Being a party in a lawsuit is a humbling experience for any lawyer. After decades of representing clients, I recently found myself on the other side—this time as a plaintiff. I can't dive into specifics, but the experience left me with several important lessons to share.First, the emotional weight of litigation is real. No matter how rational or well-prepared you are, being a party in a lawsuit brings an element of personal stress that's hard to fully understand until you've lived it. It's a good reminder that when clients seem frustrated or overwhelmed, it's not just the legal process—they're feeling the impact of uncertainty on their life or business.
One surprising lesson I learned is the importance of patience. As lawyers, we often forget how slow litigation can feel from the client's perspective. Every delay, motion, or rescheduled meeting drags out the process. Experiencing those delays firsthand gave me a deeper understanding of how frustrating it can be to wait for answers. Moving forward, I'll be more mindful of this in my practice and do what I can to streamline things for my clients whenever possible.
Lastly, I learned how valuable a settlement can be. It's easy to get wrapped up in "winning," but the truth is, not every battle is worth dragging out. Compromise, when approached strategically, isn't a defeat—it's a way to bring closure, minimize risk, and move on to what matters most.
This experience gave me new perspective to carry into my practice. Sometimes the best insights come from walking a mile in someone else's shoes, or this case my own shoes from the other side of the street.
In other news, Lake Ridge Academy won their opening round playoff game last night versus Shaw, 8 – 0. They are now into the District Semifinal next Thursday against an opponent tbd.
Donovan had a ball on his foot in the box, but did not think he could get the shot off before the defender closed on him, so he made the unselfish play and passed to a teammate.
Stay tuned for further updates next week.
Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.
How The New York Times Uses AI in Journalism—and What Legal Bloggers Can Learn — via Real Lawyers Have Blogs
Our in-office employees are upset that they have to use more sick days than our remote workers — via Ask a Manager
Hybrid Work Exposes New Vulnerabilities in Print Security — via Dark Reading
Ten Things Your Boss Should Never Say to You — via Workology
Rest in Peace: Lilly Ledbetter, an equal-pay activist and icon — via Eric Meyer's Employer Handbook Blog
A Rise in Employers Facing AI Uncertainty — via EntertainHR
Is Generative AI Creating a Pricing Conundrum for Lawyers? — via Attorney at Work
How The New York Times Uses AI in Journalism—and What Legal Bloggers Can Learn — via Real Lawyers Have Blogs
Home Depot Plans to Make Every Employee, Including Executives, Work in Stores. It's an Absolutely Brilliant Move — via Improve Your HR by the Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas
Our in-office employees are upset that they have to use more sick days than our remote workers — via Ask a Manager
Hybrid Work Exposes New Vulnerabilities in Print Security — via Dark Reading
Attorney Says Law Firm Filmed Pornos in His Office — via Above the Law
Ten Things Your Boss Should Never Say to You — via Workology
Mess Around and Find Out: Don’t Handle Your FLSA Claims Like This — via Employing Alabama
Soccer Finds a Like-Minded Companion in Craft Beer — via All About Beer
2024 Great American Beer Festival competition winners announced — via Craft Brewing Business
Brewers Association Financial Benchmarking Survey: 2023 Revenue Up vs. 2018, Labor Costs +50% — via Brewbound