When your computer is not functioning at optimal level there are several options to try to address the issue. But sometimes the best solution is a reboot. That can work for lawyers also.
The Go-Go’s sang “vacation, all I ever wanted.” While they were talking about a vacation from a relationship, the theme can apply to jobs, too—taking a vacation as a restart from your work as a lawyer.
How and how long?
Some trial lawyers scramble to schedule a vacation when a case they were planning to try resolves or continues. That is fine, but leaving a vacation to “someday” runs the risk that someday never comes (as John Fogerty sang).
The better plan is to get it on the calendar—long in advance. Part of the benefit can be the planning and looking forward to time away. In your mind, the trip can start before leaving town. Many courts (hopefully most) accept the filing of a notice of conflict—again, the more in advance the better. And hopefully most counsel are professional enough to be accommodating.
Several articles recommend taking eight to 14 days, and articles often opine that eight days is the optimal length. Time away can vary with travel distance and desired sites and activities. Those who have not vacationed in a while (or ever as an adult) may need to build up to eight or more days.
Different strokes
As Sly Stone sang, different strokes for different folks. For some people spending a week visiting different theme parks would be heavenly (and that includes some adults who go with no children to provide cover). For others, this would violate the Eighth Amendment.
Spending a week at the beach or in quiet solitude in a remote location may sound ideal to some, while that “splendid isolation” might push others over the edge—Think of Jack Nicholson in “The Shining.”
Going solo on a vacation might make planning easier in some respects with just one person to consider. But it could be more enjoyable with a friend. As significant others, kids, or grandkids join, it can be a challenge to find destinations and activities with broad appeal (and to coordinate dates). But traveling together can enhance a vacation experience.
Taking into account what others might enjoy can help enhance travel with variations from your normal interests and comfort zone. If the kids want an afternoon go-karting, the adults don’t have to be only observers. After all, the kids will be going to the museums that adults scheduled. Metropolitan areas with abundant activities may have parks within a reasonable drive, such as San Francisco and Muir Woods.
Some would enjoy a quiet Paul Simon “peace like a river” vacation. Others might want to go full throttle and “sleep when I’m back,” to paraphrase Warren Zevon. Take the temperature of the group and try to be flexible, and compromise.
Unplugged?
Lawyers may worry about being out of touch from clients, partners, and others. Today being completely unreachable is less likely than in 1998 when we took a Grand Canyon raft trip where there was no cell service for six days while in the bottom of the Canyon. It wasn’t a problem because people knew we would be gone and my partners could have covered if there were a need—which there was not.
When we did the trip again, adding our grandkids, in 2019, we were still unplugged in the Canyon. As one of our group recalled, no outside interruptions was a big benefit. And yes, we have done the raft trip that several call the trip of a lifetime twice.
Again, let people know you will be gone, including through filing notices of unavailability where permitted. Planning for how the world would go on if you could not be reached is also a good exercise should you be sidelined with a medical or other issue.
Sometimes the plan for a trip is to mix business and pleasure. That can work, but I recommend that if it is really work (in contrast to a work-related convention), then plan for the fun to come after the work so the good stuff is not diminished.
Roll with the flow
As with anywhere else you might be, the unplanned may happen. Be prepared to adjust. Once when it was just my wife, Cheryl, and me traveling, we arrived late at our prepaid lodging in a remote location to find they had given away our room. We had to drive back 25 miles to what could be charitably described as a ‘hovel,” then about midnight. I cannot count how many times Cheryl has enjoyed retelling that story.
But entertaining stories are not the only potential plus when the unexpected happens. Once, 10 of us could not get out of Denver (as Bob Seger sang) when our flight cancelled and no others were available. Some enjoyed the extra two days at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (who does not like a dinosaur?), and others enjoyed more shopping.
Sometimes there are pleasant surprises. We rode down in an elevator with the late fitness guru Richard Simmons—who was engaging and amusing. Another time it was some members of the Black Eyed Peas and on another trip, Peter Noone (that should cover a couple musical generations).
Get ready and go
As I said, part of the fun can be planning the trip. There is abundant information and reviews available online. But some of our best travel tips came from friends who have been there. A former law partner told us about Bryce Canyon in Utah, which we have returned to several times, including with the grandkids. On our first raft trip another couple told us about a walk near Lake Powell that took us to an 180-degree curve in the river. They were right: It was a long walk but well worth it for a spectacular view and sunset.
A final practical point: Leave a couple days with nothing scheduled for when you return—to get up to speed on what transpired. This can also serve as a cushion for getting stuck in Denver.