isn’t solely for individuals with disabilities, nor lawyers law students or people who have an interest in the law, it’s for anyone that has   an interest in reading for engaging, thought provoking, informative, and sometimes humorous works of fiction.  

This series will dive into an array of challenges faced by employees daily, regardless of their backgrounds. I believe it’s crucial to share these stories as it provides an engaging way to highlight wider societal and cultural  matters while hopefully resonating with many of you.

Let’s get something straight – while the title centres around a individual with a specific disability practicing a legal career, this series will delve into universal themes that touch the lives of many working professionals. From the high-pressure environment, long hours, and a culture that often prioritizes results over well-being, to navigating the fine line between personal and professional life, this  series will explore it all.

I think storytelling is a phenomenal way to dissect these issues. Through Humaid’s journey, we’ll uncover the dynamics within a law firm, the expectations on newcomers, and the unconscious biases that can seep through an organization. But remember, this isn’t just about Humaid; it’s a mirror reflecting the experiences of many working people who face and overcome obstacles daily.

This series is more than just an exploration of the challenges encountered by a blind lawyer; it’s a glimpse into a world that can be fiercely competitive yet incredibly supportive. It’s a narrative of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of justice, both in and out of the law firm.

Aspiring lawyers, this one might be one for you! This series will hopefully be a valuable resource that provides insight into the realities of the legal profession, helping you approach your career with an open mind, and for you to make a fully informed decision about the career you’d like to partake in.

So, buckle up and join Humaid on this journey. I hope you find this series not only captivating but also enlightening and, ultimately, something you can relate to.

Disclaimer: Please note that while this series is inspired by real-life experiences shared by lawyers, it is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The stories shared are a culmination of various experiences and are not meant to represent the experience of any one individual or organization.

Chapter 1: The Judgment

As the London sun set outside the law firm of Lockhart, Fudge and Dorah, in August 2018, Humaid sat in his office, meticulously reviewing a tax case file with the help of his computer software. Tax law had always fascinated him with its complexities, and he found great satisfaction in navigating its intricacies. His colleagues in the tax team, with whom he had worked with during his traineeship period, seemed to appreciate his efforts and had given him positive feedback. Humaid had no reason to believe that his disability was viewed negatively by his colleagues, or that it would impact the firm’s decision to hire him permanently following the end of his traineeship.

Yet, as the day drew to an end, Humaid couldn’t help but feel a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. The decision about his permanent position at the firm was to be announced the following day, and despite the positive feedback he had received, he couldn’t help but feel apprehensive.

Humaid had always been aware of his difference, his disability, but he had also learned to turn it into his strength. He was an exceptionally good listener, and he had honed his memory to be almost photographic. He could recall case details and legal precedents with ease, a skill that had impressed his professors at law school and now, he hoped, his colleagues at the firm.

Despite his initial apprehension about joining the firm, Humaid had found the tax team to be generally supportive. Sarah, a senior associate  (a senior lawyer with over 10 years  legal experience)in the team in particular, had been a great friend and ally. She treated him as an equal and never made him feel like his blindness was a limitation. Humaid was aware that others in wider society did not share Sarah’s perspective. He had faced scepticism and prejudice at various stages of his life, and he knew that the world of law, with its traditional and conservative tendencies, was no exception.

Humaid’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his office door. “Come in,” he said, pausing the computer software.

His colleague, Sarah, entered the room. “Hey, Humaid, how are you holding up?” she asked, a note of concern in her voice.

Humaid offered a small smile. “I’m alright, thanks, Sarah. Just a bit nervous about tomorrow.”

Sarah nodded understandingly. “I get that. But for what it’s worth, I think you’ve done an amazing job here. Everyone in the tax team seems to think so too.”

Humaid felt a surge of gratitude for Sarah’s kind words. “Thanks, Sarah. That means a lot to me.”

As Humaid and Sarah chatted, he couldn’t help but think back to his time in the banking law team. Earlier in the year, he had completed a stint in the firm’s banking law team, where his experience had been less than positive. Working under Robert, the head of firm recruitment and a partner in the banking law team, had been particularly challenging. Robert had been less than supportive of Humaid’s needs as a blind lawyer and didn’t like Humaid for reasons unknown to him. He, and his associate, Denise,  criticized Humaid for not being able to organize hard copy document signings, a task that was particularly challenging for him as he could not use hard copies and did not enjoy the administrative aspects of the banking job. It was frustrating for Humaid, as the role in banking was more of a process-oriented position, involving sending documents back and forth and organizing signatures on documents – rather than actually advising on any law, in fact Humaid could not recall reviewing, advising upon, or applying a single piece of law during his time working with Robert and Denise for the whole of his six month stint in that team. When he joined the banking law team, he had been excited about the opportunity to work in a different area of law, but the experience had been challenging from the start. Despite his best efforts to adapt and contribute, he felt that Robert, and by extension, Denise, had never given him a fair chance. His criticisms seemed petty and unfounded, and it was clear that he did not view Humaid as a valuable member of the team which had knocked Humaid’s confidence to the floor and made him question whether getting into a legal career with his disability had been an ultimate exercise in stupidity and vanity on his part.

Humaid shook his head, trying to shake off the negative memories. He didn’t want to dwell on the past, and he knew that he had a bright future ahead of him, regardless of the firm’s decision on whether to hire him or not. He had worked hard to get to this point, and he was proud of what he had achieved. As he and Sarah said their goodbyes and left the office, Humaid felt a surge of determination. He would face the decision with his head held high, no matter the outcome.

