New Kid on the Block (Pandemic Version)

By Kelly Carroll, with assistance from Linsay Boyce

Psychologists refer to the place outside the comfort zone as a place of “optimal anxiety.”[1] Being a “new” attorney (whether practicing in a new jurisdiction or recently licensed) during a pandemic is more than being outside of your comfort zone; it is more like being in a panic zone.

Just before the pandemic began, I made the move from New York to North Carolina. Prior to moving to the Charlotte area, I lived in one zip code for 40 years. I commuted to college and law school. I worked in one office for 15 years. I was used to knowing my way around. I knew the court officers and clerks by name; I knew all the judges and their proclivities. I was friendly with most opposing counsel. I frequently attended social functions – retirement parties, holiday parties, and fundraisers.

After I moved, I had to start from scratch. But that was not a daunting task for me. After all, I chose to move to a city where I did not know anyone nor was I licensed to practice law in that state. I thought I was ready to break out of my comfort zone. I believed I could seamlessly get a job and establish connections and relationships. Easy peasy. This would be the next chapter in my life in a different city. Little did I know, I was embarking on a sequel in a different galaxy.[2] Below, I list the top three obstacles I have found the most challenging being a “new” attorney (or, for me, an attorney in a new place) in the midst of a pandemic.

Masks

How is one to gauge how another receives them when half of their face is covered? Most individuals navigate through life using social cues. This starts shortly after birth.[3] Smiles are good; scowls are bad. I started working at Legal Aid of North Carolina in September 2020, when masks were in full force. While I am pretty sure my colleagues like me, as we had unmasked Zoom meetings, text/email exchanges, and phone calls, I still cannot confidently say the same for court personnel, opposing counsel, or judges. Although I can sometimes gauge my professional respectability score with a head nod, eye roll, or wave, it is not the same as a simple smile, frown, or smirk.

Virtual Everything

Although virtual conferences, court appearances, CLE classes, happy hours, and holiday parties eliminate the mask factor, these virtual events also bring an apprehension factor. Pre-pandemic, it was important to show up in a suit. Now, instead of worrying if you are wearing a “power suit” with the correct combination of colors and textures, you must worry about your lighting and background, your kids or pets interrupting, your internet connection, and muting/unmuting at the appropriate times so as not to interrupt the judge or your supervisor. Because I am more on the introverted side and prefer different conversations with several small groups, attending a virtual social event is awkward and uncomfortable. I have read that extroverts feel discomfort as well, as confinement to phone and video conferencing can suppress their natural inclination for social contact and increase their distractibility.[4] It seems that so-called Zoom fatigue affects us all.[5]

Working From Home

Admittedly, I thoroughly enjoy not commuting during the height of rush hour. However, being a new attorney, I do not like working remotely. Remote means “distant, isolated, secluded, apart, inaccessible.” Pre-pandemic, you knew what your colleagues were working on, and you could ask questions, get insight, or give advice on a legal strategy, a difficult opposing counsel, or the predilections of certain judges. Often, I have found it less painful to learn from the mistakes of others. Yet, you are usually only privy to the sharing of those mistakes when you are present – in the office, in the courtroom, at the watercooler. This opportunity rarely arises when you are home.

I have learned that, as a new attorney, knowing the law is only half the battle. Knowing how to navigate within the legal community is just as important. I think new attorneys will greatly benefit when we can transition to a time when only medical professionals don facial masks, Zoom/Webex platforms are used for convenience rather than necessity, and we can freely gather in our offices to share our experiences with our co-workers.

 

[1] Jennifer Delgado-Suarez, Psychology Spot, “What is the Comfort Zone and What is Not,” Need Date, https://psychology-spot.com/comfort-zone.

[2] Consequently, Omicron refers to the 15th-brightest star in a constellation, https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Omicron+(letter)

[3] Janet Green, Lynette Staff, Patricial Bromley, Linda Jones, and Julia Petty, J Neonatal Nursing, “The Implications of Face Masks for Babies and Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Oct. 29, 2020, https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7598570/

[4] Jane Finkle, National Career Development Association, “How Introverts and Extroverts Can Survive and Thrive in the Virtual Workplace,” Sept. 1, 2020, https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/321112/_PARENT/CC_layout_detai ls/false.

[5] Manyu Ziang, BBC.com, “The Reason Zoom Calls Drain Your Energy,” Apr. 22, 2020, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting.