MY FIRST DAY IN COURT AS A LAWYER
PART TWO (Continuation)
Just before i took my seat, i sighted a classmate of mine from Law school at the front of the courtroom. Such luck! it was nice to see a familiar face. I walked up to him and after exchanging pleasantries, he asked what i was doing in court, when i told him, he suggested that we go out of the courtroom. This God-sent classmate of mine, who knows his onions in litigation, went through the basics with me. One particular thing he said to me that stood out was “ speak loudly and with boldness, even if you’re unsure of what you’re saying. It is hard to intimidate someone who is bold”.
In my head, i just kept chanting Philippians 4:13. The pep talk he gave me however boosted my morale to a degree.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the gavel was banged announcing the entrance of the Judge and we all arose. On the outside i looked “put-together” but on the inside i was a nervous wreck mostly because i was going to be the first lawyer to start. Why did it have to be me?.
Following the usual preliminaries after the Judge enters the courtroom, the court clerk called my case and i figuratively and literally jumped. I could barely hear the Judge from where i was seated and now that i think about it, i wonder if it was just nerves (you don’t want to see me when i’m nervous, i don’t like to see me when i’m nervous)
Basically, this is how the conversation went down;
Judge: “Are the parties in court?”
Me: (answering very loudly and boldly like my classmate from law school advised) “May it please this honorable court, i am S. B. NKWAP announcing my appearance for the Plaintiff…”
When i heard the murmuring and stifled laughter from other lawyers, i realized that my reply did not answer the question i was asked. The Judge repeated the question with a knowing smile on his face and this time i answered appropriately, trying not to show that i was embarrassed from the previous exchange.
Me: “My lord, the parties are not in court”.
Wouldn’t life be a lot easier if conversations were rewindable and erasable like videos?
The defense counsel with unsolicited enthusiasm (what i prefer to call over sabi) asked the Judge to permit him to speak on my behalf. The Judge instantly shut him down. Somehow that gave me the courage to be confident, surely i wasn’t going to be spoon fed in court?, hell no!!! The Judge asked me to proceed and with all the boldness in the world i announced my appearance, stated what my matter was for, informed the court that the defense counsel had approached us for an amicable settlement out of court. The Judge confirmed this with the defense and asked both parties to pick a date for report of hearing. The “over sabi” defense counsel was shouting a date but the Judge had his eyes fixed on me waiting (with the way the Judge was looking at me intently, i wondered if he was probably thinking; “here comes another newbie”). I picked a date that was available from the dates the court clerk called out that were open for the month we were to return for report of settlement. After the date was agreed upon by both parties, i sat down with ease, breathing with a sigh of relief.
As i sat, a senior lawyer beside me asked while looking at my haphazardly won collarette; apparently, the collarette i got from the receptionist was for males (oh dear)!.
“it seems you were not aware you were coming to court today?”
“it’s my first time in court” i replied.
“Well you did great, you spoke boldly and clearly to the hearing of the court”… yeah and embarrassed myself, i finished off his sentence in my head.
I appreciated his encouragement and he further advised to buy at least three collarettes; put one in my handbag, leave one at the office and one permanently in my wig and gown bag.
I left the courtroom, happy that it was over.
The defense counsel who tried to “spoon feed” me (which i considered a misplaced overzealousness) came out of the court room almost immediately after me and said to me “Counsel, you did well. I thought you would not be able to handle it”.
So you wanted to do it for me because you’re Angel Gabriel? I asked him in my head while i stared at him.
Thank you i replied with a tone of finality, not wanting to deal with him again and went out of the premises.
I told myself as i went out that i did well, not wanting to focus on when my colleagues murmured and laughed during my exchange with the Judge. The world didn’t come to an end after all like i thought it would. I deserve a large pizza with pineapple toppings from Figaro’s Pizza i thought to myself, because every progress should be celebrated and hey! i didn’t pee my pants!!!.
I have heard some great first day stories and some terrible first day stories, to each his own. We have all had to do something for the first time; asking someone out on a date, making a presentation, speaking to a crowd, making a marriage proposal, flying a plane, taking an exam, etc. Think back to that thing you had to do for the first time that made you so nervous, whether it turned out good or bad, don’t beat yourself about it. Celebrate every progress as you go, evaluate your mistakes and learn from them, and keep going.
Life is a continuous learning ground.
I’ll be seeing you at the top!
