It's a little like TV

I watched a lot of Law and Order with my parents as a kid. You could say that is why I'm in law school, but my Mom will tell you differently. She'll say that Law and Order made me want to be a cop so I could catch the bad guys and make them follow the rules. Either way, I have a very clear image of prosecutors and defense attorneys formed in my mind due to the silver screen. Now that I'm an incredibly experienced trial attorney (eight weeks clerking in the DA's office makes you experienced, right?), I can tell you that it is a little like TV.

I think the typical courtroom drama on television is pretty similar to the drama I experienced in court this summer. Listening to a jury scream and yell in the back room during deliberation is a pretty tense moment to sit through. Waiting for the judge to find probable cause or rule on a motion to suppress is equally tough on the nerves. Further, delivering the closing argument and arguing over who to strike in voir dire are pressure filled moments that thicken the atmosphere of the court. I generally left court emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted due to the drama and pressure of the day. Imagine a six hour episode of Law and Order in which you are responsible for the verdict!

There is one huge difference between real life and television courtroom drama. The people you're dealing with, including yourself, are human and will make mistakes. The facts are rarely neat, the law is rarely obvious and the people are rarely reliable. For example, police officers don't always track down every single lead and record every detail of the crime scene. Attorneys aren't able to spend hours researching case law in their massive legal libraries. Moreover, judges aren't poring over every word out of the attorney's mouth.

Regardless of the stress, pressure and inevitable opportunity for disappointment, I cannot wait to be a litigator. It is simultaneously a difficult mental exercise and an emotional roller coaster. Litigators are required to care for their clients while appearing calm and confident in front of the court. They have to be quick on their toes and deliberate in their speech. Litigators are a rare breed of confident experts that have to relate to the juror next door.