This quarter, more than any other, culminates in multiple substantial milestones. As the last quarter, that’s certainly appropriate.
The ol’ PC Partner (@pbpope) and I both wore our trial boots to the courthouse on Tuesday. We had been laboriously defending the plaintiff for months. He was without truck and income because of the two defendants we sued. We worked double-time during discovery, hoping that we would reach trial at long last. We summarily zipped through summary judgment. For some strange reason, we conducted voir dire before we had even taken our first deposition. We charged through slapping together a proposed charge. Finally, we had reached trial. After seven or eight hours, we had a verdict. We were victorious.
If this were real, I wouldn’t be giving such a summary. I might say that the jury came back in our favor and leave it at that. But this is Practice Court. I’ve never felt so accomplished in seeing something in which I have toiled come to fruition. It really is a unique experience. Only on the other side of it does the madness make sense.
As it stands, I’ve got three finals, the bar exam, and the MPRE between me and my law license. I graduate at the end of this month, the same month that I turned 24. Next month has even more excitement. Sara and I move to New Mexico and get married. It’s not at all what I had envisioned when Sara and I started this law school adventure some two and a half years ago. But it’s a great plan that God has laid out for us. I’ve had all this anxiety, hoping for things to happen a certain way, but then they happen in even more gracious ways.
In my small world, this all has been a Big Trial. And I’m all the better for it. It wasn’t quite the victory I had in mind, but I think it tastes sweeter after all the frustration, patience, and hard work (not all in equal portions, mind you).
As with all good things in my life, I did not accomplish this on my own. Support from Sara, family, my colleagues in the law, and my aforementioned PC partner have helped carry me this far. Also, the surety of attending St. Alban’s many Sundays to share in the Eucharist.
I do hope that in my justified pride at graduation, I remember to be proud first of my support system. What a great gift. I very much look forward to sharing such joy with friends and family.
