Bad Ass

“Bad Ass Inc!” he said. “That’s a good name.”  My son went on to explain.  “People will say ‘WOAHH!’ when they ask your clients for the name of their solicitor …and they get…  Bad Ass”.  Well, dear Reader, you can rest assured that I reprimanded him for his use of foul language.   “Bad Arse”, I chided, just as any responsible mother would, pointing out that his American pronunciation translates into bad donkey in English.

I have started my first blog referring to the phonetics of a word meaning back-side, bum or rear-end   Result!  Things, figuratively and literally, can only look up.

So, moving on up…I have had my first couple of months of working in a new firm.  Rejecting my son’s advice for a new name (brilliant idea but it was his, not mine -  it had to go), I settled on the more mundane “Nicky Goodman” (that’s me) and “Co” (that’s Julie).  Julie insists on using “&” rather than “and”.  It’s posher and Julie is nothing if not a classy girl.

It has been a hectic and exciting time.  We have had to set up accounts and find a bank to set them up in.  Big shout out to Nat West (oooh – somehow that sounded so much better in my head than in writing).  We had to order paper, choose a colour for it (purple – Julie’s choice – told you she was classy) and all sorts of exhilarating stuff like that.  We set up phones, plugged them in and got techy things – a network server, a scanner/copier and a card machine for Julie; a calculator for me.

By not sweating the small stuff, we gradually built up to the biggest challenge – décor.  Thank God for Julie.  She knows her colours sure, but by hell that girl aces interiors.  Plumping for a sofa (taupe darling) and a sliver gilt mirror (she really is classy), the office was ready for action.

It has been sooo busy.   Juggling phone calls, keeping Court appointments, meeting clients, drafting up papers and corresponding to all and sundry – Julie and I have kept it all going.  Julie occasionally dives into my room with updates.  “Brad’s not called yet” (she’s worried that Mr Pitt is taking so long) and darts downstairs to answer the door-bell.  I say door- bell but the sound is more ice-cream van than a sedate tring.  The Family Court buzzer launches into an apocalyptic hunting-horn.  Now that’s real class (if not a little scary for court first-timers).

The great thing about my job is that I am a family solicitor.  I get to work with people who need someone firm, pacey and committed – me, me and yes…me. I love being at the cliff’s edge with them and being able to bring them back to a secure and achievable future.  I love giving being able to give advice, help and support at the time when my clients need it most, the time when their family, home and life is likely to change forever.  I am there to make a difference.  I am there to get them through it the best way possible.

So, who cares what’s in a name?  If I can get the job done, call me what you want – bad ass, bad arse or even belligerent posterior (I can be classy too).  The name is Goodman.  Nicky Goodman.  I am at your service.