Meanwhile, unbeknown to Humaid, in a conference room on the other side of the office, the decision as to whether to hire him or not was causing quite the flapping session. The tax partners (the tax team bosses) were engaged in a heated discussion. Mr. Hinderson, the head of the tax team, was, in all fairness  a man of principle, but his principles were rooted in a different era. Whilst Mr Hinderson often tried to make decisions which he genuinely thought were right, he harboured unconscious biases that influenced his judgment, and more than often or not, led him to decisions that were, ironically not in fact in the best interest of his team, despite, his intentions. He had been taken aback, yet surprisingly impressed by the feedback given by the tax lawyers on Humaid’s work during his probation period, but he couldn’t help but feel anxious about the decision to hire him permanently.

Mr. Prant, on the other hand, was openly sceptical of Humaid’s abilities. He saw Humaid’s blindness as a significant limitation and questioned whether he would be able to handle the demands of the job. Despite his charming demeanour with clients and colleagues outside his team, Mr. Prant was known to be demanding and critical of his subordinates. He had a reputation for being difficult to work for, rude, and a bully to his subordinates,  and yet, given his outward demeanour, his opinions carried significant weight within the firm.

Ms. Staves, the third partner in the tax team, was a stark contrast to her male colleagues. She was forward-thinking and progressive, and she had been a strong advocate for Humaid from the start, being, the only one of the three partners to work with him directly, and seeing firsthand the quality of his work. She believed in his potential to be a brilliant tax lawyer, and merely saw his blindness as part of Humaid, rather than a defining or negative characteristic. However, she knew that her opinion was often dismissed by Mr. Hinderson and Mr. Prant, who saw her as less experienced and, although they would never admit it, she knew they  considered her to be less capable because of her gender.

As the discussion continued, it became clear that the partners were divided. Mr. Hinderson was torn between his desire to do the right thing and his anxiety about the potential consequences of hiring a blind lawyer. Mr. Prant was adamant that hiring Humaid would be a mistake, and he argued that the firm should prioritize candidates without disabilities. Ms. Staves , on the other hand, argued passionately that Humaid deserved the opportunity to prove himself and that the firm should not discriminate against him because of his disability. She stated that she would not be advocating for him if she did not think he had the talent, and she knew, having worked with him that he did have the talent and ability, despite his blindness.

Ultimately, the decision was made to hire Humaid on a probationary basis. It was a compromise that satisfied no one, but it allowed the partners to defer the final decision and observe Humaid’s performance over a longer period. Mr. Hinderson felt relieved that a decision had been made, but he was also aware that the issue was far from resolved.

Robert, the banking law partner who oversaw firm recruitment, and who had not been at all impressed with Humaid whilst he was in the banking law team, had been waiting anxiously for the decision, as it needed his rubberstamping sign-off. He wanted to go home, as his wife was expecting him to be at home for dinner at 7pm, and he was getting increasingly impatient. Whilst he  waited for the tax partners’ decision on Humaid, he couldn’t help cursing those wretched tax lawyers for keeping him waiting, he was a partner now, he shouldn’t have to work beyond 7pm, all of the grunt work and late nights was for his associates and trainees  not him.

As he continued to mentally curse the tax  partners for keeping him from his dinner, he saw an email arrive in his inbox from Mr Hinderson.  When he read the decision, he was disappointed but not surprised by the outcome. He had been opposed to Humaid’s hiring from the start, and he saw the probationary period as a way for the partners to avoid making a tough decision at present. As he was hurriedly finalising the administrative sign-off steps, Denise entered his office. “Look at this” Robert said, pointing her to his screen. After a few seconds, Denise looked at Robert with her eyebrows raised in exaggerated shock, to which Robert responded, “I know right, well the firm doesn’t want  to get sued does it?”, and then packed his belongings and hurried off home, hoping his dinner was still warm on arrival.   

Back in his apartment, Humaid was preparing for the next day. He knew that the decision was out of his hands, and he was determined to focus on what he could control. He spent the evening reviewing case files and preparing for meetings, determined to prove his worth to the firm. As he lay in bed that night, he felt a mixture of anxiety and hope. He knew that he had done everything in his power to succeed, and he was hopeful that the firm would recognize his efforts and offer him a permanent position.

The next day, as Humaid sat in his office waiting for the decision, he received a call from Mr. Hinderson. “Humaid, we’ve made a decision,” he said, his voice neutral. “We’d like to offer you a position with the firm in the tax team.”

Humaid felt a rush of emotions. He was relieved to have been offered a position, but he was also in a state of disbelief. Despite his outward displays of confidence, and competence, part of him always suspected his blindness would hold him back, and he’d never achieve his dream of being a lawyer. Still, he knew that this was an opportunity to prove himself and he was determined to make the most of it.

“Thank you, Mr. Hinderson,” he said, his voice steady. “I appreciate the opportunity, and I will do my best to exceed your expectations.”

As he hung up the phone, Humaid felt a sense of resolve. He knew that the next few years of his career would be challenging, but he was ready to face them head-on. He was determined to prove to the firm, and to himself, that he was capable of succeeding as a lawyer, regardless of his disability.

Chapter 2 – Uncertainties & Hopes

Disclaimer: Please note that while this series is inspired by real-life experiences shared by lawyers, it is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The stories shared are a culmination of various experiences and are not meant to represent the experience of any one individual or organization.