It’s weird to think that nearly a third of the summer is already gone when it still feels like I just arrived yesterday. I wonder how long it normally takes associates to truly settle in at a firm. I’m very fortunate that the team in Tallahassee has been so supportive in trying to help me succeed, and for that I’m truly grateful. But it really is an interesting experience, made all the stranger when I remember I still have another year of classes and the Bar after this. I guess I should be thankful law school in America is only three years. In Australia, I’m told it’s five!

This week, like the last (and I suspect every week going forward), was busy. Are lawyers’ ‘Out’ trays ever empty? I’m going to guess no. Or at least, we want the answer to be no. After all, a full ‘In’ tray means we’re able to keep the lights on, so I’m not complaining the firm has lots for me to do. And the work is definitely fun and engaging (with the rare exception, see below). But this week wasn’t all research. I was able to get out of the office for a bit to go to some witness interviews and a deposition with partner David Marsey. It was good timing, too, since this week’s seminar and workshop were on how to take depositions with partner Darryl Gavin. Personally, I found not being aggressive during the deposition difficult. It was hard to not treat the opposing party’s deponent like a witness I was crossing. I find cross to be the best part of trial (something I think most litigators would agree with me on), but it was good practice to learn how to get information out of an opposing party without relying on leading questions.

And the big news this week was the big win we got in the FEA case on Friday! While in an ideal world the judge would have just granted our motion to dismiss outright, major congratulations are in order to partners Nicole Smith, Dan Gerber, and everyone else working on the case. My memo on it is due soon and I’m just hoping it’s up to snuff. Working on this case is like fighting the hydra. Every time you think you’ve got one issue down, two more spring up. They could teach an entire course on employment discrimination based on this case alone. Which might sound like grousing but I’m actually having a lot of fun with it. Disparate impact cases come along so infrequently that actually having a chance to work on one is awesome! I can only hope whatever contribution I make helps what I’m sure will eventually be a victory for the firm.