Early Friday Morning

As I sit here trying to get ready for my day, I'm having a moment. I'm sipping my venti caramel machiatto, listening to Sinatra, and watching the sun wake up, slowly creeping across the city's buildings. I'm thinking about this job--for the longest time, I wondered why in the world I took it. I got a teeny bit of validation yesterday that was everything I needed to fall in love with it. Yes, there will be days when I hate it, but I know I'll be fine here. And, when my time is up here, I hope to look back and know that I've learned and grown, personally and professionaly, while working here.

Now, I understand why lawyers stay in the rat race. The law really is fascinating. However, the politics--the game--is what holds us. Everything is a game--who to trust, what judge to go to, what jurisdiction to fall under (what!? yes, people forum shop!), what colleagues to make your friends, what colleagues to not worry about, and what colleagues to stand up against. What was fun about my week was going to lunch with my co-workers and laughing about the attorney we saw walk in whom we just contempted but who didn't know it yet. What was fun was getting an entry back from the judge that didn't have a single change--just his signature. What was fun was talking to one magistrate about why he did this or did that, and how he was trying to get around the law to make a decision that had to be made. Then, it was even more fun to sit in as the judge heard the same case brought up on objections and agreed with the magistrate's decision, but found a different (more legally appropriate) way to come to the same conclusion. It wasn't about the law--it was about how they applied it and for whom to apply it. It's a game of analysis--of tactics; it's also a game of reputation--of standing. Both attorneys had had times of being unprepared, but the judge and the magistrate both made decisions on the merits--how they wanted to see the situation.

The game of politics starts between colleagues, then between law firms, then between the lawyers and the clients, then between the lawyers and the deputy clerks, then between the lawyers and the courts. It's a massive system of wheels and hoops and jingles and tricks. It's amazing what kinds of games one must play to work in this field. It sounds as if a person would have to be a complete asshole to survive in law--but you don't. I've learned (and this is what makes me happy) that the good guy can win; the right side can prevail. I've seen it. It just means that the good guys have to play the game just as well--actually, better than the bad guys. It means the good guys have to find means to play the game without using tactics like lying and laziness--the good guys just have to work harder. They have to be present in the game--always a player, just of a different kind. In the end, when you see the good guy win, it feels so damn good that it actually makes me happy I'm in the field of law. See, when someone is a good guy--they're honest, hard working, open with the court and with their clients, pleasant with the deputy clerks--the law usually somehow drifts in their favor. Because, no deputy clerk is going to push papers through quickly for an attorney who is an asshole. Then, there somehow manages to be problems along the way procedurally. "What, you filed what? when?" Then, rules of procedure become a huge pain in the ass. Then, no judge is going to listen to an arrogant, presumptuous attorney because the judge is usually arrogant himself and won't stand for someone else's arrogance. I love it! Sometimes the evils of human nature are so self-incriminating that watching the show makes me smile. I know this rat race is going to be tough, and there will be times when I want to go kick attorneys as hard as I can; however, I think I just may survive. I'm learning how to play the game.