We have all experienced and read about the horrors of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other virtual meetings.   From work to school to family gatherings, complaints abound:

• Loss of connection
• poor audio
• frozen face
• “you’re muted”
• camera off
• Everyone’s talking
• No one’s talking
• watching people eat, drive, etc
• video bombing by kids and pets
• Clothing surprises
• No clothing

The list goes on and on.  Now imagine trying to conduct a court hearing under these same conditions.  Imagine trying to cross-examine someone virtually.  Imagine trying to help your client tell their story.  Imagine trying to introduce evidence.  Imagine trying to give a closing argument.  It was not ideal to say the least and I, as a trial attorney, am happy to be returning to court in-person.

But, enough complaining!  There were some positives to the process from the client’s perspective.  Here is a list of the good stuff:

• No commute to court
• No waiting in the court hallways for hours
• Clients had me all to themselves since only one matter scheduled at a time
• My clients were at my office = more relaxed, comfortable, beverages and snacks provided
• Client did not have to literally “take the stand”
• Client did not have to testify in open court
• If client got emotional, court often gave option to “take a break” which could be done in private
• And the crowd favorite, clients were able to put stickies over the opposing party’s face

Alas, there is some blessing to be found in every struggle.  Here’s to the blessings.