5 Ways Lawyers Can Work Smarter While Traveling
So you have an out-of-town trial, hearing, or deposition coming up. Congratulations! Someone knows you’re the best lawyer for the job, wherever that takes you. But now you face the challenges of courtroom practice, plus travel, without the comforts of home, and losing a half-day of prep time in transit. It can be extra-stressful and exhausting and your performance can suffer. But it doesn’t have to. Here are 5 tips for winning on the road.
1. Nail the logistics
It won’t matter how prepared you are if you show up late, too flustered to think, or not at all.
Direct flights only. This one’s simple. The more planes you take, the more chances something goes wrong. Whatever you’ll save on a non-direct flight is a fraction of what you’ll pay in hours and dollars to get your hearing or depo rescheduled.
Travel light. This profession asks you to haul 50 pounds of documents through airports and courthouses while wearing a suit and (for many) heels. It’s exhausting and it can put a literal “damper” on your day depending on the weather and your suit fabric. Ease your burden by putting prep and reference materials on your iPad or laptop. There’s a growing number of apps making paperless practice possible.
2. Get help from friends
A little support goes a long way when you’re out there on your own.
Have colleagues on standby to assist. You’ll forget to bring something or something unexpected will come up. Have a paralegal on standby to send you documents and a lawyer on standby for quick legal research. Ask them to expect calls and texts on their cellphones.
Ask the locals about your judge. Understanding your judge’s temperament and preferences can be as valuable as knowing the law and facts of your case. Ask local lawyers in your network for intel. If you don’t know any, check LinkedIn for local lawyers who attended your law school and reach out as a fellow alum.
3. Keep your energy up
There’s a reason why mid-afternoon is the most likely time for witnesses and their lawyers to let bad testimony slip out. All things equal, the more alert lawyer in the depo room or courtroom has the advantage.
Re-hydrate. If you fly, drink a bottle of water first thing when you land. Just do it.
Eat smart. It’s normal to reach for sugary, fatty, and packaged foods when you’re stressed and tired. But these foods actually cause more stress and fatigue by surging and crashing your blood sugar. If you choose one meal to be strict about, make it breakfast. You have the most control over your morning schedule and pulling off a healthy breakfast starts your day with a win. Do your best with lunch and dinner, and don’t be afraid to order food to the courthouse or opposing counsel’s office.
Take your routine with you. If you exercise back home, exercise on the road even if you just do some planks in your hotel room. Meditate if you meditate. Listen to the podcasts you usually do while getting ready in the morning,
4. Make the most of the trip
Once the work is done, do something for yourself.
Plan some business development. Get facetime with clients and referral sources wherever you go. “I’ll be in town” is a great excuse to reach out, and your travel dates create parameters that limit the back-and-forth about scheduling.
Tell your social network. Tweet about what you’re doing. Post a pic outside the courthouse with a caption about getting justice for your client. Show people that you’re out there doing good work. Potential clients will remember it and colleagues will wish you well, which just feels nice.
5. Finish strong
Whatever the result of the trip, there’s a right way to bring it home for you and your clients.
Type a quick recap. Spend 10 minutes documenting the outcome of the trip before you head home. Do it while sitting in your car in the courthouse parking lot or on the ride to the airport. It can be bullet points. Just do it while things are fresh in your mind and send it to your client. They root for you when you’re out there and they’ll appreciate the update.
Watch the alcohol. You’ll want to wind down after court, and alcohol is the go-to for most lawyers. But alcohol hits harder after a day in court. The adrenaline wave has crashed and you may feel invincible or like a total failure. Don’t turn a natural high into a chemical low or make a natural low chemically lower. Understand that winning and losing are part of the job and not everything is worthy of celebration or sorrow.
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