Most Lawyering Doesn't Happen in a Courtroom

When people picture lawyers, they often picture someone standing in a courtroom making an argument to a judge or jury. That is certainly one part of the profession, but my experience showed me how much work happens outside the courtroom.

There are meetings with clients, conversations with colleagues, depositions, case preparation, emails, documents, deadlines, and countless other responsibilities happening behind the scenes.

A courtroom might be where people see the final argument, but an enormous amount of work has already happened before an attorney ever gets there.

Seeing Depositions Firsthand

One of the most interesting parts of my experience was observing depositions.

A deposition generally gives attorneys an opportunity to question someone under oath before trial and gather information that may be relevant to the case. Before this summer, I knew what a deposition was, but observing one gave me a much better understanding of the strategy involved.

I began to notice how intentional attorneys were with their questions. Asking questions is easy. Asking the right question, listening carefully to the answer, and knowing where to go next is much harder.

It showed me that being an effective attorney is not only about knowing the law. Communication, preparation, and the ability to think strategically are equally important.

Lawyers Have A LOT to Manage

Another thing that stood out to me was the number of cases and responsibilities an attorney can be handling at the same time.

An attorney might have a deposition for one case, a client meeting involving another, deadlines approaching for several others, and emails and meetings happening in between.

That made me realize how important two skills are in the legal profession: time management and organization.

You can be an incredible speaker and know the law extremely well, but that will only take you so far if you cannot keep track of your cases, responsibilities, and deadlines.

It was one of the less glamorous parts of being a lawyer that I had never really thought about before and yet one of the most important.

Sitting on the Other Side of an Interview

Surprisingly, one of my favorite experiences at Clyde & Co had nothing to do with a case.

I was able to observe interviews with University of Miami law students applying for summer positions at the firm.

I found this fascinating because these were real law students interviewing for real opportunities that could play an important role in the beginning of their legal careers. Instead of imagining what I would say as the interviewee, I got to observe the process from the employer's perspective.

It made me realize how much the way you present yourself matters.

Of course, your résumé, education, and experience are important. But once you are sitting across from an interviewer, your ability to communicate those experiences matters too. Preparation, confidence, genuine interest, and the ability to carry a professional conversation can completely change the impression you make.

As someone who will eventually go through college, internship, and job interviews myself, getting to observe that process from the other side was an opportunity I definitely will not forget.

One of My Biggest Surprises

Another thing that surprised me was how flexible a legal career can be.

Before this summer, I pictured lawyers spending most of their workweek either sitting in an office or going to court. The attorney I shadowed, however, completed most of his work virtually and only went into the physical office around twice a month.

It challenged the image I had in my head of what a lawyer's workday had to look like.

Of course, every firm, attorney, and area of law is different. But seeing that flexibility firsthand helped me understand just how many different lifestyles and working environments can exist within the legal profession.

What I Took Away From Clyde & Co

My experience at Clyde & Co showed me the side of law that most people do not see.

It is not just courtroom arguments. It is preparation, organization, communication, strategy, relationships, and the ability to manage many responsibilities at once.

And, surprisingly, seeing the everyday reality of the profession did not make me any less interested in becoming a lawyer.

It did the opposite.