Solo Practice

This is simply a great story of understanding you are a lawyer from day one after passing the bar and acting like one at every opportunity. 

How Ballet Made Me The Lawyer I am Today

Guest Blogger - Adrianos Facchetti

?The two most important requirements for major success are: first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it.? ? Ray Kroc, founder of McDonalds

You probably read the title of this post and it immediately grabbed your attention. After all, what could ballet possibly have to do with being a lawyer? A lot?just not in the way you might expect it to.

You might be thinking that I?ll discuss the positive aspects of ballet and compare it to the practice of law. Or, if you?re more the imaginative type, you may believe that I?ll write about being a ballet dancer and how it prepared me to be a lawyer (tights and dance belt included).

Sorry to disappoint you ladies. Neither is true.

The truth is that ballet created the opportunity for me to start my own practice. How so?

Well, it all started in August of 2006 when my girlfriend invited me to a ballet she was performing in. At the time, to be honest, the thought of going to a ballet wasn?t at the top of my list of fun things to do on a Saturday night. What can I say? Attraction is a powerful thing. And so I went.

The ballet company held a mixer before the show to engage and attract donors. I went to the mixer and was introduced to an older gentleman who looked like a cross between Kojak and the Godfather. He spoke very deliberately and he asked a lot of questions. He took a liking to me and as we were walking into the theater he asked me a question that I?ll never forget, ?Adrianos, I have a collections case. Can you handle it?? My first thought was, ?no way! I have no idea what I?m doing! I just passed the bar and the thought of potentially going up against lawyers with 20 years or more of experience without a mentor or anyone to bounce ideas off of is out of the question!?

So I said ?yes.? Why did I say yes, you ask?

Someone once told me that in business the answer is always yes. My response that day impacted my legal career more than any other before or since. That older gentleman became my anchor client, which allowed me to start my own practice. In fact, I am still handling cases for him, only now he introduces me to other people as his consigliere. I?m only 29 years old and look what I?ve done for this guy already.

1. Handled all aspects of litigation in state court (including winning a trial);

2. Appealed two decisions to the California Court of Appeals;

3. Filed a case in District Court based on the Religious Land Use And Institutionalized Persons Act and other constitutional claims;

4. Filed a Petition for Review to the California Supreme Court; and even

5. Filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court

Working with this client has been wildly entertaining as well. One of his associates was an influential land developer and neighborhood political figure who insisted that we convene at Bob?s Big Boy for key meetings. Yes, the decision to petition the United States Supreme Court that I mentioned before was made over a Big Boy Double-decker!

Another time, after a particularly grueling mediation, opposing counsel squeezed my client?s hand so hard that he made it bleed. The attorney then turned to me and said, ?kiss my ***? and stormed out of the room. A month later he offered me a job at his firm. True story!

My point is that you have to make the best of every opportunity and take action. Don?t be afraid! You never know what might happen . . . and let me just speak directly to the new attorneys out there. If I can do it, anyone can. I?m no dummy, but I?m not a genius either.

So go out there, make it happen . . . and support your local ballet company!

Adrianos Facchetti is an Internet defamation attorney in Los Angeles, California. He is Argentinian and Brazilian and speaks Spanish and Portuguese fluently. Born and raised in L.A., Adrianos is active in the community and is a member of the board of directors of the Media City Ballet.

200 North Fairvew

Burbank, CA 91505-3523

Tel:  (818) 636-8282

Fax: (818) 332-1255
Blog:       California Defamation Law

Twitter:   @adrianos

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