The first time

So!

Like I announced, yesterday was the day of my oath. I had to say "I swear it" in front of my water-eyed family and three judges that looked like granparents proud of their grandchildren. Actually, the speech was very kind, something like "you'll do the most beautiful job of the world", "there are sooooo many rules" and "some days will be great, some others you will cry on your misery". Nice!

But today was my real day. Until now, I used to come to the office, receive one or two cases and write official documents like the "citation", when you attack someone before Justice, or the "conclusions", that are all your arguments you want to present to the judge. Yesterday, my boss asked when I thought I would be ready to be "thrown in the big bath". My real thought was "never", but I said he would have to choose for me, for I will never be better prepared than now, what means unprepared at all. "Perfect, tomorrow you can go so I have my morning free". Gloups.

Another thing that is different in my country than in common law countries, is that your lawyer will very rarely speak in front of the crowd, defending you with very complicated words that no one understands and making great gesture while almost crying about your poor situation. Most of the time, you just have to say "I refer the court to my written conclusions", and so does your rival.

This morning, I hadn't to do anything, actually ; both parts just wanted to agree with the judge on a calendar to send the conclusions. Still, I had to find an old lawyer to present me to the judge (that's what you do when you don't know him or her), and another one, younger, to sign the agreement with me fort the other lawyer, who wasn't there either. Till that point, everything is very clear and easy, even if it was my first time. But yesterday was my birthday, so... I had a very nice supper with my uncle, aunt and cousins with very nice wine. When I got back home, I just went to the office to take my file for today. It was dark, I had had too much wine... Anyway, when I arrived ten minutes before the hearing, I realised when announcing myself to the "huissier" (the person that writes down which lawyer arrived for which case) that it wasn't the good one. So I ran back through the law courts to my car, rode as fast I could to the office, took the file in front of my amazed boss and ran back. When I arrived, there were more lawyers and I had to push them to get a seat.

Don't take me wrong : everything went fine in the end. I was presented, I found a kind lawyer to replace the other part and I didn't stumble in front of the court. My first real hearing is past, chiouf!