Monday, January 7, 2008

When It Rains, It Pours

And I'm not even talking about our recent precipitation.

Today was my first real day of work. When I say that, I mean that I am now swamped because a few of my cases exploded, and I've been given even more new cases. "Swamped" is relative, of course, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, if only because I'm unfamiliar with these particular cases.

I now have something like 40 cases. It's sort of crazy, after having handled no more than a dozen at a time for the past six years.

[Yikes. I am in my seventh year of practice.]

Most of these cases are dinky and worth no more than $50,000. I liken these to the common cold -- not that serious, but totally annoying nonetheless. Aside from these common colds, I also have about a dozen larger cases, ranging from mid-six-figure values to multimillion-dollar deals. These are like gunshot wounds and severe traumas. I just got an enormous case that's been in litigation since 1993.

I was 16 in 1993.

It's a really huge case, and I'm rather nervous about drafting a joint defense agreement for a matter about which I know practically nothing. At this point, I feel as if I'm treading water, rapidly and desperately. This case is like heart surgery. And I just opened the guy's chest without any knowledge of his medical history.

I have a big hearing coming soon, a demurrer due shortly, and at least two site visits that will require overnight stays (and will take me away from precious office time).

I did have fun this morning, though. After nearly two hours of rather dry discussion of numbers and damages, I made the client (yes, client -- even though I work in-house, I still represent the corporation) laugh really hard.

We were talking about a site visit that would involve our driving through a narrow tunnel. To get out, we would have to drive in reverse for several miles because the vehicle was nearly the same size of the tunnel.

At this point, I said, "You mean like in Austin Powers?" And then I made revving and screeching sounds, whilst pretending to drive very poorly.



Luckily, the client knew exactly what I was mimicking. Ha! Too bad my boss didn't get the joke.

11 comments:

  1. Hmmmm....shoulda gome imto estate amd trust law. I keed! If amyome is capable of makimg the best out of a situatiom, it's you. Evem though it's gettimg tough, just remember - MO BILLABLE REQUIREMEMT. Muff said.

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  2. i love that scene!

    sorry that it's getting busy again :( hang in there though -- i know you'll do great!

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  3. love that scene and glad he/she got it.

    good luck with the busy-ness. i know you'll kickass.

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  4. clear!

    we've got a pulse!

    :)

    i totally cracked up at your austin powers reference. i'm happy that the client got it, too. that could've gone awry in a big way :/

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  5. I'm so excited for the travel edition of "More Fun Than a Barrel" on your overnight stays!

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  6. Good luck! I know you'll do great with your cases. :)

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  7. Good luck with all these cases!

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  8. Totally snickering at the Austin Powers reference.

    Ya know, you have a lot on your plate, but you are very capable and are seemingly a great lawyer. No sweat!

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  9. I love it that you made the reference. I love it even more that the client laughed really hard at it. :)

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