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A Week in the Life of Clarence Lee
Thursday
Morning
8:15 a.m. I’m running a little late this morning, but I glance through the sports pages. I also take a quick look through possible vacations. My wife and I have yet to take a summer vacation, and we’re looking for a brief getaway. I’m thinking the Caribbean, but it’s hurricane season down there.
8:30 a.m. I get started, sending off e-mails to Chuck regarding the memorandum and to defense counsel in Los Angeles for my case with Cathy.
8:45 a.m. I am working on a spreadsheet and analyzing some bills for my case with Cathy. Because we are being asked to pay for defense counsel, we need to review their bills for reasonableness and also to separate out some work that may not be covered under their policy. I am preparing a spreadsheet to help Cathy and the client understand my analysis.
10:00 a.m. I get ready to attend a pre-trial hearing in DC, on my own pro bono case. I am working with the Children’s Law Center as a guardian ad litem (GAL) for a 2-year old child in the District. Currently, he is in the middle of a nasty custody battle involving his parents. I have just received the file in this case from the court and need to review it before the pre-trial conference. I have been appointed as the GAL only 3 weeks before trial, but I believe the trial will be continued.
10:30 a.m. The pre-trial hearing is contentious, and with my appointment as GAL, the trial is continued until January. The judge would like my report on whatever I deem relevant sometime before December. I spend some time after the hearing with each parent, both of whom are very emotional and clearly trying to win me over to their side. It maybe that there is no compromise position in this case. It is very sad for the child, if his parents continue to fight like this.
Afternoon
12:30 p.m. My last summer associate lunch, with Omar Ayad and associate Sharla Toller. Again, we discuss the summer and our program in general.
1:45 p.m. Back at the office, Richard has a new draft of the reservation of rights letter and asks me to review it and comment on it.
2:00 p.m. Our Director of Human Resources, Terri Carnahan, comes by and asks me if I’d like to switch offices to one with a better view. I am interested, and immediately begin scoping out the possible offices – including ones where the summer associates are still sitting.
2:15 p.m. I review and respond to several e-mails from our clients just checking in on the status of certain things.
2:45 p.m. I decide to get into the Kansas law prejudice issue for Leslie, and I spend time researching this.
5:30 p.m. I’m just about done with my research project, so I spend some time reviewing the court file in the pro bono case.
6:30 p.m. I head home on the Metro, and meet up with my wife and my friend, where we head out to dinner.
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