Barbara Parish

After I passed the bar exam in 1992 and before I got my first job I worked for a variety of applicant firms sitting in on depositions.

The applicant attorney gets paid for their time, so I was getting paid $25.00 an hour to sit and listen, and maybe make a few objections. Most of the time I spent writing a note to whoever I was dating.

Typically the depos were pretty freindly, but every once in a while there would be an aggressive defense attorney - and those depos were really no fun at all.

I was doing a lot of work for a attorney who was very nice, but had some really hinky cases. Although I was techincally representing her clients in the depos I thought the majority were malingering exaggerators.

So- I get a depo of this guy and while I'm prepping him for his testimony I'm thinking about how much I hate working with these loosers, and how although a loose association- its still an association with this hinky firm...and I was feeling sort of bad about being an attorney in general...and then in walks this lady who is all buttoned up - she's the defense attorney and she is wearing this red button that says STAMP OUT WORK COMP FRAUD.

And so I think- great - no note writing today this lady is going to be kicking my ass all afternoon.

But she was actually very nice.

I walked away thinking she was the type of attorney I would like to be-professional, unemotional, yet committed. She knew what to ask and how to ask it ...

So I get lucky and get a job with in house counsel for Liberty Mutual, and I meet my supervisor- STAMP OUT WORK COMP FRAUD- Barbara Parish.

The first seven years of practicing law I worked under her.

She taught me how to be an attorney- how to conduct myself in a manner which was not intimidating, yet from the position of strength, she taught me to pay attention to details- to look at a problem from many perspectives.

She was smart and funny and kind...

Last week after a long struggle with a terrible disease my friend and mentor passed away last week at the age of 61.

I saw her in court last year, and I knew at the time she was not well, yet still her death took me by surprise somehow.

I never told her the role she played in my life- I never thanked her for her time and effort- I never thanked her for her loyal and compassionate friendship.

So I will thank her now-

Thank you Barbara Parish, you will be missed more than you could ever know.