Washington Lawyer - January/February 2025 - 24

FEATURE
they regularly meet with other therapists to help one another grapple
with challenging patients and problems. In addition to increasing professional
outcomes, these groups offer a sense of community and belonging
and reduce burnout. As lawyers, we need sounding boards,
too! I am part of a roundtable of lawyers who meet regularly to
discuss everything from case valuation to managing relationships
to running a small law firm.
IN COURT & WITH OPPOSING COUNSEL
When you are dealing with people in the practice of law,
don't be a wooden, robotic lawyer. Be a human! First,
don't be afraid to show your emotions. We hear the message
that compassion - for ourselves and our clients -
is dangerous. We fear that if we allow ourselves to feel
pain or touch our client's grief or sadness or anger or
passion, it will weaken or overwhelm us, and we'll lose
our all-important objectivity.
Sometimes the most powerful person in the courtroom
is the most vulnerable one ... Don't be afraid
to tell stories you can hear a human heartbeat in.
WITH OTHER LAWYERS
Part of being a human is collaborating with others, but the skeptical and
suspicious lawyer part of your brain may worry about reaching out to
other lawyers about cases and concerns. What if I look foolish for not figuring
this out on my own? What if bringing in another lawyer means less
money for me? What if they steal my client? These fears are real, but in
my practice I've found that having another lawyer as a sounding board
helps restore my humanity. There's nothing like having a loyal friend or
colleague in the trenches of the law.
First, think about co-counseling cases, either with someone you like at
your firm or, if you're a solo attorney, with another firm. Remember how
in college your favorite courses were your favorites because of the fantastic
teachers, like the one who made something like linguistics interesting?
I've found a similar phenomenon in my work. I keep a spreadsheet
with all my cases. In addition to tracking time and money metrics, I rate
each case on a scale of enjoyability from 1 to 10, 1 being " I was miserable
the entire time working on this case " and 10 being " this case was fun! "
Without fail, the cases I most enjoy are the ones where I work with someone
else - someone who I like and learn from. Collaborating with others
may mean less money in the short term, but enjoying your work sustains
you. Working with another lawyer can also help improve your skills
and broaden your base of experience, rendering you better suited for
cases to come. Finally, you build valuable connections, which can lead to
future business.
Second, find or start a sounding board of lawyers. Mental health professionals,
such as psychotherapists, have consultation groups in which
24 WASHINGTON LAWYER
* JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
That hasn't been my experience. Rather, I have learned
that to persuade folks - and that includes judges and jurors
- to do things of import and of significance, you have
to make them feel something. Sometimes the most powerful
person in the courtroom is the most vulnerable one, including
the lawyer who is aware of their feelings and can share them honestly
with others. Don't be afraid to tell stories you can hear a human heartbeat
in.
Second, when interacting with other lawyers, don't just be civil, be kind.
Life is too short to be snarky and mean and think the worst of others.
Most people are doing the best they can to live life and provide for their
families, and we all have ugly moments. Recently, an opposing counsel
wrote me a nasty email. Instead of responding in kind - which was my
first, second, and third impulse - I summoned the very best of myself
and responded with grace, expressing my sadness at receiving his email,
stating my intention to work together to resolve the issue at hand, and
then laying out my plan to do so. In the moment and going forward, regardless
of what unfolded next, it allowed me to feel good about myself
and the energy I was spreading in the world.
Finally, reimagine how you think about what you do for a living. In the
past, I thought of my job as " litigating. " Now I think of it as collaborating
with people; not taking anything personally; staying centered, balanced,
and focused; and choosing to live in the light (even when things seem
really dark). This reframing better aligns with my sense of self, embraces
my humanity, and allows me to approach my job optimistically.
In sum, I invite you to think about ways in which you can bring a sense of
humanity to your practice, whatever you practice looks like. The pursuit
of justice through law is a human endeavor - it's the way by which we,
as a society, navigate a web of human relationships. Don't underestimate
the power we have to affirm the humanity and dignity of ourselves and
the people around us.
Libbey Van Pelt, founder of Libbey Van Pelt Law, specializes in personal injury
law and federal criminal defense.
Washington Lawyer - January/February 2025

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