But at heart it has many of the same truths that are taught in spiritual disciplines. Working for lawyers taught me to serve someone I dislike at least as well as someone I like very much. Law also helped me redefine trust. Depositions from bitter lawsuits demonstrated how easily unstated assumptions can lead to miscommunication, which leads to feelings of betrayal, then to anger and attempts at revenge. As I've studied how lawyers help clients create contracts, I've seen how easily relationships can be solidified when people take time to turn assumptions into clarity, hurry into carefulness, chaos into order.
Legal work is high pressure.
I recall one particular afternoon in December, a time that was tinged with grief over the loss of several family members during the past few years. With the firm Christmas party coming up that evening, I was weary, ready to get home so that I'd have time to drive back to San Francisco in time for the festivities. That's when the senior partner called. When I entered her office, she was on the phone with a client. She didn't acknowledge me other than to point furiously to her left.