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How do you maintain health and fitness as a lawyer?
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Hi my learned friends
I know this is not r/Auslawfitnessadvice, however, I was curious - how do you maintain your health and fitness and avoid weight gain in the profession?
I have been finding it exceedingly difficult to try and maintain a healthy lifestyle considering the (sometimes) long hours, stress and demands of the jobs etc. And also eating healthy sought of goes out the window too.
I was hoping that fellow lawyers that understand these difficulties could chime in and give any advice for what has worked for them. Perhaps there is also value for other people who are finding it difficult like me to get some tips?
Many thanks
AL (Associate to the Dishonourable Injustice of the KCDRR)
Top Comment:
I meal prep as much as I can on the weekend. I try and have lunch for at least 3-4 days packed in containers that I can just grab on the way out of the house. For dinner, I steam a heap of veggies and leave them in the fridge, they keep for several days. That way, I can get home, throw a bit of protein on the hot plates and microwave the veggies and am eating dinner within ten minutes of getting home. I try and eat clean during the week and then do whatever on the weekend. Seems to work pretty well, I’ve managed to actually lose a bit of weight since uni while adopting this regime.
Exercise, I always try and go to the gym before work. Unexpected deadlines/last minute client entertaining/exhaustion always get in the way of going in the evening. I’ve also sometimes gone during the day (say, 2pm) if I have a quiet afternoon. My firm is great - they don’t care where I am or when I work (within reason), as long as I’m meeting budget. I’m also fortunate in that I live relatively close to the office (under an hour walking time), so I sometimes walk in and count that as my exercise for the day.
[Question] What watch would you want your lawyer to wear?
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I found this great question by u/MethodMango in Semi-Weekly Inquirer and I think it has loads of potential.
I would sort it in few tranches.
I would start with JLC Reverso, for like young lawyer, not that hard to save for, elegant, goes well with suit.
Then JLC Geophysic True Second, early 30’s lawyer, shows he has eye for detail, that he knows something about watches, again goes well with suit.
For lawyer around his 40’s late senior associate level, he could go with Lange Saxonia, beautiful watch, that is subtle but hides great movement, again shows eye for detail and goes well with suit.
Junior partner level lawyer could go with something at least like Patek Calatrava, well it has very similar qualities like Saxonia, but has even higher level of finishing.
Senior partner could afford something more interesting, to show his accomplishments and appreciation for craftsmanship. That would be De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius. Absolute stunner, that’s all I need to say.
That is my take, it works with image of successful lawyer that is also watch enthusiast, so I let my dreams go. As I’m law student that would be my dream watch choices for work.
What about you?
Top Comment: I have a funny watch story that’s related to your question. It’s long, so I apologize ahead of time. This was about 7 years ago. I was a fresh law school graduate working my tail off as an associate at a well-respected law firm in my city. I spent a lot of time in the court room. I spend most of the time in front of this one particular judge. Remember, I was a fresh law school grad so this was still when I was intimidated by judges. This guy was a known hard ass. I’m pretty sure he would get together with the more senior attorneys and they would laugh at how he was such a hard ass to new attorneys. Anyway, this guy has an amazing watch collection. Tons of vintage and modern Rolex, Patek, AP, some stuff I’m sure I didn’t even know about back then. One day he was busting my balls particularly hard as I was struggling to find some paper in my large file. “Counselor Qui, it looks like you should have spent a little more time preparing for today’s hearing.” I clenched my teeth and made it through the hearing. Afterward, the judge was out in the hall BSing with the court personnel and I walked up to him and apologized for taking up the Court’s time. I told him I got distracted trying to figure out what model watch he was wearing because it looked like a Vintage Rolex Sub. Sure enough, he flung out his wrist and showed a beautiful Rolex Sub with the rare and sought-after red “Submariner” text. He told me all about how his dad owned it and gave it to him and it meant so much to him. I showed him my Air-King and he told me never to sell or get rid if it; that my kids would one day tell some stranger about that watch and their father giving it to them. We BS’d about watches for about 15 minutes until he had to be back in court. I never had any more issues with that Judge. In fact, we would always talk about watches when we saw each other in the courthouse.
Is being a lawyer anything like in the show?
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I want to follow law and become a lawyer like Harvey Specter but i wonder if it has anything to do with the show , so how is it?
Top Comment: Not even close
Lawyers of Reddit, what was your “oh shit” moment in court?
Main Post: Lawyers of Reddit, what was your “oh shit” moment in court?
Top Comment:
Sat in on a personal injury case where the plaintiff broke their leg in an accident and had a doctor on the stand as an expert. The woman's lawyer begins questioning the doctor about their experience with leg injuries (he was a well known orthopedic surgeon in the area).
