Love and work… work and love, that’s all there is.
The titular quote by Sigmund Freud divides love and work. Wrong thinking for a criminal defense attorney. I love what I do, seriously. I get tired, and I get grumpy. There are days I feel beat down. There are days I feel empty with nothing left to give. But there are days that I get to be front-and-center in the courtroom, and nothing beats that high. That helps. What really keeps us going as criminal defense attorneys is the love: the love of our families that support us; the love of our staff that work so hard for us; and the love of our clients that need us.
Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.
-Helen Keller
Earlier this month Texas issued the list of law school graduates that passed the most recent bar exam. These seedling lawyers will spread into the community and find roots to grow a wonderfully varied forest. A few will plant themselves near the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center or other criminal courthouse. To those, I want to repeat a word. Love.
Scavenge for it in each case.
Pour it onto your clients.
Cherish all your family gives you.
Big dreams and little checks are all well and good, but you’ll need more. The rays of love feed you. Today, pull the lever, wait for the squealing to stop, step on the ground, and embrace someone who gives you that love you need. Then, full steam ahead. Happy Verdicts!
