Client Smith is on the line. This is call number eight for him today.

“What the fuck is wrong with this guy?” you ask yourself. “Why did I take this piece of crap contempt case?” you go on to yourself.

“Do you want to take his call?” asks the receptionist.

You say nothing.

“Do you want to take his call?” she repeats.

“Tell him I’m in court,” you blurt out.

She clicks away and handles Mr. Smith.

You got rid of Mr. Smith for the moment, but at what cost?

You just lied to Mr. Smith. Strike one.

You did it in front of your employee. Strike two.

What’s next? Slippery slope? Are you planning to lie about the outcome of a case? To forge documents with the court’s signature? To steal from the trust account?

What’s even worse is that you’ve just taught your employee that lying is standard operating procedure for your firm.

What’s next for her? Embezzling from the operating account?

Have I done it?

Of course.

Has my operating account been raided by an employee? Not yet.

Do what I say, not what I do.