Law and life are not mutually exclusive
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With heightened demands at the office and increased accessibility through mobile devices such as a blackberry, an iphone or an ipad , the workday never seems to end for some employees, especially attorneys.
Let’s face it, we’ve all had those 4 am emails from attorneys on the east coast, that have not only caused us to wake up, but have also kept us up for hours filled with anxiety about a deadline, a mistake or a question we fear we may not be able to answer.
While most lawyers will contend that they have no choice but to be a workaholic, some attorneys are better than others at ensuring that they have a proper balance by separating work from life. The ability to do is a crucial skill for all attorneys alike.
Judge Eric Legren of the Kansas Federal Court expressed this exact sentiment in an Order issued on April 12, 2011. Defendants in Jayhawk Capital Mgmt., LLC v. LSB Indus., Inc., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 105109 (D. Kan. Nov. 10, 2009), moved for a short continuance of the trial set for June 14, 2011, because one of the Defense counsels was expecting his first child on July 3, 2011.
Plaintiffs’ counsel submitted a lengthy objection to the continuance and was faced with Judge Melgren’s wrath.
Judge Melgren not only granted the continuance but also had some choice words for the Plaintiffs’ counsel in his Order.
“Certainly this judge is convinced of the importance of federal court, but he has always tried not to confuse what he does with who he is, nor to distort the priorities of his day job with his life’s role. Counsel are encouraged to order their priorities similarly. Defendants’ Motion is GRANTED. The Ermans [Defense Counsel] are CONGRATULATED. IT IS SO ORDERED.”
