The Day After

The day after a trial is difficult for those of us in the Trenches.  When we prepare for trial, we put all of out selves into it.  We focus on nothing but that client, gathering and organizing all of the documents we are going to present (sometimes thousands of pages), prepare testimony for all of the witnesses, prepare questions to cross examine the other side's witnesses, prepare our clients and witnesses for their testimony, and then we go to trial.  During the days of trial, we are the ringmaster, making sure that each piece of paper that is necessary for proof is identified and admitted into evidence, that each fact and building block of our client's case is put before the judge, and that the witnesses and their testimony are presented so as to tell the story we want.  In the meantime, we have to manage appearances, make sure our client doesn't say or do anything while they are not testifying but still in the courtroom that will destroy their case.  In between, we worry.  Most of us worry so much that we don't sleep well before and during trial, and we eat almost nothing during the days of trial.  Trial is physically grueling.  It takes us at least a day to recover.  And they say lawyers don't care.  Not so - Here in the Trenches.