Notes from practice · D.C. Superior Court
On lawyers who take on more than they can handle
Back when I worked for the federal government, there were some employees who were really, really busy. You knew this because their offices were a...
Baltimore Won’t Have Me To Kick Around Just Yet
This whole “transitioning my practice to Baltimore” thing may be more difficult than I had been thinking. I met with my Maryland mentor last week....
Pet Peeves: On Prosecutors and Professionalism
Whenever you walk into a store, it doesn’t matter how busy the staff may be, the clerk should immediately acknowledge your presence. Good afternoon, sir,...
Anxiety on the morning of trial
Wayne my investigator is a worrier. I am too. Wayne is an early riser. So am I. This means I usually have company early mornings...
On Giving My Cell Phone Number to Clients
I have always given out my cell phone number to clients. In almost seven years of practice, I have never once regretted doing this. I...
Hiring the Perfect Employee: Myself
When my wife and I first started going to what turned out to be our favorite local restaurant in Arlington, there was a waiter there...
A Personal Goodbye to Bar Exams
I passed the Maryland Out-of-State Lawyers’ Bar Exam. It was not a slam dunk. I probably over-prepared the last time I sat for a bar...
Criminal Defense Like A Game of Internet Hearts
Although I may not be a gamer like Ken White of Popehat, I have been playing some Hearts on the Internet recently. I love the...
No Excuses. Accountability.
“I messed up again, and I have no excuses. I am ready to face the consequences of my actions.” This is what the defendant says...
Trust Begins at Home: A Client’s Tale
Guest Post by Kelly Spencer A few days ago, as my attorney and I approached the courthouse, 10 minutes before my divorce trial was scheduled...
One Degree of Separation Between Greatness and Me
Back in the days my children were involved in organized sports, coaches liked to tell the story of how former NBA Superstar Michael Jordan was...
On the Law and Other Miracles
When I was a boy, we used to sing a German song called “Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen.” Taught to us by a German friend,...
Sonia Sotomayor On Being A Lawyer
Q: Would you describe yourself as being tough on the bench? A: Demanding. Q: You’re demanding. A: Tough, yes, in the sense that I want...
Applying To Take The Maryland Out-of-State Lawyers Bar Exam
The last time I sat for a bar exam – in Virginia in 2010, after taking the Pennsylvania exam in 2006 – I swore to...
Why I Prefer D.C. Superior Court
Here are 15 reasons I prefer D.C. Superior Court to the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia: There is a cafeteria. There is a lawyer’s lounge....