Law Day !

May 1 is Law Day, celebrating the place and rule of law.  It also marks my 26th anniversary practicing law. 

On May 1, 1980, I walked into the offices of Ice Miller Donadio and Ryan in what was then the AFNB Building on the Circle, and began my first day as a practicing lawyer.  Though I had been admitted in January, I continued to clerk at the Court of Appeals for a few months, catching my breath from working full time and going to law school.

I was nervous in my recently purchased suit.  Sarah Beswick (sister of Joe Russell, who is now a partner at Bose McKinney), showed me around and gave me all the forms to fill out.  There was a planter on my desk -- some poor fern which I managed to kill off in a few weeks.  Somebody took me to lunch -- I think a lawyer who has since been disbarred.  Harry Ice and Jim Donadio, both of whom I came to respect enormously (and still do) stopped by to welcome me.  By mid-afternoon, someone came by with my first file to work on.  I can't remember anything about it, though.

26 years later, I've just opened my own office.  I've tried cases before juries and judges, argued before the Indiana appellate courts and the 7th Circuit, and briefed cases to the United States Supreme Court.  I've started a conference for the Indiana State Bar Association, and through my bar activities I've made friends across the country. 

And after 26 years, I've no sage advice to offer.  Just a Grateful Dead reflection: 

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me;

Other times I can barely see.

Lately it occurs to me

What a long strange trip its been.

Comments

[Tim Kalamaros]

Thanks Steve, you inspired me to start a web log. It's more humble than this one, but take a look here:

http://timothykalamaroslaw.blogspot.com/

[Jacoba]

Hey. I used to believe that marriage would diminish me, reduce my options. That you had to be someone less to live with someone else when, of course, you have to be someone more.
I am from Benin and too bad know English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "The effects of these men only die a inner bit up influence and than run 10 foot to the year of the other changelings plus effects, hair replacement treatment."

Thank you very much :(. Jacoba.