This summer I have been hustling around North Texas working at two different law firms. It has been a pretty incredible journey and I must say, I’m sad to see it coming to an end.
I am a busy body. I always have been. I must have something going on at all times to be content. It’s not easy for me to relax. This summer, however, has tested that principle. I still remember back to the beginning of this summer when the 13 hour days started (from the sound of my alarm to me pulling back into the driveway). I’m not going to lie, it was exhausting. That was right around the time I met my two new best friends: RedBull and Starbucks iced coffee.
Despite the change in schedule, this summer was all that I could have hoped for. I learned not only what a day in the life of an attorney is like, but I also got to walk in the shoes of lawyers that dappled in a little bit of everything. From criminal cases and probates, to oil and gas litigation and family matters, I got to see it all.
Most importantly, I was able to make connections with some pretty incredible people in the field. I was able to attend depositions, trials, and hearings. I filed more documents than I can count with the various courts we dealt with. I prepared shells and documents, talked to clients, and made appointments.
I also bought groceries and changed light bulbs. I took out the trash and cleaned the fridge. I walked the mail to the post office. I vacuumed. I arranged files and went to the store for supplies. I bought coffee, made copies, and did as I was told. I did all this, however, with a grateful heart.
Of course those basic mundane tasks were not quite as exciting as the actual “lawyer” activities. This summer has taught me, however, that those things are just as important. It’s a running operation, and if one gear is out of wack, the whole machine doesn’t run as efficiently as it can.
It also taught me what is means to pay your dues. Of all the attorneys and judges I met this summer, I will go out on a limb and say that almost all, if not all, of them did similar jobs at some point in their career.
I was lucky enough though, to have this job as an undergrad. Most young people do not have the chance to see what I have seen until they clerk during law school, some associates have never seen an actual trial before. To say I hit the jackpot with this job is an understatement.
I have learned a whole lot this summer. Yes, I have learned a tremendous amount about the practice of law. I have also learned gratitude, urgency, commitment, and dedication. And possibly most important of all, I have learned to help those coming up the ranks when I become an attorney, just as all these attorneys have helped me.
Up in the Air 