Fuel Cost - is it on your mind?

Maine is a large state with little public transportation so commuting and off-site meetings usually require some amount of driving. How are you dealing with the rising gas prices? Are you cutting back on off-site meetings? Do you still rely on the firm's mileage reimbursement programs? Are these programs being cut at all? How about commuting? Have you broached the subject of working from home a few days a week? Are you car-pooling?

It seems as though the Marginal Way commuter lot in Portland is getting more use these days and the nightly news certainly keeps us abreast of (if not panicked by) the rapidly rising fuel costs. So, Maine lawyers, how are you dealing?

Warmer Weather Work Clothes

So you're a new-ish lawyer in Maine and you've got your stock of suits . . . .etc. But it just got warmer outside people! We all know that the second the temperature rises and gives us even a glimpse of spring in our spare time the shorts go on and the hiking/running/biking/kayaking/sailing/go-carting and whatever else outdoors urge overtakes. Okay, maybe not go-carting. But then having to wear the suit or whatever else to the office each day when you're not in Court and not at a client meeting cramps your style and compromises comfort even more than usual. Not everyone has the cash to get an entire wardrobe full of "warm weather suits." So. . . gradually within the realm of acceptable the "dressed up" version of "dressy casual" starts to sneak in. . . For men -- I'd be interested to hear what the options are to dress it down a little bit. How flexible is your workplace re: clothing year round? Do rules change with the seasons? For women, is this just an area where things are always more flexible? The WSJ Juggle blog has something to say about pregnant professionals dealing with dress code problems. Sounds rough.

This area is where the non-firm lawyers have everyone beat. Maine feels like a fairly conservative place as far as firm culture goes, which is surprising given how outdoorsy people and their clients are in this state.