I am back from the dead. (Maybe that’s slightly inappropriate given that Easter is this weekend). But in so many ways, that is the best description. I have worked nearly every single day for the last three months. In March, I billed 275 hours. I rarely saw daylight. And winter in Columbus did not help matters. I had to hand off most of my cases to other attorneys, so I could focus solely on The Case. Although this was not my choice, it did not make me any friends at work. I worked on countless motions in limine and memos contra. I was consumed by jury instructions. Demonstrative evidence made me almost lose my temper (and that is rare). Every moment of every day for as long as I can remember was spent thinking about The Case.
We had three attorneys on the case (out of about 18), with other attorneys helping as needed, and much of our support staff monopolized. We were up against a firm of over 800, with 80 attorneys in its Columbus office. The opposing attorneys are used to working insane hours. That’s how they earn their salaries that start out as nearly double ours. They have all the resources they could ever need. But we had determination and the drive to provide the very best legal services to our client. We kept up with the other side every step of the way. We walked into court the first day of trial with the confidence that comes from hard work and being as prepared as possible, completely ready to go toe to toe with opposing counsel.
And then we settled. Getting the phone call that the case had settled was one of the happiest moments of my life. Several people asked me if I was disappointed. No. Maybe like 2%. I was going to get to cross-examine a witness in Federal Court, which would have been extremely cool. And terrifying. So I guess it was a little disappointing to lose that opportunity. And after all those months of work, it would have been more gratifying to put it all to use and ultimately see a jury return a verdict in our client’s favor. But it was even better to have it end. To not have to worry about what the verdict would be, and would it be unanimous. To not have to worry about an appeal. To be free.
The trial had started prior to settlement. We got through voir dire, opening statements, and part of the direct examination of one witness. Of course, I didn’t actually do anything. The real lawyers did it all. But I had been involved in getting us to that point, and it was exciting and rewarding just to be a part of it. And I am grateful that I had the chance to be so involved in a case like that immediately upon being admitted to practice. All the exhaustion was worth it for the experience. And I think we all experienced the “This is why I’m a lawyer” moment during the day and a half we were in court. It was awesome.
So now I am readjusting to life without The Case. I have new research assignments, new cases, meetings, billing, and all the other normal parts of being a lawyer. I am trying to relax and catch up on sleep. I got my nails done. I got my oil changed. I went to see the Clippers play. I’m going on vacation in a week. I’m back.