Teacher

My mustache and I are sitting in Barista Parlor in Hillsboro Village.  It's a beautiful spring morning sandwiched in between all of the storms and rain we've had lately.  More rain this evening, of course.  

I had the first day of a two day mediation yesterday.  One of my cases with a client I really like.  Somewhat surprisingly, the case settled in one day.  That gives me today to catch my breath just a little bit.  Actually, what I will be doing is catching up on a lot of office work.  Drafting and revising pleadings to be filed today.  Reviewing settlement proposals.  Telephone calls to clients or potential clients.  Preparing for depositions.  Trying to keep my head above water before next week, which will be a bear.

Still, I have 30 minutes or so to sit, write, and drink my coffee and for that I am grateful.

I had given our mediator and the other side a hard stop at 5 p.m. yesterday because I teach class at Nashville School of Law (Divorce Trial Practice) on Wednesday nights.  Traffic is usually bad heading north after work - this is Nashville, after all - and I always worry about getting to class on time.  My mediation went late, of course, and I didn't get in my truck and start mad dash up I65 north until after 5:30 p.m.  For once, though, traffic was a breeze, and I made it with time to spare.  

Last night, we had our third of four trials that will mark the end our class for 2024 - 2025.  This year, more  so than the other two years, feels like it's flown by for me.  It's hard to believe next week is our last class.  November - April went by in a flash.  Six months gone just like that.  It will be nice to have my Wednesday nights free again and not to miss the boys' baseball games.  Still, I will miss teaching our students.   

I was struck last night, as I watched our students struggle to try the Dash case - Kendra Dash vs. Tom Dash - opening statements, direct and cross examination of witnesses, objections, closing arguments - by how much I love teaching.  All of it.

The students' enthusiasm is contagious.  It energizes me in a way little else does.  Perhaps their energy is different because our class is not a traditional lecture class.  It's a class where the student participate.  Where they "do" things.  They perform.  I'd like to think it's unlike most of their other classes.  I hope it is, anyway.

It's such a rush to have the students stay after class to talk about their trial, like they did last night.  Lee and finally I had to shut things down after 20 minutes or so because we had to leave and get home.  The students were so into the fact pattern and the trial that they stayed at their counsel tables after Lee made his ruling and asked question after question.  I loved every single minute of it.  

My life is so hectic right now.  I'm crushed at work, in part because I haven't hired an associate to help me.  My job is, in many ways, a high wire act of trying my best to provide support and counsel for my clients, many of whom are going through the most difficult time in their lives.  It can be emotionally draining and stressful.  I am not complaining, though, because I am fortunate to have a thriving law practice.  

My non-work responsibilities in the office take up a lot of my band width, too.  Who's happy.  Who might be leaving.  Who wants a raise.  What needs to be done to the building.  An on and on and on.

So many Wednesday nights since November, I've rushed into the NSL building after a busy, pressure filled day, hurriedly reviewing my notes and collecting my thoughts before class.  Then, when Lee and I walk in, I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be.  For the hour and half or so that we teach class, I feel relaxed, happy, and fulfilled.  I am giving back by pouring myself and my professional experiences over 32 years of practicing law into our students.  I love it.  

As I've told the students, the time I spend with them invigorates me and reminds me why I started practicing law in the first place.  It energizes me and makes me feel good about how I have chosen to make a living.  I get as much or more from teaching our students as they get from us.  I really believe that.  

I've so enjoyed spending time with Lee Davies, Sr.  My enduring memory of this time in my life, of teaching, will be the time he and I spent together in class, teaching, and out of class, planning and talking.  So often after class, we talk about our students.  It's been a pleasure to have the opportunity to become closer friends with Lee.  

My coffee is gone.  The morning interlude is over.  Time to get to work.