I was just informed by opposing counsel that we have it easy. Did he really just say that?

I just got off the phone with a very obnoxious insurance defense lawyer who (1) didn’t know the law and (2) kept telling me how easy we have it because we’re a successful law firm. He advised me that we didn’t know what hard work is (this coming from a guy that’s only been practicing law for about 4 years).

I took the high road, bit my lip to avoid sharing an extremely sarcastic response and remained professional. It wasn’t easy. After hanging up the phone I started thinking…

Easy? Really?

Did this knucklehead ever think about the time, energy and all the very late nights we’ve put in to 27 years of trying more than 65 difficult Superior and Federal court cases? I wonder if he knew or even appreciated the effort we’ve expended while working on thousands of clients’ cases?

What about the preparation that went into handling literally hundreds of mediations and arbitrations over the course of almost three decades? Or the time and commitment we made to be outside the office and volunteer as Orange County Bar and Orange County Superior Court arbitrators, mediators and even Judge Pro Tem?

Don’t even get me thinking about the very tough early years during the mid 80’s when we learned our craft via hard earned and sometimes tough life lessons, dozens of trial advocacy seminars and digesting a combination of hundreds of trial publications, videos, DVDs and workshops.

Yea, that’s it. We’ve got it easy!

Some people just don’t appreciate the fact that there’s no such thing as an overnight success. And when you start to get comfortable then you’re on the path to failure. The work, constant learning, and improvement never stops. But that’s OK because we enjoy the grind. We enjoy helping others and the practice of law.

OK. Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better now.

Can’t wait to kick this guy’s butt in court :-)