'We're Going To Need You To Come In On Saturday'

Something I've never missed about law practice is having to assign a 15-digit client-matter code to every six minutes of my billable day, a chore that some days took yet another non-billable hour of uncompensated overtime.

While technology ever promises to free workers from the mill, things seem only to get worse. More and more of my friends and family are bailing on the American marketplace in favor of the ex pat life in Europe. Go for the job and humane working hours; stay for the vacation time and family leave.

At the same time, it would be nice to make today's Big Law starting salary just once in my life, even if just for a year. In almost 30 years with a law license, my paycheck still falls short of the young associate's year one. I'm not holding my breath to catch up at UMass Law.

Massachusetts-based Exhibit "A" Brewing Company has its finger on this zeitgeist of futility and exploitation. I saw in my local liquor store just today Exhibit "A"'s We're Going To Need You To Come In On Saturday Scotch Ale. The can features scales of justice: evidence of the profession of the pictured man.

I'm not a Scotch ale fan, so I passed. But I've had Exhibit "A"'s Panda Punch Kettle Sour, and it was tasty.

Exhibit "A" started in Framingham, Massachusetts, west of Boston, but is in the process of moving to Williamsburg, Massachusetts, north of Springfield. The taproom might be worth a visit when it reopens in Williamsburg. The scales of justice actually figure in the company logo. The website doesn't say why, but I have my suspicions. 

Don't forget America, Christmas is on Thursday. Merry Christmas! And Friday is Friday. Get back to work! On Saturday, we have a special treat in store: You can make up your work from Thursday.