Wow. For the first time in 17 years, the perfect storm happened: judge on vacation, no outstanding appeals, no pending requests… and I had ten whole days of free time. In my circuit, freelance work is almost unheard of — we’re simply too busy for it. But this was my chance. Extra money? Yes, please.
I called up my old freelance firm, Lois Robinson & Associates. Lois and her ever-efficient office manager, Barbara, were more than happy to throw me a few depos.
So here I go — on my own, stepping out from behind “the black robe” for the first time in what feels like forever. That robe has always been my shield. Over-talking attorneys? The black robe handles it. Inaudible, incoherent speaking? Black robe. Complete courtroom chaos — jurors, witnesses, parties, exhibits? You guessed it — the robe’s got it covered.
You freelancers handle this every day, without the robe, and maybe without even realizing what an incredible job you’re doing. Let me tell you: It’s a big deal. Bigger than you think.
“Nervous” doesn’t begin to describe me on Day One, walking into my 9 a.m. depo. You’d think I was negotiating Middle East peace talks. But, of course, it all went smoothly. I laughed at myself afterward… until Day Two.
Picture it: a multi-story medical arts building, 6:30 a.m. No nurses, no receptionists, just me — wandering through the place, blundering into rooms whether it said private or not. I ended up nearly walking into the pharmacy through a back door! I try to call the attorney, but the answering service thinks I’m a potential client. Finally, I reach him via email, and he finds me lost in a hallway. Everyone is ready; everyone but me.
I rush to set up, the videographer goes on the record, I swear in the doctor and… boom. My laptop is directly behind the doctor’s head on a shelf in full view of the entire room with the font size set to “senior citizen.” There’s no way to move it without disrupting everything.
I sweat — literally — through the doctor’s educational background (why is that always the hardest part?) but finally settle down and no one seems to notice — just me. Later, the videographer assured me it wasn’t in the frame, so my realtime isn’t immortalized on video forever. Close call!
That’s when it really hit me: I had forgotten the million things freelancers juggle every single day. Sure, it was exciting going somewhere different each day and meeting new people, but there’s another entire level of responsibility that comes with freelance work.
So to all the freelancers out there — take a bow. You are professionals navigating the chaos with grace, skill, and not nearly enough appreciation. This ol’ man is heading back “behind the robe.” That’s enough excitement for a while!
