Hell Week

Here comes the most dreadful week.

Apparently, experience is the key to become the best lawyer one can be. And I’m at that point where I was hired (at least 5 months and 23 days from today) as an associate to a partner of a small law firm here in the second most important financial district and business district in the Philippines. It is a small firm but it handles a variety of cases. And what the hell… at least 159 cases were turned over to me. Literally, my jaw dropped when the list was handed to me. For such an amateur like me, I wonder why such a huge responsibility was just dropped on my lap. No training was involved. An associate in a small law firm will learn along the way, in actual practice.

My sixth month in practice is about to come… and here’s the birth of my blog.

Now going back to hell week… I have been preparing for several hearings scheduled this week.

Hearing no. 1

I received an order of dismissal (without prejudice) on the ground of failure to appear for three scheduled hearings and for not filing our pre-trial brief. I was like, WHAT!?! I checked the records, and saw right then and there, I filed the PTB on time which was duly received by the court a few months ago. However, with respect to the three settings previously scheduled… ooops. My bad. I realized, after hours of going through my planner and checking every date and every note pertaining to the said case, that the last hearing was when my boss instructed me to be at a hearing only an hour before the scheduled hearing. At that time, I was only a month old baby at the firm. Fresh. Raw. Innocent. And scared. I had no time to prepare but I have to be there, so I went. During that hearing since I don’t exactly know what to do, I merely referred the case for mediation. I signed the minutes without even realizing that there were three subsequent hearings already scheduled… and my signature signified that I was already notified in open court. Oh boy. Stupid me… I did not take note of the said dates. Which lead us to the present scenario. So what am I to do now? Well… A lawyer is often referred to as a liar, but I now know why lawyers should learn the art of expressing yourself without letting anyone else know whether you’re lying or not. I just had to find an excuse so I can get away with it, move on and proceed with our client’s case. That excuse? No way I am going to share it to anyone, my excuse will remain to be known only by those who were in that same court, how silly as it may sound… I practically don’t care, I am just so proud of myself with how I acted as if what I was saying was nothing but the truth. I manifested the filing of the PTB and presented our copy with the stamped receipt of the court. So I believe we have a strong chance for the order of dismissal to be recalled. We’ll see then.

Hearing no. 2

This case almost traumatized me. In the previous hearing for this case, the opposing counsel scared the hell out of me. That old man with hair as white as snow was almost yelling at me in open court in front of the judge only because he wasn’t able to receive the motion we filed. I don’t think that was my fault. The court got their copy, and as the usual practice goes, copies of pleadings should be furnished to the parties involved before being admitted by the court. Thus, this counsel was served with his copy even prior to sending it to court. Or it may be a fact that he wasn’t able to receive his copy by some blunders in the mailing system, with which I should no longer be blamed for. He was so irate about it and even emphasized the fact that I’m just a young, new, lady lawyer who doesn’t have any sufficient experience yet. Huh? Just because I’m new, young and a lady, does that mean he had the right to look down at me? I don’t think so. So I defended myself and expressed my side, politely. However, he took it the wrong way and he felt like I disrespected him with the way I responded. Good thing the judge was fair enough and called for an order in court. That was the reason why I was preparing myself for this hearing. I can’t let that happen again. I had to go back to that court and redeem myself.

Hearing no. 3

Still no available witness. Oh boy. Second postponement already. It sucks to be the one being asked to go to court to just move for postponements. The only good thing is that I’m still being paid for such a simple task although sometimes, it isn’t really that simple.

Hearing no. 4

Another direct examination of witness. I like hearings like this one. It makes me feel like I’m really doing something.

So what can I get from this week? Well, additional income for the appearance and a lot of knowledge gained. Remember, all lawyers should be respected, regardless of the experience. Listen, allow an opportunity for the other party to explain so that you know what to say next without being careless and arrogant. Also, be wary of the scheduled hearings. Why? Because it’s the client’s cause that will be greatly affected by the lawyer’s silly mistakes like what just happened to me.

And with the boss that I have, preparation is the key. I have to be totally prepared. For everything.