When your trial gets continued for the umpteenth time

There’s something very unnerving about fully preparing to go to trial and then at the last minute having your trial get continued for something entirely out of your control. You’ve scheduled all your witnesses, prepared your outlines, and booked accommodations. and then POOF, your trial date is gone.

The frustration compounds when your client has been waiting for years for their case to resolve and cannot physically wait any longer.

I had a conversation with a friend, a fellow lawyer who recently told me that she was thinking about switching careers - she was sick of litigation and how it often seems like unless attorneys are assholes to the other side, we aren’t doing our best job. In that vein, every time defense counsel seeks a continuance, I wonder if their M.O. if just to delay and delay. And what is the purpose of that? Because otherwise they wouldn’t be doing their best job?

The disappointment of getting this particular trial kicked was all-consuming for a few days. I’ve never been a patient person but the thought of my client waiting any longer for justice was upsetting. My firm gave me words of encouragement. One person said I should take my mind off of it completely for a few days; another said I now had more time to perfect our trial prep.

I got all great advice, but really I just can’t wait to get to trial.