In this post, I wanted to talk about the Winter Olympics highlights that I showed my three children: one preteen and two teenagers. I think the lessons I tried to instill in my children from these videos are also relevant for those of us who practice law.
I first showed them a video of American Alysa Liu winning the women’s figure skating championship. I showed them the joy and camaraderie her competitors showed when she won the gold medal, an honor she clearly deserved.
I also showed them highlights of the stunning United States men’s hockey team’s victory over the Canadian team. I showed them because I was impressed with the win, and also with the joyful and patriotic behavior of the winning team.
Alas, I was also forced to show them the reaction of the Canadian team when they lost during an overtime period. Though the Canadians played extraordinarily well, I was stunned that their response was largely to remain sullen rather than congratulate their opponents. I was forced to use them as an example, as I explained to my children that this is never an appropriate response when someone wins fair and square.
I mention this specifically because I am surprised, no matter my extensive experience, at the “unsportsmanlike“ behavior of many lawyers toward one another. I do not gloat when and if my client prevails, yet I have frequently been confronted by the boorish behavior of opposing counsel, who often continue their exaggerated claims that their client is entitled to millions of dollars in damages, even in the aftermath of a defense verdict on issues of liability.
I first showed them a video of American Alysa Liu winning the women’s figure skating championship. I showed them the joy and camaraderie her competitors showed when she won the gold medal, an honor she clearly deserved.
I also showed them highlights of the stunning United States men’s hockey team’s victory over the Canadian team. I showed them because I was impressed with the win, and also with the joyful and patriotic behavior of the winning team.
Alas, I was also forced to show them the reaction of the Canadian team when they lost during an overtime period. Though the Canadians played extraordinarily well, I was stunned that their response was largely to remain sullen rather than congratulate their opponents. I was forced to use them as an example, as I explained to my children that this is never an appropriate response when someone wins fair and square.
I mention this specifically because I am surprised, no matter my extensive experience, at the “unsportsmanlike“ behavior of many lawyers toward one another. I do not gloat when and if my client prevails, yet I have frequently been confronted by the boorish behavior of opposing counsel, who often continue their exaggerated claims that their client is entitled to millions of dollars in damages, even in the aftermath of a defense verdict on issues of liability.
It is the rare counsel on the other side who shows class and congratulates our firm, as we of course congratulate our opposing counsel when they win.
