Angry Opposing Counsel

Many family law litigation Lawyers are confrontational, aggressive and opinionated.   In family law where the emotions run high, these character traits are encouraged.  I have witnessed this aggressiveness turn into physical confrontations in the courthouse between counsel; verbal personal attacks and rudeness among counsel.   I have received long- winded correspondence from other lawyers in bold and in capital letters, as if they were shouting at me through their correspondence.  We seem to think that our clients are paying us to fight for them and so we better put on a good show for them.  But, all of this is really just theatrics.   All of this posturing outside of the courtroom is for naught.  When we get into the courtroom, it is a place of decorum, we must bow to the judge, act civil towards opposing counsel (actually referring to opposing counsel, as “my friend”) and we must look at the Judge and not look at opposing counsel, to be sure that the ugliness outside of the courtroom is not carried into the courtroom. I can’t think of any other profession where such conduct outside of the courtroom would be tolerated in a work place. Maybe we should try to clean up our act and put on a better and more professional display for the public.