As a lawyer, I have experienced being shunned. When I was a litigator, I would sometimes walk into a social setting, like a grocery store or a beach, and whispers would start as some people followed me with their eyes, not in a good way. Invitations to dinner parties were sometimes revoked when the hostess learned that I am a lawyer who acted for "someone's ex". Even though I understand the principle of transference, my feelings still were hurt when I was shunned for being a litigation lawyer. After all, part of my job was trying to prove my client was right, and that necessitated trying to prove someone else was wrong. I did not like that part of my job. Nowadays, as a collaborative lawyer, I work with the other lawyer, not against that lawyer. We work together as a team for the mutual benefit of our clients. It's a win-win situation all the way around. And I no longer feel shunned in my home town just for being a lawyer. As a collaborative lawyer, I have the opportunity to spread peace and goodwill instead of flaming blame and fault. I promote forgiveness as a pathway to peace. In my small way, I can make this a better world.
