Is this something that could help you? I’ve thought about buying one to help with billing, but I have more than 8 files I’m routinely working on at any given time.
Specifically one or these style: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0006HVU4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_ZM9QWB3F9MMPQ7RJR9R4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
And not one of these: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001E641P4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_B6CTQZ9K76R0AZ9J4NVC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
You'll need one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Olympia-Tools-85-010-Pack-N-Roll-Telescopic/dp/B000UZ0P7I/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Rolling+Box&qid=1667044715&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1Ljk1IiwicXNhIjoiNS41MiIsInFzcCI6IjQuNzEifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-5
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You don't have to dry clean your suits very often. I used to rotate suits throughout the week and dry clean them maybe once or twice a year, unless I went out to a smelly restaurant or something. Shirts can just be washed in a wash bag and you can hang to dry.
I carry a plain smallish nylon backpack. It’s a Targus. I can’t find it online right now, but this one from Lenovo is similar and really inexpensive
A few things, FWIW:
Your Brain at Work - David Rock
I've given it as a gift to many of my fellow solos in my town. It changed the way I managed my day. Your overloading your brain.
Furthermore, I used to practice plaintiffs' employment law as a solo - all areas, including discrimination, whistleblower, disability, FMLA, overtime, unemployment, breach of contract - each of which has its own statutes, regulations, and bodies of case law. It fried my brain trying to keep up with all of that. I now practice in only *one*s of those areas - a speciality within the speciality. It feels so good to become super expert in one area, and it's just as profitable if not more profitable because I'm able to market myself as THE expert for those types of cases, and I have a leg up on the generalists on the defense side. That move 3 years ago refreshed my ability to continue practicing law.
Lastly, I learned to say "no" to cases that would not bring me more joy than grief to handle. I get that, early on, you have cash flow needs that preclude being too picky about what cases you accept, but ultimately, you have to get there. "I don't want to take that case" in my head, following by "I'm sorry, but we will not be able to take your case" to the PNC, has done wonders as well. If you're turning down work you'd otherwise handle because of lack of capacity to handle more work, that's when you start looking for perhaps a contract attorney so that you aren't turning away opportunities that you'd otherwise want to take.
Keep reaching out here for feedback as you continue to work through these issues. Hang in there!
I had repetitive stress from traditional mice but it was resolved after switching to a vertical mouse. Something like this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082D8F917/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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This is the one I have, been through lots of uses and works great for me and my coworkers. Seems some of them are not that great though per the reviews.
I strongly advise that you read Your Brian at Work by David Rock.
It really helped *a whole lot* for the overwhelm. I have given it as a gift to other solos at least a half dozen times. I am a solo, so I can fully control my day and have that advantage, but the neurology-based principles apply across the board. That might help in how you structure your day and work. I no longer feel just mentally depleted and run over at the end of the day, because I'm working in harmony with how my brain works, and the brain's limited resources and capabilities.
Also a factor could be whatever law you're practicing in right now. I work about 6 hours per day on average, excepting heavy deposition or trial weeks. I make good money. There are different ways to practice law. Some things don't change for most attorney work - deadlines, client expectations, and for litigators - a conflict-based career. But there are very likely better ways to practice law than you are doing right now in your first year.
I ordered these a while back from Amazon but I also needed a slight prescription too. They may have some with no prescription.
LifeArt Blue Light Blocking... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P2JRB8N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I haven't myself yet but heard of many who have. Those who have been former classmates or classmates of friends seem to have gone to law school for reasons less ideal and/or not their own (familial expectations, ego, prestige, etc.)
Here's another book recommendation: Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
You may not need to make a clear objection. In many jurisdictions including New York, you only have to make the objection. You are not allowed a speaking objection, so you can object to form. Also, when I was on the trial team in law school, I would have a pad where I took notes on what was happening. I also wrote down in small font- all the major objections so that only I could see them. (Hearsay, relevance, best evidence, confusing jury etc).
Also- and this is the best thing that I ever stumbled upon in my law library: https://www.amazon.com/New-York-Evidence-Objections-NITA-ebook/dp/B07M7M3451. This is a tiny book that actually says what to say! It also has the caselaw. I don't think I can add photos but if you DM me I can send you a photo of what one or two pages in this book looks like
I’ve recommended it here before, but I strongly suggest you read the book How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen. Oddly enough it is fundamentally a business book, but it will help you be a better lawyer and a better husband & father.
I highly recommend the book How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen. It helped me (and a lot of others I know) think through the kinds of crossroads you find yourself in.
A guy recently posted that he wrote this It’s an ebook that’s a series of interviews with JDs who have non-traditional jobs.
Two resources that have helped me with these kinds of decisions:
“The Upside of Quitting” episode of the Freakonomics podcast. https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-upside-of-quitting/
“What To Do When Its Your Turn (And Its Always Your Turn)” by Seth Godin. What to Do When it's Your Turn: (And it's Always Your Turn) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1936719312/
We were assigned some reading before law school officially started, including "A Civil Action" by Jonathan Harr. It was made into a movie with John Travolta if memory serves but the book is better at describing the process.
We also watched a lot of scenes from "My Cousin Vinny" in our trial practice class. It's oddly one of the more accurate movies about depicting trial.
I have two Acer 27" monitors - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WMTLW2R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They work great for me!
I'd recommend Bryan Garner's Legal Writing in Plain English.
Its not a cure all but it will help.
This should cover most, if not all, angles of your question.
No problem. The crime thriller writer, Scott Turow, wrote a great book about his first year of law school, called “One L”, which does a fantastic job outlining what law school is like:
https://www.amazon.com/One-Turbulent-Story-Harvard-School/dp/0143119028
Also, an old movie from the 70’s called, “The Paper Chase”, shows what law school life can be like:
https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Chase-Timothy-Bottoms/dp/B00008UALL
However, take the book and movie with a grain of salt. Not all of law school is terrifying and being a lawyer can be one of the most satisfying career choices you can make.
May It Please the Court: The Most Significant Oral Arguments Made Before the Supreme Court Since 1955. I'm old, so my hard copy came with an audio cassette of the oral arguments. I'm assuming they are doing something else now in terms of format.