She asks if hes ever treated a tibula fracture (the leg bones are tibia and fibula) to which he only answers "no" then she starts grilling him with questions about the tibula.
After about 6-7 questions she asks "how did you get a medical liscense and have been able to practice medicine this long if you've never treated a tibula fracture?" And begins a small rant about going after his credentials and those that gave it to him, to which he simply responds "there is no bone named the tibula".
The lawyer became beet red and everyone in the room tried their best to keep from laughing including the judge.
A day in the life of an Australian Lawyer
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We have some international exchange students coming to our office for periods of 2 weeks to 4 months next week.
They sent through a list of tasks they have to complete while they are here, and one is "experience a day in the life of an Australian Lawyer".
I have them shadowing me, as a junior Solicitor, then each of the Partners who have very different practice areas, and a barrister.
But Auslaw, I feel like you all could eloquently express what a day in the life of an Australian lawyer is actually like. I feel like people being shadowed shows a beautiful version of being a lawyer.
So, for the benefit of the world, what is your day in the life of you, Australian lawyer (or paralegal/clerk/law student)?
The more brutal the better ;)
Top Comment: I'm an in-house lawyer currently, so a totally accurate portrayal of my day goes thusly: I rock up at work at approximately 10:05am. As I enter the lobby of the swanky corporate head offices, I notice I am still in my pyjamas and holding my coffee. No one notices. I take the elevator up to the second-to-top floor and saunter over to my desk. I start the day by 'checking' my emails. Anything with more than 2 lines is clearly of the highest complexity and so is forwarded to panel firms to deal with. Queries from in-house clients are responded to with "I'm all over it, mate" and throwing in a few random sections from legislation that sounds vaguely appropriate and/or caselaw I have floating around. I don't bother to check if its recent or even Australian. 12:00pm - 12:30pm is dedicated chair-spinning time. The State Manager then asks for an advice on a matter. I find one of my precedents and a short Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V later have it finished. I change the names and move some of the numbers around. I receive a new matter on my desk. It will require at least a phonecall and possibly 5 minutes of perusal, so I move my diary reminder for 2 weeks next Tuesday. By this time it's probably around 3:00pm. After such a hectic and hard pressed work day, it's time I went home. To make sure I leave with my daily tasks sorted, I select the entirety of my Inbox and forward it to whichever panel firm was the nicest to me today.
[Question] Watches for young lawyers? Useful complications for lawyers?
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I have a hunch that at least some of you are attorneys, because attorneys seem to be the type of folks who would be into watches.
I am a rising 3L and I will be working at a big firm this summer. I am hoping to save up some of my summer money and either buy a nice watch second-hand, or persuade my parents to split the cost of a new watch as a birthday present.
So I have a couple of questions:
(1)
What are some watches that I, as a young guy, could where at a firm job or clerkship without looking like an uppity jackass punk? I won't be wearing any of these as a summer associate, but I might the following year. I really like the look of the Planet Ocean with the SS bracelet, and I also really like the look of some of the IWCs, like the 45mm Ingenieur and the Portuguese Chronograph, both of which could potentially be in my price range if I buy second hand or split with my folks. I am considering the Tudor divers too.
I like the idea that IWC and Tudor have less brand visibility than Omega or Rolex, so that if I have a stainless steel one on my wrist, most people would glance at it and not think twice, but I will be able to look at it and enjoy it more privately and "under the radar."
(2)
Are there any complications that come in handy for you lawyers? I have seen doctor's watches with pulsometers. I was wondering if we have anything similar. If not, maybe we should get together and build a chronograph movement that times to the nearest tenth of an hour. But seriously; do people ever use chronometers for billing? Are there watches with timers or count-down features that would help you time an oral argument on a motion or something like that? (Yes, I know I won't be doing much of this as a litigation associate).
I would also appreciate any general tales/advice/anecdotes about watch-dom in the legal field.
Top Comment: I am in the legal field, so here is my advice: don't get a bulky watch like the ingenieur; IWC is not an under-the-radar brand at a law firm; don't wear a watch that is obviously more expensive than the one the partner is wearing. To clarify the last point, it's OK if your watch is actually more expensive, just don't let it show. In other words, nothing gold, nothing with a tourbillon, stay away from flashy. Suits look goofy with giant watches, so think slim. Get something subtle and with a classic aesthetic. Maybe a vintage Omega seamaster, a Glashutte 60s, or a vintage Grand Seiko. As for complications, GMT can be helpful if you travel for work.