does being an M.D. help?

NEVER get sick July 1st!

On a lighter note, I never advertise the fact that I'm a lawyer given the very many negative reactions that I've received over the years. Disclosure of my job status always seems to result in public lectures; I rarely risk it when I'm captive on a five-hour transcontinental flight. It's also a big risk when entering the US, as customs/immigration always seem to feel that I'm trying to slip in to work, despite the fact that I'm not practiced to license anywhere in the US.

Do any other FT lawyers -- or any other professionals -- ever try to hide their profession when flying?

Here's the most recent web sound-bite about compounding. Again there are a lot of assumptions made in this example from the rate of return, to tax treatment (not as much an issue since it deals with a Roth IRA account), to being willing to ride out wild dips and swing:

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...ing/P73751.asp

Let's suppose that you are 16 years old, in high school, and willing to work. Let's also suppose that you can clear about $2,000 over the course of a summer, if only because a doting grandparent puts money in the Roth while you take your earnings to school. If you invest in a Roth IRA, it will grow, tax-free, for as long as you have the account. All withdrawals from the account after age 59 1/2 will be tax-free.

If your money is invested in common stocks and you achieve the average compound annual rate on large-capitalization U.S. stocks, 10.7%, your account will grow to $9,378 at the end of the fourth year. You will be 20 years old. Invested in the same way, with no additional savings, the account will grow to:

$25,917 by the time you are 30

$71,625 by the time you are 40

$197,943 by the time you are 50

$547,037 by the time you are 60

And $1,114,423 by the time you are 67

My wife says that I have a PHd in BS. I won't tell you how she addresses me.

I have a (now distant) friend who spent one year in a science gradduate program, quit because she couldn't handle it, and went to law school.

She made the statement that a JD is equivalent to a Ph.D. - I kept silent but strongly disagreed. I've since seen a Ph.D. program for lawyers which required advanced training beyond the JD, and other lawyers I know disagree with her statement, so I am pretty certain she was wrong (I suspect she needs to be able to believe she has a degree on the same level as a Ph.D.).

deleted by Lindisfarne

Yes, but not just flying. Generally, I only reveal that I am a lawyer if someone asks what I do, or, in the case of FT, clicks on my bio. People have all sorts of views about lawyers, and I'd prefer to have those I meet form opinions about me based on what I say and do (as opposed to their views of how I probably am because I'm a lawyer).

I'm a lawyer as well and never reveal my profession. The risk of ridicule is not worth the prospect of business.

I can see the conversation now...

MD: "I'm a doctor. Can I have a free upgrade?"

GA: "Since you're a DOCTOR, you can afford to *purchase* an upgrade-- what credit card will you be using?"

PS. I know that all doctors are not wealthy, but most doctors make more than most gate agents. I can't see why a GA would want to do you a favor if you throw around your academic credentials.

Compound interest at work.

I won't ridicule you. I'm just afraid that if I simply say "hello", this will incur billable hours...that's the term that they use!. Often, the minimum bill, even for 1 second of work, is 20 minutes or possibly $100. I do not need to pay $100 to say hello.

Lawyer: "I'm a lawyer. Can I have a free upgrade?"

Gate agent: "Just submit a motion and I'll take it under advisement"

Lawyer: "But the flight leaves in 15 minutes"

Gate agent: "If you don't stop arguing, I call the air marshall and have you arrested for interfering with a flight crew."

Lawyer: "That's ok, our conversation just resulted in some billable hours to my client."

Both people win! Gate agent proves that she is special and powerful. Lawyer just got herself some easy money!

How does s/he justify billing the client for this conversation? *not a lawyer*

I've been told (by lawyers) a common practice is to double-bill hours for both the flight time, as well as work (for that client, or else another client) that is done during the flight.

ok yeah...i can see now it was a stupid question...sorry i brought it up...i don't know what i was smoking.

Mentioning that I work in the oilfield about 30 seconds before the girl starts cutting my hair. Nothing like getting a haircut while listening to a tirade about the price of gas. I walked out of there bewildered by my momentary stupidity and amazed that both ears were in the same place they were 15 minutes before.

My second favorite: Sitting in a Business Class seat in BKK, getting ready for a nice long multiple-leg journey home to IAH after a month away from family. Here is the conversation with the guy next to me:
Him: So what brought you to Bangkok.
Me: I work in the oilfield, how about you?
Him: Oh, I'm a policeman. I just save people for a living...

Cue iPod...

From then on, the reply is just "I'm an engineer". Always works as a conversation ender anyways.

Lawyers, quit feeling sorry for yourself. At least you aren't Petroleum Engineers!