Under Pressure.

Over the past seven business days, I have observed people under pressure.

These pressurized people were attorneys, their clients, and witnesses. Over this time, I have participated in four days of depositions, a trial, a mediation, and an appellate oral argument.

Not everyone deals with pressure in the same fashion.

Some laugh nervously; some tell jokes (funny and unfunny); some (clients) hold hands; some feverishly generate notes (a little late when the oral argument is a few minutes away?); some review their scripts for oral argument; some speak passionately; some engage in deep breathing exercises (my counterpart at the court of appeal); and some sit in stoic silence.

Some say pressure is a refining fire. Some get stronger and some melt.