Page 35 - Tacoma-Pierce County Lawyer Magazine - September October 2018

BY JOHN CAIN
was to die before the mailbox was replaced, but my neighbor’s wife wanted the box removed, and found a ready support for the idea with my wife who for the past ve years had been suggesting we needed a new box.
Many of the books on how to litigate your own case read like instructions on how to make a watch when all the person wants to know is what the time is. Fortunately, the Neighborhood Legal Clinic o ered by Tacoma Pro Bono meets the rst three Mondays of every month from 6:00-8:00 pm to assist those who must litigate their own cases (I say ‘must’ because few ever really want to be their own lawyer).
e Law Library has opened two branch libraries, in Gig Harbor and in Lakewood. e Gig Harbor branch is located at the Public Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335. e Lakewood Branch is at the USO Transition Center, 9881 Bridgeport WAY SW, Lakewood, WA 98499. ese branch libraries have computer terminals and some books. Funding is in process to have them sta ed. If plans go well, other branch libraries will be opened to serve not only the general public but also to save lawyers a trip to the main library. Next time you are frustrated by a delay caused by a pro se tell them where to nd resources to help them prepare.
I recently took a tour of a workshop where church organs are made from scratch. e wood is fashioned, the metal for
the pipes created and hammered into shape. My mailbox experience had already le me humble but this brought me even more face to face with my limitations.
Lawyers have certain skills, but we should not confuse our book skills, writing skills and ability to turn a phrase from time to time into a winning argument with more than what they are. As lawyers we can help make the injured somewhat whole again, provide justice to those who have been wronged, and from time to time leave parents united in caring for their children even though they no longer live together. We can smooth the way for building projects and help social change, or block it if we have
a mind to. We can and do great things of service for others, but those who work with their hands or travel to places we have never been, or create experiments, display a curiosity and as powerful an intellect as any found in our court les. ey should be given the respect they deserve.
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Supporting our colleagues and friends in the
Supporting our colleagues and friends in the
Pierce County Bar for over 20 years
Pierce County Bar for over 20 years
Fraser•Robinson•Speir, Attorney Outsource Fraser•RobinsLoenga•Sl Rpeeseiar,chA&ttBorrienfinegy Outsource
at all administrative and judicial levels
Legal Research & Briefing
at all administrative and judicial levels
253.564.3669 | f 253.564.3552
reed@seanet.com | bonnie@frslegal.com | www.frslegal.com 253.564.3669 | f 253.564.3552
reed@seanet.com | bonnie@frslegal.com | www.frslegal.com
September/October 2018 | PIERCE COUNTY LAWYER 35
John Cain is Editor of the Pierce County Lawyer magazine.