Law v. Life

Still a little giddy

I have to leave for the airport in five hours, so I guess that means I ought to go to sleep soon...  My body and mind are both exhausted from the intensity of the last couple of weeks, so hopefully this trip will offer me a little of the rest I desperately need.  I'm already looking forward to flying first class tomorrow (which totally justifies my obsession with getting enough segments before the end of the year to maintain my status).

This so called "dating" thing is pretty fun.  Tonight was date #5.  Because, obviously, we had to see each other before I went out of town.  After dinner we sat outside eating ice cream (because I had been talking for days about how I wanted ice cream), while I put substantial energy into trying to hide the fact that I was shivering uncontrollably.  So between me risking frost bite, or whatever you risk by eating ice cream when it is 60 degrees outside, and both of us being exhausted and me having to get up extremely early, it was our shortest date yet, but still wonderful.  I'm starting to get nervous that he will forget about me while I'm gone, but that is an illogical thing to expend too much thought on.  I'll just try to remember his very tender kiss goodnight.

It is going to be quite a different conference focusing only on law and networking...

Best. Week. Ever.

The past week has been the most perfect confluence of law and life joy.  How often does that happen?  I feel so alive.

The high has not worn off yet from the new guy.  Let's call him Jack.  I am breathing more easily, but barely, and I still feel off balance when I think about how it feels to be with him.  I can't believe it can feel so good and safe to feel completely out of control and unlike myself.  Fortunately he appears to be as completely awestruck as I am.  We'll see where we stand after I go out of town for 5 days this week.  I'm guessing it will only serve to encourage our ridiculous "I'm going to miss you" conversations since we will actually be thousands of miles apart rather than simply ending a date with another one already planned.

To add to the adrenaline pumping through my system the last week has been a very exciting new case.  We actually met with our clients the day of my first date with Jack and the evolution of the case has continued at the same breakneck speed.  I won't go into more detail about the case, but it is exactly what I needed to remind me how much I love being a lawyer...writing impassioned pleadings late at night, scheduling emergency court conferences, strategizing with the other litigators...using my mind analytically and creatively to advocate for a client is close to the most fun I can have fully clothed.

Aside from not wanting to miss a single day that I could be getting to know Jack better, I am also really looking forward to going to San Diego this week.  The programming looks good, I'm wearing a gold dress to the dinner dance, I will get to see lots of friends, and I think my cousin is going to come down for a day.  Looks like it should be another great conference..  If you happen to live in San Diego, I would welcome restaurant suggestions or other ideas of things to do there. 

Checking out

I figure my friends who couldn't make it to New York deserve an update.

The Annual Meeting has been pretty good overall.  A great dinner dance venue, hanging out with some of my favorite YLD people, Assembly that finished slightly early each day, a very productive meeting, and the best designed CLE I've ever been to.

Not all was good though.  The after party location on Friday left much to be desired so I ended up walking around the East Village with a friend for at least an hour and a half in 3-inch heels looking for somewhere else to go.  My feet still hurt.  Other than the great CLE, I didn't go to any other programming because everything of interest conflicted with Assembly, or was something I had attended previously.  I will be spending time this week with several very good friends in the city, but it was disappointing that several YLD friends couldn't make it this time.  And how do you say no to a judge?

Still, it was a good conference, and although I'll be checking out momentarily, tomorrow I'm going to the pro bono publico luncheon because they're honoring a young lawyer for the first time, so there's still more ABA fun to be had.  Plus a week of traveling and celebrating my friend's wedding still ahead

Size helps

Guess what will really cheer a girl up?  And no the answer is not x-rated, as OLS assumed.  A really giant hotel room, that's what.  This is the second largest hotel room I've ever stayed in (and the largest was this awesome Hilton suite in Chicago that I got upgraded to when I had diamond VIP status).  They upgraded me to a king deluxe room and it may not be the nicest hotel room ever, but it is just so big!  It is probably close to the same size as the downstairs of my house.  It has a nice view, too.

Right now I'm watching Made of Honor.  I love watching movies in hotels.  I never have time to see movies at home, and it is a nice way to slow down and really feel like I'm on vacation.  As soon as the movie is over, it's off to register, get the requisite blue and black bag of propaganda, and then back to my hotel again to get ready for the evening's social events.  I also need to check and see if I was ever certified as a delegate for the YLD assembly.  If not, I'm not going to beg again... I enjoy assembly, but it isn't worth the stress if it's a hassle to even be a delegate.

I am so glad to be in New York.

Insight and self-analysis

I should know better. 

I'm really looking forward to the conference next week.

The 2

I'm in Chicago for ABA YLD leadership training, and although it was quite a long day, I always enjoy being around other young lawyers who I actually like.  At almost every conference, the officers make comments about how some of their best friends are people they met through the YLD.  It sounds cheesy, which they always acknowledge, but I have no doubt it's true.  It amazes me how many people I have met through the YLD who I like and respect and enjoy spending time with.  There are certainly people who I wouldn't choose to spend time with voluntarily, but the percentage of people who I have been able to really connect with is dramatically higher than I find in other settings.

