The Life of an Attorney

So I've had several facebook updates regarding the distaste in my mouth from the mentioning of the word "Essence" this weekend. References to Bourbon Street, Port-of-Call, Hand Grenades, Po-Boys, LePhare, NV, Metro, Beignets, and anything New Orleans caused me to regurgitate in my mouth. While everyone was enjoying one of the greatest tourist destinations of the world, I was stuck in Texas, preparing for a trial that wouldn't happen. From May 29th, I watched a dreaded day in court turn into a winnable endeavor. I had got with my partner and went over the case top to bottom working out our strategy and excited about the fact that we would get our first felony trial to jury before we had been practicing for a year, and might be able to win.

We arrived in court and asked the coordinator where we were on the trial docket, where she in turn told us to approach the judge to find out. The judge was unable to garner a response and had the state also approach at which time we learned that our opposing counsel was out on a family emergency, but that somebody else could potentially be found or if not the ADA at the bench with us, would be our opposing counsel today. Great, she doesn't know much about the case, none of the witnesses the state intended to call were subpoenaed, so there was no way we could lose. However, in an attempt not to piss off the judge, appear as gentlemen, and knowing that the case would probably carry over, we told the judge that defense counsel was ready, but due to the unforseen circumstances, we would not object to the court carrying over this cause. The judge asked if the state had offered anything to which the ADA replied 2 years TDC and her honor then instructs us to inform our client of the offer.

Our client then shoots down the offer, and we reapproach to inform the judge. The judge then asks for the facts of the case to which we respond, basically giving our trial issues and contentions. She then asks if our client would be open to a PSI with no agreed recommendation and although the client had denied it a month before we still had to tell her of the offer ethically. When informed of this deal and the consequences of it, our client jumps on the offer like a hungry dog at a steak hanging off the grill. THE STATE OF TEXAS BAMBOOZED OUR CLIENT OUT OF TRIAL WITH THE HELP OF A JUDGE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT READY! I can't believe this and I am so pissed off now...*sigh* the life of an attorney!

Look What U Did!

Now that the initial shock has died down, and I've sobered up (lol), I can finally retire away to my sanctuary and post an "I'm proud of myself" blog. From my last post, you all can see that doubt had been creeping up on me, but I think I managed to put it away. The funny part is that the first time I took the bar, I had nightmares about failing, and people knowing before I did, well, let me tell you how dream echoes reality...

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2009 approximately 3-something PM: I am in the midst of doing something that catered to my creative side, and I'm focused, like really focused. I was drawing, something that I enjoy doing but I don't do that frequently, I guess I do it when I feel like it, kinda like my blog, lol. Well anyways, I get a phone call from my homeboy, Earl, in which he responds to my "hello," by screaming "LET'S GET THIS MONEY." Well my initial response is, "what money?" To which he follows up with "LET'S GET THIS MONEY, COUNSELOR!!!" Now, Earl and I have been friends for about 10 years or so, and he and I have pretty much been pillars for each other to lean on through the stresses of our legal curriculum, so I thought he was trying to hit me with some inspirational words while I was waiting on my scores. But he had seen the pass list before I did, and my dude was calling me to wish me well and be the first one to hit me up with a congrats. And when he finally explains to me that I had passed the bar and I am in a fury in trying to load up the Texas Board of Law Examiners website to see my name on the list for myself, I get congratulatory text messages coming through on my phone and realized that it was true; I HAD PASSED THE BAR! After talking to Earl later that night, we both laughed at on a day when most people were overly nervous, I was almost "zen-like."I don't know if I was content that it was God's will, that I always produce when it's on the line, or something else, but I passed and wasn't really concerned about it. But Texas, you have unleashed Kellen A. Daranda, Esq., LOOK WHAT THE EFF U DID!