Even with the Fourth of July giving us a shortened workweek, week six at the firm was anything but quiet. In fact, it felt like everything kicked into high gear to get everything done before the holiday weekend. I wrapped up the three motions I had been steadily working on over the past couple of weeks and was able to ask some of the attorneys for additional assignments to begin. It felt good to close out those projects while stepping into new responsibilities.
But without a doubt, the highlight of the week was the Motion Practice Seminar led by partners Dan Gerber and Steve Klein. It was only my second time ever participating in any kind of oral argument and going up against an experienced attorney, even in a mock setting, was both challenging and eye-opening. I felt confident in my arguments but knew I still have a lot to improve when it comes to presentation and delivery.
The moment Steve Klein began his response, my first thought was, “How do I get myself to sound like that?” His tone was conversational, but he was still authoritative and precise when delivering his arguments. It truly felt natural, and it helped me understand how much more persuasive you can be when you argue with confidence. While I always appreciate direct and constructive feedback—and I have been told time and time again that confidence is key—I find I learn best through a mix of trial, error, and strong examples. Engaging with a seasoned attorney helped me connect the dots in a way that feedback and direction alone could not. Now I just have to put it into practice. That should be easy, right?
All in all, it was a week full of momentum and learning to remind me that even the short weeks can have a big impact.
