Today I represented a client in court for the first time.
I did so by making an oral argument before our state court of appeals.
(Apparently this is somewhat unusual - the first thing I got asked was under what authority I was appearing in the court. Which I didn't know. Ooops. Although I knew we had filed a motion asking for me to appear, and it had been granted, so it was perfectly proper. Apparently my poor clinic director had a moment of thinking, "Crap! I'm not prepared to give this argument!")
So now I will never have to make my first appellate argument ever again, which is pretty cool. Here's hoping someone will hire me to make more in the future!
Those who saw the argument said nice things about how I did, but I don't think the ruling will ultimately go our way - the law doesn't really favor us. I'm just hoping that the ruling doesn't quite go the other side's way, either.
Personally, though, I felt good about how it went. I wasn't freaked-out nervous, I didn't "um," and I presented pretty much what I wanted to present about our argument. (There were a couple of things I'd have liked to emphasize more, but they weren't major, and they're all in the brief, anyway.) I actually kind of disagree with one direction we took in the argument - and I kind of think my disagreement was justified, based on the judges' questions (to the extent you can tell anything from such questions) - but then, it wasn't ultimately my call, and that's okay - that's how these things work.
The judges were pretty darn nice - which, obviously, doesn't mean anything about how they'll rule, I just appreciate that they didn't try to make the experience miserable. Actually, it reminded me very much of what happens when early grad students present at academic conferences - the only people who feel compelled to rip their papers to shreds are dyed-in-the-wool pricks, because, really, what does shredding a newbie gain the veteran? It's like shooting fish in a barrel - it's not like it requires any skill on the veteran's part. Similarly, it's not like these judges had anything to gain from slapping down a poor lowly law student. But it was still nice to see them paying attention and nodding at things I said.
So anyway, that was pretty cool. I enjoyed it.
And when I got in my car to drive away, the radio was playing Katy Perry's "Firework," which was kind of a nice omen.
And then I got an hour-and-a-half-long massage. (Which, actually, may have been more difficult than the oral argument. I would never have believed that my glutes could be in so much pain! But the results are DEFINITELY worth it.)
Congrats! It is a very, very big thing you did! Isn't it one of the most amazing highs?
Posted by: EH | Monday, March 14, 2011 at 10:50 PM
I am incredibly impressed! Visions of supercalm, super in-control, super-stunning New Kid dance in my head. And those visions are all wearing spiffy Pendleton suits.
Posted by: meg | Monday, March 14, 2011 at 11:51 PM
Sounds like a damn good day. Congratulations!
Posted by: Notorious Ph.D. | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 12:52 AM
Yay NK! How exciting!
Posted by: Dr. Crazy | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 05:56 AM
Congrats to you!
Posted by: ragey | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 06:13 AM
Woo hoo! Congratulations NK!
Posted by: Dr. Moonbeam | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 09:47 AM
Wow -- good for you! And now this milestone is passed, and you're practically an old hand now!
Posted by: What Now? | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Yes, congrats!
Posted by: undine | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 05:44 PM
How very, very cool. Congratulations
Posted by: Another Damned Medievalist | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 06:42 PM
Rock on. It's a little better than teaching history, no?
Posted by: Tenured Radical | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 07:21 PM
Congratulations! Sounds like it was as good as it could be, and then a massage. Ah, a massage...
Posted by: Susan | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 09:22 PM
Cool! That's a clever way of loikong at it!
Posted by: Loren | Monday, April 11, 2011 at 09:59 AM