There is a moment on every vacation where your thoughts turn to home — irrespective of how much fun the trip you are on is, or even how much you disdain the grind of daily life you are returning to. We all come to realize that vacations, no matter how welcome, are temporary, and can never replace the comforts of home. Of course, that moment may come a lot later in a vacation spent in an overwater bungalow in Bali than it might on a weekend stay in your ex-roommate’s non-air-conditioned garage “suite.” But it will come, and when a vacation has done its job we may actually welcome the chance to get back to our daily routines in our newfound restful state.
In the (bizarro) universe that is law firm land, we are quickly approaching the peak of vacation season. Everything slows down in August, and an industry fueled by the accessibility on demand of both lawyers and staff learns to cope with a relaxing of that normal standard of behavior. The weeks before a personal vacation tend to speed by, as most responsible lawyers will do what they can to minimize the burden of their absence on colleagues and clients. At the same time, we all know that complete inaccessibility is a mythical construct nowadays, save for a Mount Everest climbing expedition, or a cruise of the Arctic waters in a remodeled Soviet-era submarine.
As I write this, I am on a ferry off the shores of Coney Island, as part of my usual summer commute to the office from the Jersey Shore to downtown Manhattan. As grateful as I am for the opportunity to spend summers a short drive from the beach, it is hard to look out the window at my hometown and not feel a twinge of excitement about returning home around Labor Day. I do stay at home in Brooklyn on occasion during the summer, but considering my family is in Jersey full-time, I do my best to brave the much longer commute from Manhattan to Jersey as often as possible. The Jersey Shore is beautiful, especially during the summer months when it comes alive in a myriad of ways, but there is something about Brooklyn that is impossible to match.
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Over the course of my career, I have encountered many former Brooklynites who continue to sing the praises of their home borough, regardless of which of its varied neighborhoods they grew up in. Almost without fail, when I would encounter one of them, they could not wait to compare notes on how we each grew up on Brooklyn’s streets, as well as to offer commentary on what they think of Brooklyn today. The Brooklyn diaspora is a widespread one, especially in the legal field. Whether it was the senior Florida judge who during a mediation regaled me with stories about our mutual childhood neighborhood, or one of my California-based technical experts who remembered the area around my high school from his youth, there is no lack of former Brooklynites in positions of influence and achievement in their respective fields.
Like many I have encountered, I credit growing up and living in Brooklyn with contributing to any career success I have had. But what is it about being raised in Brooklyn that seemingly provides lawyers with a leg up professionally? As I considered that question, I realized that there are three key characteristics of Brooklyn that breed certain traits critical for success in a service business like law.
First, Brooklyn is at the same time a place steeped in history, as well as economically diverse. This breeds a strong work ethic in its denizens. From the brownstone mansions lining Prospect Park, to the luxury condos dotting the waterfront facing Manhattan, to the housing projects abutting higher-end residences in Coney Island, Brooklyn is unique in the sense that both wealthy and poor share the same streets and breath the same air every single day. It is not a place of gated communities or economic segregation. The millionaire and the welfare recipient wait for the same bus, stop in at the same bodega for a cup of coffee on the way to work, and watch their kids playing in the same public park. What you learn is that the line between success and economic failure can be a mighty thin one, and that a sense of entitlement is something that is simply not tolerated. Brooklyn is a place that celebrates success, but especially the success of strivers and hard workers, rather than success born of inheritance or privilege. Even though Brooklyn is a historic place, settled and developed over centuries, and pre-dating the establishment of the country as we know it, it is also a place of upward mobility and an ever-changing population. It is no surprise that coming from a place where work is celebrated contributes to a strong work ethic in Brooklyn’s native sons and daughters. We all know that law is a profession that demands, and we hope will eventually reward, hard work.
Second, Brooklyn can be a crowded, challenging place. Whether in the heat of summer or the bitter cold of winter, there is always a sense that confrontation can erupt at any moment. Native Brooklynites are used to this energy, and usually develop a variety of coping mechanisms to ignore, or if actually confronted, quickly defuse, the nervous tension that bubbles beneath streets that hold millions of people in close daily contact. Even though Brooklyn itself is not a scary place, it is a place where you can’t be complacent or ignore your surroundings. At the same time, it is nearly impossible to scare someone from Brooklyn, as they have likely seen it all and are prepared for whatever life throws at them. This attitude is vital in the hard-charging legal field, where those who are scared are usually first devoured as prey. A measured fearlessness is invaluable in our profession. Brooklyn forces its residents to develop that sense.
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Third, Brooklyn has a lot of people. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, religions, countries of origin — a veritable microcosm of the entire world. This reality teaches tolerance, and how to get along with others who are different from yourself. When you are from Brooklyn, it is as if you are born with blinders on regarding the differences you have with other people. You learn to focus on what you have in common, and expect that you will get along with anyone — because there really is no other option. When you work in a diverse field such as law, and are constantly interacting with people who you may not have a lot in common with, the capacity for tolerating others is absolutely vital. Growing up in Brooklyn imparts this skill, as there really is no other way to function otherwise.
Ultimately, most of us look fondly at the place where we grew up. At the same time, it is hard to deny that the unique aspects of Brooklyn have a role in preparing those fortunate enough to have experienced them for successful careers in law. Even if you have never visited Brooklyn, much less lived there, there is something to learn from the qualities of the people who have. No matter how you feel about Nathan’s hot dogs.
Please feel free to send comments or questions to me at [email protected] or via Twitter: @gkroub. Any topic suggestions or thoughts are most welcome.
Gaston Kroub lives in Brooklyn and is a founding partner of Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC, an intellectual property litigation boutique. The firm’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and related counseling, with a strong focus on patent matters. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter: @gkroub.