[blindlaw] Tone and more on notes

[Rod Alcidonis, Esquire]

Aimee:

I would not dare to comment on your tone but since you have expressly asked 
for feedback, let me suggest a few things moving forward:

Without addressing your e-mail specifically, I believe saying please, thank 
you, I appreciate your help, let me know if you need anything can go a long 
way. You are dealing with human beings. Regardless of what the law say, 
people don't like to be treated like shit. Your messages can be interpreted 
as being a bit demanding. In law school and in the practice of law, you need 
to make friends and not enemies. I only get tough with people after it 
becomes clear that saying please and thank you will not do. Let me modify 
one of your e-mail to illustrate:

"Hello omitted name:

Today was a good class. I hope you were able to get everything. She was 
going really fast... Did you type the notes yet? I would really really 
appreciate it if you can get them to me later on today. Please try to send 
them before you leave for the day. I appreciate your assistance. If I also 
can be helpful, please do not hesitate to ask!"

These people are getting paid just enough to simply put gas in their car. 
So, you need to make it a bit more appealing to them by being nice and 
courteous. Eventually, you make a friend. By being demanding and feeling 
entitled, you will get people to resent you and not like you. When that 
happens, people only do the minimum for you. You will need more than the 
minimum to succeed in law school and in the practice of law.

You don't need to apologize but if I were you, I would approach the 
administrator and say something like: "I reread my e-mail and I can see how 
it could have been misinterpreted. I typed this in a rush. I understanding 
you guys are helping me and I appreciate that. Being bossy is not who I am."

When I left law school, I had administrators in tears because I treated them 
like human beings and for most of them, it was not just about complying with 
the law, it was a motivation to see that Rod actually succeeds. I am good 
friend with the people who were getting paid to scan my books, and 
coordinate with publishers. There are times when I needed to be tough and I 
was, but by then, I had already established credibility and a reputation of 
being a nice guy.

good luck with your studies.





Rod Alcidonis, Esq.
215-821-6015
-----Original Message----- 
From: Aimee Harwood via blindlaw
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 9:43 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List
Cc: Aimee Harwood
Subject: [blindlaw] Tone and more on notes

Hello everyone.

I have two issues I would like feedback on in this message. (1) I have made 
some requests regarding notes that just so happens to be in one of the 
emails that was mentioned in a discussion about the tone of my email this 
Friday.  (2) I would like some feedback on some emails to make sure I am not 
doing things inappropriately.

Issue (1) I requested in an email to the individual handling accommodations 
that notes be sent by the end of business that day because I had received 
some late and sometimes I had received Friday's notes on Monday.  Is this an 
unreasonable request? Notes are typed by the person in class and sent 
directly to the person that sends them to me.

(2) While in the office talking about dropping a class, the person handling 
accommodations informed me that I had done a bad thing for myself.  This 
comment was in reference to an email I had sent to the county BAR 
Association in reply to an email that was an image containing information of 
some kind.  I had apparently come across bossy and the association was 
unhappy with me.  He also said that the secretary that sends my notes felt I 
was being bossy in reference to an email I had sent to her.  I think the 
accommodations person also felt that an email I sent him was also bossy but 
made it sound as if the email I sent went to the secretary when in fact it 
went to him.  When I went back to check (because I never delete email) I 
verified that email actually went to him.  I was reminded at this meeting 
that these people can make life easy for me or they can make it hard for me.

Below are the emails I sent in order of date.  I can see where someone could 
take the one to the BAR Association a little bit in the wrong way but am not 
so sure about the other two.  I would like some objective opinions on the 
tone of my messages.

My email I sent on September, 17 to the secretary that sends my notes to me;
"Hello omitted name. I have not yet received my notes for today. Please send 
them before you leave for the day.

Aimee Harwood"

This is the email I sent to the person handling accommodation which was sent 
on September, 30..
"I would like to request that notes be delivered by the end of the day. 
There have several times when Friday's notes showed up next Monday and 
others have showed up the following day.  Also I am working on something 
regarding books. I haven't forgotten our conversation.

Aimee"

Email sent to BAR Association  on October ,7 as a reply to an email that was 
an image.

"When sending PDFs or any other image with text, please make sure the text 
is available for access with scream reading applications. I have no clue 
what you want me to get from this message because it is not accessible.

Aimee Harwood"

If I am in the wrong in any way please let me know.  I don't want to appear 
that way but also want to be able to advocate for myself as well.  There 
were no all caps words or exclamation points in any of the emails.  I am in 
Pennsylvania if it matters.  I really appreciate anything you guys have to 
say regarding this.

So one last thing.  Has anyone ever been told that they would be more 
approachable if they did not wear their sunglasses?  If so, how did you 
respond to that?

Aimee

Sent from my iPhone
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