The Connection Between Lacrosse and Law Clerk Positions

As you know, the lawyers at Holt Lacrosse have played a variety of roles in this sport (players, coaches, and parents of players), so we know how much it takes to excel on the field, and off of it. And did you know that lacrosse players are destined to be great legal scholars? It’s true! The skills learned from years of playing one of the world’s fastest sports, known for brain and brawn, are directly translatable to a law career. This is especially true if you want a comprehensive approach to law clerk jobs in Los Angeles.

Being a versatile player is the greatest asset for a defender on a lacrosse field and an attorney in the courtroom. In lacrosse, being able to do multiple things with the ball makes you a much more valuable asset to your teammates. Mastering different skills helps you find the subtle weaknesses in your opponent, and use them to your advantage. In the courtroom, being able to think of several different approaches when attacking or defending a case is paramount to success. A good lawyer doesn’t rely solely on his or her knowledge of the law or his or her persuasive skills, it requires utilizing all the tools in their trade. This is one way lacrosse helps shape athletes into lawyers.

A defenseman is only as good as the amount of information they acquire about their opponent. This is true for law clerks in Los Angeles as well. A defender must study their opponent’s moves, mannerisms, habits, etc. This practice is typically done by reviewing film or watching a game in person. Similarly, a defense attorney must know everything they can about their opponents and their cases. Law Clerks in Los Angeles conduct this research by reviewing their opponent’s motions, and pleadings, much like reviewing film and being present during practice. A defense attorney who is willing to put in the work, to gather the required information about the case and opposing party, will have the best chance of winning at trial.

Once the rival defenseman is matched-up with the opponent, the work is just beginning. It’s a constant battle to win position, getting the right angle, and creating the separation needed to make a successful check. Successfully staying with the attacker is much like the ability to stay on-track with the issues at hand for a law clerk in Los Angeles. A successful law firm in Los Angeles employs law clerk(s) that are tenacious and constantly seek to “get the right angle” on the issues at hand. Be it through motion practice, conducting depositions, or interviewing witnesses, a law clerk in Los Angeles is always looking to gain the upper hand.

Staying disciplined is one of the most difficult things for a lacrosse player to master, as a lapsed discipline often results in a lapse in judgement (if not worse). Good discipline is essential to being a successful lacrosse player, defenders must trust in their training and intuition. They must stick to their defensive assignment, while being able to anticipate where their opponent is going, and move accordingly. This lesson is applicable in every profession, but none more so than the legal field. A good law clerk, and ultimately a good attorney, must resist the urge to “go rogue.” The order, organization, and thoroughness of a legal practice is integral to its success. Just as defenders must have trust in their training, a law clerk must have faith in their office’s policy and procedures. Also, a law clerk must understand their role within the greater whole.

Success on the lacrosse field is earned by consistently mastering the fundamentals. Law clerks in Los Angeles must also demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals to be successful in the legal field. As Frederick Douglass once said, “It is not well to relax the rules of civil obedience to rescue a victim from the hands of a tyrant.” Your offense will never be better than the time you dedicated to mastering the fundamentals. An attorney’s success is often pre-determined by how well they understand ideas such as stare decisis. While law clerks in Los Angeles may not dictate the rules of their law office, they must know them inside and out. Mastery of the fundamentals permits no room for ignorance.

A defenseman takes on multiple roles throughout the game. Due to their proximity in the defensive zone, responsibility does not stop when the offensive breaks down, there’s always a threat for a fast-break goal. This is the same as the ability of a law clerk to fill in various roles as they arise. As a law clerk, you must be able to fill any role at a moment’s notice: research, writing, or even being an additional set of eyes during a deposition. A versatile defenseman, and a versatile law clerk, are more valuable than a “one-trick pony.”

Defense isn’t sports – It’s a War! There will always be a new opponent, and your team must always adapt to meet them directly. Similarly, law clerks in Los Angeles must stay on top of their craft to effectively prepare for future cases.

As a good defenseman fights through the chaos, good law clerks in Los Angeles welcome the noise, as they assiduously research, write, and support their supervising attorney. It’s what it takes to be a lawyer, and a Lacrosse player!