Showing up to work every day has become difficult. I have a staggering caseload, an all-time high number not only for me personally but the office caseload is at an all-time high as well. Taking time off only exacerbates the problem - because then I come back to work and the same number of cases is there, except a week behind. Or covered by another attorney and not done as I had preferred. There's no way to keep up, and no way to predict what will actually happen as scheduled. So I'm maybe 30% prepared for everything, fully prepared for nothing, and stressed about everything.
When something DOES go as / when scheduled, I can then finally fully prepare and abandon my other cases in pursuit of representing one or two people fully.
And that's how my day goes, day after day after day.
I was supposed to call Mr. Smith to remind him to keep his appointment. I was supposed to see if Ms. Lynch actually maintained her treatment program as she promised, otherwise her case will become a lot more complicated. I promised Mr. Williams that I'd visit him at the jail, because we really need to discuss important elements of his case, but I just could not leave the office. I meant to finish adding to that DWI motion but I never did, so I guess that issue will be overlooked one more time until I have the time to argue it adequately. Besides, why argue it fully if the judge denies it every time I peripherally mention it? I'm not sure whose phone calls I've returned and whose I still need to return. It never goes away!
I am really looking forward to when the weather gets cold, in hopes of arrest numbers going down, and more time for me to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and a book. Instead, the AC is still running, I'm still sweating profusely, and the work still goes on, and on, and on...
8 comments:
"I am really looking forward to when the weather gets cold, in hopes of arrest numbers going down,"
Funny, I was thinking the same thing. EXCEPT arrest numbers for shoplifting among women generally go up due to Christmas.
I was actually feeling the same way - I dread going to see my clients at jail some days since the only thing I can tell them it that I'm thinking about their cases - I haven't had time to actually call the persecutor or do legal research or draft your motion, but I am thinking about doing all that when I get time ....
I've said it before and I'll say it again! The only answer is...More Booze.
I kid!
No, wait, I really am serious.
How much would our taxes go up if we paid for public defenders getting a therapeutic massage every week?
Wow, way to sell it. I miss it already.
I kid!
No, wait, I really am serious too.
Let these words be a balm: The Justice Incentive Act. It's coming. It has to be.
Reading this only reinforces how happy I am no longer practicing law.
Okay, some won't like this but here goes anyway. If you are just blowing off steam, fine, we all need to.... If you are serious and these feelings persist over time then you owe it to your clients, your colleagues and, most importantly, yourself to reconsider what you are doing. Maybe you are temporarily burned out. Maybe you should be doing something else. Every PD has bad days, or even weeks, but there are also those who discover they chose the wrong job, especially in the first 2-3 years of practice. Sorry to be a downer but this is serious business. I've been a PD a long time and seen the damage a burned out PD can do to themselves and their clients. Hope that's not you and that you are just having a bad day....
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