1 - If you start from scratch, there are no old, musty rules to bind your feet.

I was 40, had graduated from law school, passed my Bar exams (Yes, Hortense, there is a compassionate God!) and was working as an articling law student in a middle size law firm.

As an articling student I got all the firm's new clients with very simple problems.

(so there was no danger if I mucked up and the client sued the law firm!)

The first impression I had of the firm’s clients in front of me

was not only did they know nothing about law!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worse still, they didn’t know anything about what rights they might have under the law

Let alone when these rights could land up being stale dated!!

So the first thought that struck me was,

“There should be a column in the papers on law!”(pre-internet days!)

The second thought that struck me was a very basic one….

“What’s a column?!”

But once struck by an idea, I was like a person possessed.

I jumped from my desk, dashed out of the office, bought a newspaper,

opened it up to the first column I saw,

and the first thing I did was “count”

I counted the words.

700-900 words.

That was it!

That was a column!!!!!!!!!!!

The next thing I knew is that I knew nothing about law,

"Elementary, my dear Watson!"

I had a friend with whom I went through law school who was a genius!

So as soon as I got back to my office, I called Marian.

“Marian you’ve got to join me. We’re going to write a law column!”

Marion was working 24 hours a day. But she found another hour!

Six months later, nothing had gotten off the ground.

I called Marian. “It’s now or never. Let’s meet at the library.”

I had very strong parameters.

It had to be a column even I could understand!

It had to be about cases that touched everyone.

It had to be in everyday ordinary language,

Not one “Whereas.”

Not one “Not withstanding the above”

Not one “We will use our best efforts” (Translation; “We ain’t promising you a thing!!!!!”)

We picked two cases. One a skiing accident case.

The other a will cutting out the daughter who had converted.

The first drafts were…a disaster!

Heavy like a bagel in the stomach!

Then one day, sitting on my terrace, letting my mind roam, it came to me -

The opening to the ski case: A story!

"There I was, looking down at this double diamond, the toughest hill, and my heart was filled with terror.

I crossed myself - I know, I know, I’m Jewish, but at that moment I needed all the help I could get! -

and prayed: 'Please God, let me get down without breaking my neck!!!!!'”

I never looked back.

Story telling was behind the success of Legal-Ease!

(and later story telling was behind the success of You! be the Judge)

2 - It took 3 hours to write the first column, Legal-Ease

It took two years to sell the column to the Montreal Star!!!!!!!!!