Litigators

Thoughts For Resuming Your Commute

Let’s be exemplary in our work, and to each other on our way there.

By Timothy M. Lupinek  
on

As many of us are preparing for an impending return to our respective physical offices for the first time in over three months, now seems like an apt time to share my personal focus as I resume the daily routine of navigating the crowded New York transit system and of fitting my own microcosm of life into the greater medley that is the daily hubbub of New York City. That focus is to be exemplary.

This idea did not come out of nowhere. I was not brushing my teeth this morning when all of the sudden a lightbulb went off over my head and I said to myself, “I should focus and strive to be exemplary.” I was inspired.

The first of the inspiration came from a colleague of mine’s feedback. The colleague — who has decades more experience than me and whom I hold in high esteem — referred to me as exemplary after I worked long hours over a holiday weekend to make headway on a discovery project. This acknowledgement admittedly felt great, and I can still hear with crystal clarity the excited delivery of the accolade.

The other recent inspiration came from the exemplary of the exemplary: Thurgood Marshall. I recently watched Chadwick Bosman’s portrayal of the mythical man in 2017’s Marshall. It reminded me of what a privilege it is to be able to practice law, as well as the power that the practice affords. In our profession, we not only can change the course of individual lives, we can change the course of history. Of course, not all of us will have the opportunity to argue seminal cases in the Supreme Court and have our names echoed throughout history, but that is not the point. The point is, regardless of the capacity in which you or I are currently practicing, we are all part of the brilliant legacy of American jurisprudence. We should be aware of that and act accordingly.

And it was that acknowledgement, the happy hurl of the word e-x-e-m-p-l-a-r-y from a colleague in describing my work, that has been ringing in my ears, and a keen understanding of the privileges and responsibilities that come along with our work, that I want to keep in the forefront of my mind as I re-enter my daily routine.

It is very easy to find yourself in a bubble as an attorney, especially as a litigator when a trial is in full swing. But even when the temperature is not all the way up on our work burners, it is still possible to find ourselves in a bubble, pushing other elements of ourselves and our lives to the side to focus on the task at hand.

My challenge to myself, and one worth noting more broadly to all readers here, is to actively not fall into that bubble as I settle into my new work routine. I want to be tuned in to doing my part: wearing a mask, offering a seat to an older passenger, and planning around leaving at peak times to avoid turning the 2 and 3 lines into a can of sardines at 9 a.m. I want to be tuned in to the energy of what is happening right now on the streets because I think it is an important moment in history. I do not want to be the faceless man in a suit too busy staring at his phone, responding to an email now instead of 10 minutes from now, who let history pass before his eyes, or the person who missed the opportunity to offer his seat to another. Let’s be exemplary in our work, and to each other on our way there.

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Timothy M. Lupinek is an attorney at Balestriere Fariello who represents companies and individuals in state, appellate, and administrative courts of Maryland. He focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation with thousands of hours of civil, criminal, and regulatory trial experience. You can reach Timothy at timothy.m.lupinek @balestrierefariello.com.

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