Today was a
construction day for most of us. After spending all day yesterday sitting in
the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children) office staring at a
computer screen and reading cases about child abuse, it was nice to get out of
the office and into the field for hands on work. Office legal work is
important, but there are some very beneficial things about working in a
construction setting that apply to being a lawyer. First, there is attention to
detail and patience. Painting trims, cutting plywood, sanding walls, etc. Make
one mistake and you may have to restart from scratch. If you’re not paying
attention and mess up a cut or paint on brick, it can cost you significant time
and money. Second, not only do you build something that’s material, you’re also
team building. When you’re working with a large group of people, time spent
together laughing, problem solving, and completing a project allows colleagues
and friends to bond and become a family. Last, construction can be very
therapeutic for your soul. My favorite project was removing a tile flooring
from the patio. To do this we used a crowbar and a hammer to slowly remove the
tiles. The life of a law student and life in general can be frustrating and
tense, but taking my aggression out on a tile with a hammer is satisfying in a
way I can’t explain. Attention to detail, teamwork, and finding a way to
relieve stress are importation traits to any future lawyer.
Elizabeth Dukette
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