Washington Lawyer - May 2020 - 33

ON FURTHER RE VIEW
career, Anjali says she has become more open
with her emotions. "It doesn't detract from the
professionalism of the conversation. It adds to it
because it's information . . . It's a critical piece
of the conversation."

were immigrants, and while their story is not
uncommon, it is stark nevertheless. Her
mother and father came to the United States
from Uttar Pradesh, India, with $14 in their
pocket and two suitcases, yet they managed
to provide for their daughters' Ivy League educations. They are an indelible part of Anjali's
willingness to be open.

Anjali's observations come from a sense of
self-awareness, something that can help us
better identify our strengths and further
develop an identity as a trial lawyer. That
identity can also be cultivated by watching
other trial lawyers. Anjali suggests going to
D.C. Superior Court.

On possible blowbacks to acknowledging
or demonstrating emotions, Anjali has a
straightforward answer: "There are absolutely
stereotypes that exist in the world, and part
of being courageous in the face of stereotypes [is] saying, 'I'm still going to do what's
right.'"

"What I've tried to do as I've gotten older is
be more open so that other people around
me can feel like they can be more open. It's a
kinder, gentler, better place to be," she says.
"Good trial lawyers can be incredibly talented
in the courtroom, but developing rapport with
witnesses, juries, judges, and others comes from
a level of authenticity. You don't learn that in
law school. You get that from how you were
raised and how you show up. My parents
always showed up."

It would be easy to dismiss this discussion
on empathy with an eyeroll, but Anjali makes
a simple and compelling case that extends
beyond trials: "We are human beings. We have
emotions. Being aware of them, being kind
to them for ourselves or for another person's
emotions - it's just a world I'd rather be a
part of."

I thought of parallels between the role of
emotions in effective lawyering and the
mental health of the profession, a topic that
receives a lot of attention in Washington
Lawyer. Perhaps a more nuanced understanding of workplace emotions could help
address some of the pressure the trial bar and
the profession as a whole face. In general,
avoiding feelings is not a good thing; the
same is probably true when it comes to trial
strategy.

Anjali credits her parents for giving her the
courage to become one of the first, or possibly
the first, South Asian assistant U.S. attorney in
the D.C. office. Over the course of her litigation

Lloyd Liu is a partner at Coburn & Greenbaum
PLLC, where he focuses on white-collar defense,
government investigations, and complex civil
litigation.

Providing our clients with financial
confidence since 1988
Are you financially on track
for a work-optional
lifestyle?

THIS IS WHERE WE COME I8

Te first meeting is on us

7700 Old Georgetown Road Suite 630 I Bethesda MD 20814
info afsfinancialgroup com I 301 961 8407 I www afsfinancialgroup com
,

http://www.afsfinancialgroup.com http://info@afsfinancialgroup.com

Washington Lawyer - May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - May 2020