Keeva on Life and Practice

Fighting The Fear Factor

Of the emotions that typically tinge the experience of practicing law, it seems to me that one stands alone in both its impact and the frequency with which it arises: fear.

Jul 28, 2005 5:55 PM CDT

Imagine that outside your office there hangs an old-fashioned wooden shingle with your name on it. By way of acknowledging your professional status, it also says “Attorney at Law.” But there’s a bit of room left on your shingle, providing an excellent opportunity to let prospective clients know what, specifically,…

Jun 28, 2005 3:38 PM CDT

Why Lawyers Lose In Love

If it were possible to buy relationship insurance, it’s safe to assume that certain people’s premiums would be ungodly expensive.

May 28, 2005 1:37 PM CDT

Some Judges are Watching

After spending 11 years as a federal district judge in Texas, Royal Furgeson retains a visceral memory of how it felt to practice law. “Near the end of my law practice, I was almost overwhelmed,” he says. “I was working what seemed like seven days a week, and I had…

Apr 28, 2005 7:45 AM CDT

A Meditative Perspective

“In this age of unprecedented distraction and information density, every professional needs tools to clear the mind, calm the body and reveal what matters most. It is both a practical and a personal necessity.”

Mar 28, 2005 12:37 PM CST

The Parent of All Virtues

If there is a quality or a trait that is common to all happy lawyers, I haven’t found it yet. That’s probably because, unlike Tolstoy’s happy families, lawyers are not all alike, and they find meaning and pleasure in diverse ways that are tailored to their own needs and interests.

Feb 25, 2005 12:50 PM CST

A Client’s Perspective

Over the last three years, Daisy Floyd has spent a lot of time reflecting on what it means to be the client of a lawyer. She’s a lawyer herself. In fact, she recently was appointed dean of Mercer University School of Law in Macon, Ga.

Jan 25, 2005 10:14 AM CST

Take Care of Yourself

Last month I ended my column about a great law firm’s untimely demise with an observation about lawyers in general: Although they are terrific at fighting and negotiating on behalf of their clients, they tend to be pretty lousy when it comes to taking care of their own needs. This,…

Dec 9, 2004 8:09 AM CST