January 2022 Tulsa Lawyer Magazine

Professionalism – Show a level of respect to others that you expect reflected back.

By Richard D. White, Jr. If your experience is similar to mine, one of the most difficult parts of your legal career was the beginning— the time spent as the “young lawyer.”

As a young lawyer, you are probably the least qualified person in the office to do your job. The receptionist her to leave his chambers. He then sent word to me he did knows her job better than you; the legal assistants know not appreciate the conduct and demeanor of my associate. more than you. The first legal assistant I worked with once told me she reserved the right to edit and correct Ironically, my associate was right in her understanding my pleadings. of the law in this matter but quite naïve in how to communicate with the court.

Young lawyers are often not taken seriously by opposing counsel and, on some occasions, not even by the court.

My motion was set for hearing and this time I appeared The young lawyer has no track record. He may have and presented argument. My motion was promptly naïve and unrealistic ideas as to how our system of sustained. It is not that I made a more persuasive justice works. argument. Rather, as an attorney of more than 30 years, I was accorded a degree of respect and credibility denied Young attorneys are often insecure as to their knowledge to my associate. This was unfair. However, it revealed a and ability. Some may admit they are novices and reality facing young attorneys. ask for help. Others overcompensate by being overly aggressive and zealous.

The young attorney can be subjected to condescending treatment by other attorneys and even some judges. I I remember a young associate of mine tasked with a have memories of my own time as a young attorney. difficult assignment on her very first day. An ex parte Cases in which I was not taken seriously by both child custody order was improperly granted by a judge opposing counsel and the court. in another county. I drafted a motion to vacate the order and an order vacating the ex parte order. My associate As professionals, we should strive to treat the young was to file the motion and present the order to the judge. lawyer with the same degree of respect as the seasoned lawyer. There is much we can teach those in the early She filed the motion and presented the order to the judge stages of their careers. expecting he would sign it upon request. He refused.

Confident in her position, she explained to the judge he I will always appreciate the courtesy shown to me by was wrong and should have never signed the original a very prominent lawyer in a jury trial conducted at a order. Apparently, she made quite an impression. The time when I had less than 2 years’ experience. At every judge asked her, “How long have you been practicing stage of the case he was kind and respectful. At trial, law,” to which she responded, “Long enough to know you however, it became apparent I was badly overmatched. should not have entered that order.” The judge angrily told By the time he concluded his closing argument, I knew