Kelly Grigsby Jones and Laurie Avery, both litigation partners at Perez Morris, have opened up about what it genuinely takes to forge a lasting career in trial law.
The two partners trace their individual paths into the legal profession, confronting the wide gap between courtroom drama on television and the unglamorous reality of trial practice.
Far from the slick, high-stakes theatrics viewers see on screen, real litigation demands patience, discipline, and an acceptance of outcomes that cannot always be controlled.
One of the most pressing questions for aspiring trial lawyers is how to secure meaningful courtroom experience early, and both partners say smaller markets and litigation-heavy firms are often the answer.
These environments tend to hand associates lower-stakes cases specifically so they can learn the craft without catastrophic consequences for clients or the firm.
Jones and Avery are direct about what separates associates who rise quickly from those who stagnate: being proactive, not waiting to be asked, is what opens doors to bigger opportunities.
Both partners emphasise that preparation is the single habit that matters more than raw talent, and it remains the one thing a lawyer can fully control regardless of circumstances.
Even when the best exhibit goes missing mid-trial or a directed verdict arrives unexpectedly, a thoroughly prepared lawyer is best positioned to adapt and recover.
The conversation also turns to mentorship, with both partners noting that the best mentors highlight a mentee’s genuine strengths while offering honest, respectful redirection when trial work is not the right fit.
For women navigating litigation specifically, Jones and Avery share candid advice rooted in decades of combined practice, acknowledging that the profession still presents distinct challenges for female trial lawyers.
A sustainable long-term career in litigation, they argue, requires accepting an inherently uneven schedule that can mean early mornings followed by nights that stretch well past reasonable hours.
That unpredictability, rather than being a reason to avoid trial work, is something lawyers must actively make peace with from the very beginning of their careers.
The partners’ reflections offer a grounded and practical counterweight to any romanticised notion of what it means to be a litigator in a modern law firm.
Their core message is consistent throughout: talent alone will not carry a career in the courtroom, but relentless preparation, proactivity, and the right mentorship can.