Archive for October, 2007

It is highly disconcerting to find out after 20+ years as an attorney, 10+ of which were as a Juvenile Court Hearing Officer, that you are deemed “unnecessary.”  That is a quote from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Northwestern Clinic Bulletin, etc. from the Chief Judge of Cook County as he described Juvenile Court Hearing Officers. 

So after the “layoff,” I began the search.  I was naïve in thinking that my 20+ years experience as an attorney would net a job within six months.  Am I different than any other well qualified 50+ year old individual who has lost his/her job?  Apparently not.  I did all the things one needs to do to get a job.  I even read a book that confirmed the fact that I was doing the right thing except going to church meetings as a networking tool.  At least I know I am not alone. 

You start to ask questions:  What is the purpose of going to college?  Why get an advanced degree?  You really don’t need to be an attorney to go to court, you can do it by yourself.  Think of all the money that I and my family could have saved, if “we” only knew that an education meant nothing.  Yes, it sounds like a disgruntled ex-employee and it should.  How would you feel after all the work you put into your job only to be told that you are “unnecessary”? 

Nevertheless, the Supervisor kept his job and so did the officer manager.  You have to wonder:  who is he supervising? Zero.  What office is being managed?  None.  Both are getting paid for those positions.  The supervisor is now classified as Policy Initiatives.  No policies of any worth have been made for over one year and yet he still has his job.  My ex-supervisor refused to do permanency hearings when my position existed and continues to do so.  He stated that it was beneath him.  Both jobs combined are paid well over $150,000 plus perks of health insurance, travel to talk about the attributes of Hearing Officers, which there are none, parking, and MCLE to name a few. 

There are only “Chiefs” left, no “Indians” and you cannot outsource Hearing Officers to some foreign country.  It is unfortunate that this country is oblivious to the fact that the “Indians” are the ones that keep this country going.  What a depressing situation and no one really cares because it is somebody else going through it.  It should be noted that everyone is a SOMEBODY so everyone should care or they may fall into the same canoe that I am in.

I am going from 25 plus years as a working entertainer, physical comic and clown to a video editor. I’m trying to find a white collar job with health care that will still allow me to be creative.

http://www.voiceofthemiddleclass.blogspot.com

 This website is dedicated to providing political news, information on how the presidential candidates stand on issues, and commentary on topics of interest to the middle class. The middle class has been under siege for some time. We are paying more for basic necessities such as food and fuel while wages are remaining stagnant. We are burdened by outrageous financial fees from lending institutions; health care costs are rising; college tuition is increasing at a rapid rate; our jobs are being shipped overseas; and now we are being literally poisoned by cheap foreign imports. We believe both political parties are failing to put the interests of working, tax-paying, American men and women at the forefront of their efforts. Our goals are to help members of the middle class become more involved in the political process and be better able to determine which legislation is in their best interests.