GOLF AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION (and much more) by Pim Nuiten (Netherlands)

 

You may expect from me, as your President, an edifying word or a report on the findings of your new Board of Directors, almost two months after the great Congress in Mauritius. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are still plenty of opportunities for that in the coming IGAL Insiders.

This time, I would like to take you to a comparison between golf and the legal profession. As you may know (or not), I’ve been trying to play golf consistently for a decade or so. Golf gives peace of mind they say … but it depends on how you play and with whom. Many see golf as a mental workout. You’re outside, surrounded by grass, trees and fresh air, but the flip side is that nothing is more stressful than looking for the ball in the undergrowth and then not being able to find it.

Golf and the legal profession may seem miles apart. However, if you look closely, they have a surprising amount in common. Here is a comparison:

1. Precision is everything

In golf, a perfect shot requires control, concentration and a keen eye. A millimeter deviation can make the difference between a hole-in-one and a ball in the pond. The same applies in the courtroom. A small mistake in your argumentation or a misinterpretation of the Law and Rules can make you lose the whole case.

 

2. Strategy comes first

In golf, you have to plan every shot. Where does the ball land? How do you deal with obstacles? Avoiding risks is crucial. In the legal profession, a good lawyer thinks several steps ahead. What evidence do you use? How are you going to avoid or surprise the other party? The road to victory is never a straight line.

 

3. Obstacles are inevitable

Sand bunkers, water hazards and tricky greens make any golf course challenging. No course is perfect. In the legal profession there are lost files, difficult judges or unexpected counterarguments. These obstacles present themselves on a daily basis. It’s all about how you deal with it.

 

4. Ego plays a major role

Many golfers have great pride. A bad shot can ruin not only your score, but also your reputation. Lawyers are notorious for their egos. A lost cause or a wrong pronunciation can feel like a personal attack on that ego. It is sometimes said that a lawyer’s ego is as big as the piles of paper on his/her desk. A good lawyer’s ego is like a wave: powerful enough to impress, but controlled enough not to end up in the sand bunker.

 

5. It takes time to be a master

It takes years to become a consistent player. I still struggle with that. Even the best have bad days.

In the legal profession, experience is also essential. Only after years do you really get a grip on complex matters and learn to deal with unexpected twists and turns. The ‘swing’ in the courtroom becomes smoother!

 

6. Sometimes luck is also a factor

A gust of wind can blow a golf ball into the hole unexpectedly. Sometimes it’s just luck.

Also, in the legal profession, a surprising testimony or a mistake by the opposing party can lead to a good outcome. Luck also plays a role here.

 

7. Long breath

But in the end, it’s all about the long haul. A golf match lasts for hours. It’s a mental war of attrition, and you have to stay sharp until the end.

In the legal profession, cases can take months or even years. Patience and consistency are crucial.

 

Conclusion: Both golf and the legal profession require discipline, strategy and mental strength. The big difference? In golf, you can always have a beer after a bad day. In the courtroom? Unfortunately, the “nineteenth hole” is not an option there.

This piece of prose is about combinations encountered in golf and the legal profession. Of course, it could just as well be about our friends, accountants, etc.; all of whom can also be found on golf courses on a regular basis.

And the biggest similarity between accountants and lawyers on the golf course is … that both are concerned with numbers: the accountant tries to understand how his or her scorecard could be so dramatically negative, while the lawyer tries to argue why that one extra stroke should not count.

I wish you a lot of job satisfaction and don’t forget to look around you for potential candidates for IGAL. The Edinburgh Congress is an excellent opportunity to give potential members a taste of the atmosphere of IGAL. In the next Insider, I will report to you on the Board meeting scheduled for November 28, 2024.