I hope you’ve all missed my semi-philosophical posts as much as I’ve missed writing them. Today’s topic is often seen as a bit heavy, but it’s also an absolutely key component of being an attorney. We’re going to look at sacrifices, specifically, at what sacrifices you might find acceptable, what sacrifices are unacceptable, and sacrifices you might be unaware that you’re making.

Acceptable sacrifices are everywhere - chances are good you’ve already made a whole lot to become an attorney in the first place. Take, for example, long nights spent studying instead of going out or the money that you put into law school in the first place; these are acceptable sacrifices. You’ve established a goal and understood that in order to obtain that goal, you need to lose out on other things; after all, we only have so much time. In the same vein, you might believe there’s a chance you could go to court with a case and win but you’ll sacrifice that chance in order to reach a settlement that’s agreeable to both parties. You’ve lost an opportunity but you’ve gained a sure thing - one in the hand is worth two in the bush, as they say.

There are, conversely, things that you should never sacrifice. When you have deeply held convictions, you shouldn’t sacrifice them for temporary gain. That means you shouldn’t take on work that you believe is morally reprehensible. That isn’t to say that your beliefs can’t be changed or that morality is immutable. Rather, it’s simply to say you shouldn’t go into a line of law that you’ll regret later. You should also never sacrifice your own well-being in order to get more work done. In the short term, working very hard to accomplish a goal is laudable, but if you burn out completely, you’re of no use to anyone. More importantly, you’ll have harmed yourself and that’s not what you’re in this line of work for. There is a long list of things that you should avoid sacrificing for the sake of work. Essentially, don’t sacrifice yourself.

Be aware that you are always sacrificing something; any time you take one action, you could be taking another. Don’t let that dissuade you from acting, of course, but every once and a while it’s a good idea to take stock of your habits. Are you taking actions that are draining you? Are you worrying about things that are out of your hands? Are you spending too much time at work and not enough time taking care of yourself? When you work for others, when they put their fate in your hands, it’s important to look in the mirror and ask yourself if you’re being a martyr. Work dutifully for others, give your all for others; just don’t abandon yourself.

We understand that things come up that are more important than work - even when your work is very important. That’s why there’s always an appearance attorney on call when you get in touch with us; we’ll help you make sure that both you and your clients are well taken care of.