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Hello fellow attorneys.
I was built to practice law in this pandemic.
I am here for you. https://twitter.com/BeakFinch/status/1248055670030639105">https://twitter.com/BeakFinch...
I was built to practice law in this pandemic.
I am here for you. https://twitter.com/BeakFinch/status/1248055670030639105">https://twitter.com/BeakFinch...
I practice in a very niche area of the lawyering world: FINRA Arbitration.
All motion practice and pre-hearing conferences are done telephonically.
Often the first time I lay eyes on my client is the day before a hearing starts.
We don& #39;t do depositions.
All motion practice and pre-hearing conferences are done telephonically.
Often the first time I lay eyes on my client is the day before a hearing starts.
We don& #39;t do depositions.
So here are things I& #39;ve learned in the nearly 15 years I& #39;ve been practicing in this weird ass world.
There is a reason we call it the wild wild west of litigation.
It& #39;s crazy pants.
There is a reason we call it the wild wild west of litigation.
It& #39;s crazy pants.
- You need to get yourself a bluetooth headset. Now. You can& #39;t be on speaker phone and you don& #39;t want to be encumbered by having to hold your phone
- You need to be MORE aggressive. It may seem like a lot, but I& #39;ve seen seasoned litigators who have only practiced in court wither in this setting. They let decorum prevail.
Don& #39;t.
Be polite. But speak the fuck up.
Don& #39;t.
Be polite. But speak the fuck up.
- Take full advantage of being able to roll your eyes and slam your head on the desk. It& #39;s good for the soul.
- Listen. Listen. Listen.
It& #39;s harder to do when you aren& #39;t in person. So you have to be super focused (especially if you are neuro atypical like me).
Pretend you are a witness: if you didn& #39;t hear something or didn& #39;t understand something, ask them to repeat
It& #39;s harder to do when you aren& #39;t in person. So you have to be super focused (especially if you are neuro atypical like me).
Pretend you are a witness: if you didn& #39;t hear something or didn& #39;t understand something, ask them to repeat
- Be patient
It will take longer. And the old men running the show will have a hard time doing this. Don& #39;t condescend. Have a sense of humor. Acknowledge the ridiculousness of it all.
It will take longer. And the old men running the show will have a hard time doing this. Don& #39;t condescend. Have a sense of humor. Acknowledge the ridiculousness of it all.
- Don& #39;t fall into familiarity.
Don& #39;t address your opposing counsel by first name (that happens a LOT). "Ms. Beak" is appropriate. "Finch" is not.
Don& #39;t address your opposing counsel by first name (that happens a LOT). "Ms. Beak" is appropriate. "Finch" is not.
- Be reasonable and accommodating
If you aren& #39;t granting professional courtesy deadline extensions you are a fucking asshole and I wish nothing but a horrible, painful death for you.
If you aren& #39;t granting professional courtesy deadline extensions you are a fucking asshole and I wish nothing but a horrible, painful death for you.
- Pace
I swear it helps. I pace my office when I& #39;m arguing telephonic motions. And I also have putty or a fidget spinner in my hands. (Not everyone will need this).
I swear it helps. I pace my office when I& #39;m arguing telephonic motions. And I also have putty or a fidget spinner in my hands. (Not everyone will need this).
- A second set of ears
If you can get a co-worker (preferably an associate) on the line with you, they will be gold. They don& #39;t have to say a thing. Just take notes. Validate you experience. It will be hard to take notes while doing this.
If you can get a co-worker (preferably an associate) on the line with you, they will be gold. They don& #39;t have to say a thing. Just take notes. Validate you experience. It will be hard to take notes while doing this.
- Coordinate with Opposing Counsel
Especially if it is just a scheduling conference. Save everyone time and money by checking your calendars beforehand.
Especially if it is just a scheduling conference. Save everyone time and money by checking your calendars beforehand.
- Your writing is going to matter more than ever
Stop with the fucking legalese. Stop with the "Now Comes Some Asshole Attorney"
Tell a story. Tell it in plain language. Advocate from the get go
Stop with the fucking legalese. Stop with the "Now Comes Some Asshole Attorney"
Tell a story. Tell it in plain language. Advocate from the get go
Take this as an opportunity to change how we approach "legal" writing.
It& #39;s all fucking nonsense. The rules. The margins. The font.
FUCK IT ALL.
It& #39;s all fucking nonsense. The rules. The margins. The font.
FUCK IT ALL.
In short:
Be kind. Be respectful. Listen. Be a zealous advocate. Get your ass a bluetooth headset. And, above all, be patient.
We got this, fam.
Be kind. Be respectful. Listen. Be a zealous advocate. Get your ass a bluetooth headset. And, above all, be patient.
We got this, fam.
