Climbing the Ladder: Why do we do it?

By Bill Oberts
Tribler Orpett & Meyer

The practice of law can be a rewarding, yet demanding, profession. I occasionally wake up in the middle of the night thinking of a task I need to complete, an angle on a case I want to investigate, or a deadline I need to meet. By the time I wake up in the morning, I have already forgotten the reason I woke up in the first place. I have now learned to keep a pad of paper and a pen at my bedside.

It is impossible to leave work at the office. You carry it around in your mental briefcase and it becomes a part of who you are. How many times have you pondered the details of a case on your commute home, during dinner, or in the shower? The practice of law becomes an integral part of your daily life.

So, why do we do it?

As attorneys with different backgrounds and varied practice areas, the answers are as diverse as we are as individuals. Some of us do it for the personal satisfaction of helping others, some of us do it out of pride, and some of us do it because we enjoy the camaraderie of the profession.

Each of us must answer that question daily to ensure that we perform at the top of our game, and continue to have a passion for the legal profession. Otherwise, you are just going through the motions, and your work product will reflect such.

I do it because I enjoy the art of debate and helping others solve their problems; hence, in my mind, either an attorney or a talk-show host was the natural career path. Until I receive a call from the networks, I will continue to practice law.

Practicing law requires not only knowledge of the law, but also knowledge of people. I learn something new almost each day, and my education does not come only from case law; but also from other attorneys.

I learn from attorneys I work with and also from attorneys I practice against. You will encounter many different personalities throughout your career. The trick is learning how to work with, and be civil to your opposing counsel, even when he or she is not civil to you. Remember, this will probably not be the only case you have with that attorney, especially if your practice is concentrated in a specific area.

I also enjoy the camaraderie among lawyers in general. Although we all may be adversarial before the bench, we can still get along outside of the courtroom. Throughout my years of practice, I have been fortunate enough to practice in both the public and private sector and have developed strong friendships from both areas of practice.

Bar association activities have provided me a great opportunity to network with attorneys throughout Chicago, the United States and even other countries. I recently went to a White Sox game with attorneys from Tokyo on their first visit Chicago. We enjoyed a beverage, cheered for the Sox (despite my being a Cubs fan), and discussed different aspects of our profession. I would not have met them if I were not an attorney.

It’s a great rush to present a case before a jury, argue a motion before a judge, or secure important admissions during a deposition. However, practicing law is not always as exciting as it may appear on ”Boston Legal” or ”Law & Order.” You never see anyone on those shows spending hours answering written discovery or abstracting depositions.

But that’s the beauty of the practice - one day you may be answering written discovery, another day you may be in trial or arguing before the appellate court. Each day we all perform different tasks that comprise the practice of law. The key is to take pride in your work and be satisfied with the product you produce.

There have been several articles published about attorneys’ dissatisfaction with the practice of law. I have spoken with attorneys who question whether they want to practice law for the rest of their lives. Some attorneys get burned out or are bored with the profession and want to change career paths.

When starting out, try to find a job in which you will receive personal satisfaction and you enjoy going to every day. I realize that’s easier said than done. However, I believe that many attorneys who are dissatisfied with the practice may actually be dissatisfied with the firm in which they practice as opposed to the practice in general.

As a young lawyer, make sure you find the right fit.

Many of us spend more time at work than we do with our families. Our employer becomes our second family. Therefore, make sure you are satisfied with where you practice, and do not let your employer affect your perception of the practice.

The rewards of practicing law are countless — it enriches your life, you form solid relationships, you gain personal satisfaction from helping others, you savor the victory from winning a trial, and you overcome challenges on a daily basis. This is why we all do it.

We love the thrill of it. Don’t lose your motivation to succeed in this profession by the day-to-day obstacles that we inevitably encounter. Plow through them one by one, and always remember why you are doing it.