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I know a great number of attorneys. I currently work in a large law office and have worked in several others over the years. However, I am not an attorney, but I am married to one. I also
know and have spoken with many of your spouses and partners. Yes, we stand at our own sidebars comparing notes. Nonetheless, we continue to be amazed with the schedules you keep.
From remarks gathered through those sidebars we spouses/ partners seem to share similar viewpoints in common. The lawyer life is very demanding, often to the exclusion of anything else. A
balanced, well-rounded life can change in an instant and regrettably remain out of balance for an extended period of time. The imbalance can continue long enough so that the out of
balanced life now appears to be balanced or somehow seems normal.
Yes, there are always breaks in the action. Trials don't last forever, transactions do conclude and clients'
disputes settle. The frenetic schedule quiets and the house seems again to be balanced. Then the lull gives way to the realization that history will repeat itself.
So, on behalf of the non-lawyer spouses and partners I must ask these questions.
Raise your right hand. Do you swear . . . .
- Tell me do you own a watch? A cell phone? A PDA or calendaring system?
- Do you have an assistant?
- Counselor, exactly when did you forget how to tell time?
- Could that time coincide with forgetting our home phone number? And the dance recital?
- How, in fact, did your client Mr. Smith get our home phone number?Is there supporting evidence that you really needed an adrenaline rush by waiting until the last minute to finish
that pleading?
- At what point did you begin to believe that you could motion for a continuance of our anniversary? Birthday? Valentines Day? MOTION DENIED!
- In your experience, is dinnertime the best time to practice your cross-examination skills?
- In fact, is a relationship best built through the use of cross-examination techniques?
- Who died and left you in charge of the priority list?
- When dividing the trunk space for vacation who determined that your laptop, briefcase and THAT box of documents counted as one family member?
- And while on the subject of vacation, who delegated me to pack your bag, so you could arrive home just in time to get into the car for the drive?
- How would you describe yourself in a relaxed state? When was that?
- Finally, counselor, at what age will you start sleeping through the night?
No cheese needed with this whine, but answers are required.
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