Samir Zia Chowhan, a Chicago immigration attorney of Chowhan Law Firm, and his partner (at the firm) wanted a legal assistant. Like a lot of us who post advertisement and jobs online, he used the famous online classifieds website - Craigslist. But instead of posting it in jobs section, he posted it in the "Adult Gigs" section of the site.

The advertisement was as follows -

Loop law firm looking to hire am [sic] energetic woman for their open secretary/legal assistant position. Duties will include general secretarial work, some paralegal work and additional duties for two lawyers in the firm. No experience required, training will be provided. Generous annual salary and benefits will be provided, including medical, dental, life, disability, 401(k) etc. If interested, please send current resume and a few pictures along with a description of your physical features, including measurements. We look forward to meeting you.Source: dirtylawndry.com

Interestingly, Debbie Dickinson responded to the craigslist advertisement with her employment history, a photo, her height, clothing size and her measurements.

In reply she got the following email from Samir Chowhan -

Debbi,

Thank you for your interest in the job. I just wanted to give you some more info about the job and see if you are still interested in interviewing.

Our law firm is a boutique firm, concentrating solely in immigration law. The name of the law firm is Chowhan Law, P.C. You can see the website at www.chowhanlaw.com. You would be working with the two partners of the firm. Your duties will include the general secretarial work and legal work. The legal work will include filling out visa applications, etc. As mentioned in the posting, you will have an annual salary which will depend on your experience and other factors, the range will be from $50,000 to $75,000. In addition, we provide several benefits such as medical, dental, retirement, life, disability.

As this is posted in the “adult gigs” section, in addition to the legal work, you would be required to have sexual interaction with me and my partner, sometimes together sometimes separate. This part of the job would require sexy dressing and flirtatious interaction with me and my partner, as well as sexual interaction. You will have to be comfortable doing this with us.

If you think you’re comfortable so far, please let me know and we can proceed with the process.

The next step is to set up an interview. When are you available to interview? I am free to interview today. Please let me know what your availability is.

Lastly, we’ve actually hired a couple of girls in the past for this position. But they have not been able to handle the sexual aspect of the job later. We have to be sure you’re comfortable with that aspect, because I don’t want you to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. So since that time, we’ve decided that as part of the interview process you’ll be required to perform for us sexually (i didn’t do this before with the other girls i hired, now i think i have to because they couldn’t handle it). Because that aspect is an integral part of the job, I think it’s necessary to see if you can do that, because it’ll predict future behavior of you being able to handle it when you have the job.

If you’re still okay with everything, let me know what you’re availability is and we can figure out a time for you to come in and interview. Let me know. Thanks for your interest.

Samir

Source: dirtylawndry.com

Dickinson forwarded the email to Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission which charged with misconduct. Earlier Chowhan denied posting the advertisement but later accepted it.

Interestingly, Mr. Chowhan is also charged with immigration

Chowhan is accused of lying to the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission and with conduct that "tends to bring...the legal profession into disrepute," according to a complaint filed Wednesday by the commission, which investigates complaints of attorney misconduct.

Chowhan is also charged with neglect and misrepresentation in two Immigration cases in which he allegedly failed to timely file paperwork. Source: www.chicagotribune.com

You can read the first amendment report here.

My question is - What was Miss Dickinson doing looking for jobs in the "Adult Gigs"?