A Lawyers Conference: Germans, Ghanians, plus a Greek

By Anna Liv Myklebust

Marble floors shine as my heeled flats

click–clack against tiled color,

and I walk towards reception where behind

the counter is filled with international dollars.

I’m redirected towards a back conference room filled

with an abundance of lawyers,

and I make sure to leave my nerves at the

door as I leave the fancy foyer.

I enter the room,

sounds of accents from afar,

I’m definitely not at my newspaper anymore,

everyone here has taken the bar.

My back straightens,

and I keep my head held high.

I find my seat for media, and meet a

Greek lawyer in a black suit and tie.

The conference begins, and I swirl around

the room, camera clicking as I go,

I listen to well trained lawyers discuss sustainability,

who definitely aren’t interns or fellows.

I scan the room,

but listen and notice that Germans are here.

Thick accents coat their English

as they discuss the next steps for a successful year.

Time goes by fast

as the clock spins away.

I listen in on the Ghanians in media talking about

the best way to get their interviews before the end of the day.

The conference slowly ends,

and I feel accomplished for the week.

I did just get to listen to successful lawyers at a conference,

their backgrounds being German, Ghanian, plus a Greek.