Anything from triple-doublechecking to psyching up to “Eye of the Tiger,” lawyers often develop some strange habits to get things done.
Lawyers almost always work in high-pressure settings. This sometimes lends itself to little quirks in behavior that may not necessarily be things you’d see your local librarian doing. Granted, these quirks aren’t all bad – some could even be considered good habits, like staying hydrated. Let’s look at eight crazy things lawyers do and why.
- Obsessive Review
Attorneys may constantly review their cases, even the ones with no new developments. There might have been something that they overlooked and something that needs to be looked into. By taking a break from reading and coming back later, you have a fresh pair of eyes and can spot something you didn’t see before.
- Constant Reminders
An attorney might call and remind all of their clients of every single court date. They might remind them of the court dates that they don’t actually have to appear at. The attorney wants to let their clients know what’s going on. Even if the client doesn’t have to be in attendance, the hearing might be important to their case. The attorney would want their clients to know about what might potentially happen or what they should be prepared for.
- Early Bird Catches the Worm
Remember, being early is on time and being on time is late. Lawyers typically like to get a head start of at least 30 minutes to every court appearance. By arriving early, they increase their chances of being the first on the judge’s list of cases to be called when the court starts.
- Hype Music
The right kind of song can set the mood for the rest of the day. Some attorneys have a signature song they want to start their trial day with. Some might have an entire playlist dedicated to a trial day. These can consist of motivational songs or songs that get them energized.
- Skipping meals
Sometimes a lawyer gets so into the zone that they forget to grab a bite to eat. Depending on the time of day, the attorney might skip breakfast or lunch. Their minds can be so focused that they might not even notice it. One thing is for sure, they are definitely going to be stuffing their faces after the trial is done.
- Improvise
Anything can happen during a trial. Witnesses might change their stories or the prosecution may have a few tricks up their sleeves. During trial preparation, attorneys may have fake conversations with themselves pretending to address potential witness responses to cross-examination. By doing this, they are preparing themselves for potential situations. Lawyers have to be prepared to improvise and react to anything that happens.
- Staying Hydrated
Going to court or sitting in long arbitration meetings can be very draining considering lawyers talk through much of them. Lawyers may drink large quantities of water during a trial because of the constant speaking so that their mouth doesn’t get dry. According to the managing partner at Smith and Eulo Criminal Defense Law Firm, “The last thing you want is to be delivering your closing statement and have it suffer because you’re dehydrated.”
- Late Night Calls
Many law firms, especially criminal defense firms, are always open. People get arrested 24/7 and need a lawyer at all times of the night. Lawyers can expect to get calls regularly in the middle of the night from potential clients, which is why legal answering services are so popular.
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