At home, I feel like I virtually never meet anyone who I really connect with, and I sometimes wonder if there is something wrong with me or I'm just not open to new friendships.  But since my first YLD conference, I have discovered that there are really just an average of 2 people from each state out there who have much in common with me, and I am lucky to have found the organization that brings those people together.  It's a complete guess, but there might be an average of 4-6 people per state who are actively involved in the YLD, so I'm not saying this applies to every single person, but it's a larger percentage.  It's like the YLD did a survey of my interests, passions, and general outlook on life, and matched me up with other lawyers better than any matchmaking service ever could.

Maybe there are 2 people per state per profession who this could apply to, but I only have a way into the lawyers.  But that's okay, because I am grateful for all of the good friends I have made in the last year, and the ones I am sure to make in the future.

Conference recap: countdown-ish style

Last week, I attended the YLD spring conference, which was held in conjunction with ABA Day and the Section of Litigation annual conference, both of which I participated in as well.  It was a great week, and it was cool to realize that I am finally beginning to feel comfortable at these kind of things, that I am making connections, and that I am really getting something out it professionally beyond the CLE programs.

Since I have no energy to recap everything, and you probably have little interest in reading all of the details of meetings with members of Congress and my conversations with bar leaders, here is a countdown of sorts that includes many of the highlights.

471 - millions of dollars sought by the Legal Services Corporation from Congress to provide low-income people with access to the civil justice system (more than $100M less than was appropriated in 1995 adjusted to today's dollars)
325 - approximate number of young lawyers who participated in the spring conference
85 - amount that every ABA entity seems to think is appropriate to charge for dinner
15 - Members of Congress (or their staff) lobbied by the Ohio participants in ABA Day (a bunch of more "senior" lawyers and me)
7 - Dinners or receptions I attended
6 - Members of Congress I met personally
5 - Total number of official YLD conferences I have now attended (Montreal, San Francisco, Charlotte, Los Angeles, DC)
4 - Follow up emails/letters I have received about writing articles/programming/general involvement in the senior bar
3 - alumni of Ohio University who had lunch together Friday, plus a 4th who is a law school classmate of one and co-worker to another of the 3 bobcats
2 - Representatives' wives I met (one of whom gave me a book!)
1 - friend from past conferences who couldn't make it to DC because she had an argument before the Ohio Supreme Court, but who I got to have dinner with in Columbus
0 - Salacious stories (of my own)

Conference haze

I barely know what day it is, and the YLD events haven't even begun yet...  In the last two days, I've met with more than a dozen members of Congress, and although I wasn't even speaking at any of the meetings, it was remarkably exhausting.  This is the first time I have had any break since arriving in DC on Tuesday, and in 20 minutes, the next round of receptions begin.  Hopefully tonight will be somewhat controlled so that I can fully enjoy tomorrow's programming and dinner dance.  Fortunately, we don't start until 9am tomorrow, which will be a nice change after 7:30 starts the past two days.  Okay, time for a shower to wake me up, and then it's off to the first of three receptions.

Recovery time

I want to write about the restaurant I went to in LA and I also want to write about the YLD summit, but I am too tired.  And I have too much work to do tomorrow.  I can't wait to make it to this weekend so I can rest, and I can't wait until DC in April.

True Hollywood

The YLD plans awesome conferences.  But they got a little help this time, as our hotel was the site of Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party on Saturday night.  It was just like a movie or Entertainment Tonight.  There were cameras flashing for hours, stars posing on the red carpet, security shooing people away, outrageous dresses and scary hair, and stories that were unbelievable.  It was so Hollywood.

I knew who Clive Davis was (thanks to American Idol), but I had no idea how big of a deal his party was.  One photographer we talked to said that unless you actually win a Grammy, this party is bigger than the Grammy’s, in part because it is far more exclusive.  The commotion had already begun when I checked into the hotel on Thursday, with musicians rehearsing for the party and crews bringing in all sorts of equipment.  On Thursday, I sat down to have dinner at the bar by myself before the welcome reception and ended up having dinner with a nice young woman who said she was a reporter for the A.P.  She was very friendly, and seemed to know everyone who was there for the rehearsal that night.  Well, it turns out she is the music reporter for the A.P.  Like, in retrospect it makes sense how she was not overly impressed by the whole scene, but was clearly part of it... and it is her story that turns up when you search for anything related to the party.

I watched the arrivals for a little bit, but mostly hung out at the bar and watched from a distance before I had to leave for dinner.  Then I made it back in time to see some more stars leaving, and saw more leaving the following morning as well.  I didn't see anyone too exciting personally, although many of my friends who cared more did manage to see top stars.  It was very cool to be a part of the whole night, but I'm just not into music enough I guess.  If it had been all actors, or even athletes I might have been crowded on the curb with everyone else trying to take pictures with my cell phone too.  I think the best story of the night was from my friend who was offered tickets to the Grammys.  You just never know what might happen at a YLD conference.