He Said, She Said: Working on Vacation - Necessary Evil or Just Evil?

Amanda Cottrell She Said:

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As I sit here in my Dallas office, staring at the calendar with its neatly blocked-out vacation dates for the Holidays, I'm having my annual internal debate. You know the one –where you promise yourself that this time will be different. This time you'll actually disconnect. This time you definitely won't end up drafting a letter response while hiding in your in-laws' guest bedroom during Thanksgiving dinner. (Spoiler alert: I probably will.)

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Let's be real - I don't want to work on vacation, but fifteen years of complex litigation has taught me that the new case and emergency client issues have an uncanny sense of timing. The biggest crises don't hit when you're pulling an all-nighter at the office.? No, they wait precisely until your plane lands in paradise.

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My approach?

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I almost never set an out-of-office message. Why? Because in this era of constant connectivity, we all know it's about as effective as bringing a paper fan to Texas in August. Instead, I rely on what actually works: a strong team that knows their roles, clients who understand my response time might be slightly delayed, and the discipline to check-in strategically rather than constantly. The truth is, I'm not apologizing anymore for protecting both my family time and my practice. If that means occasionally reviewing a critical filing poolside while my kids have their afternoon swim break, so be it.

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The key is setting expectations - with your clients, your team, and yes, your family. My children now understand that mom might need some time with her laptop each morning of vacation, but after that, it's all family time. They prefer this predictable structure to the alternative of mom being physically present but mentally absent, compulsively checking her phone every three minutes.

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Two things I've learned that actually work:

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1. Create clear boundaries and stick to them. A scheduled hour of work in the morning is better than a day of guilty glances at your phone.
2. Build a team you trust before you need them. The best vacation insurance isn't sold by your travel agent – it's having colleagues who can handle the unexpected.

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Jonathan Clark He Said:

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The phrase “work life balance” has done a huge disservice to many people’s expectations about the reality our profession. The word “balance” conjures the serene image of a nice, even scale—half on one side, half on the other; and never the two shall meet. The far more accurate image is a circus performer spinning plates, or a juggler trying to keep everything in the air. I’ve rescheduled or cancelled trips, missed family events, or had to stay behind at the vacation hotel to ensure work gets done. Candidly, if your desire is to not check email after hours or have 4 weeks a year where you’re simply unreachable, this may not be for you.

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Clients frequently hire us because they have a situation that, if not resolved, may threaten a vital aspect of their business. Emergencies don’t keep a 9-5 schedule, nor are they limited to weekdays. Availability and responsiveness are requirements for high quality client service. And if you simply aren’t around when a client is in need, that client will find someone who is.

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With that said … of course I take vacation! The key is to understand how to do it in a way that ensures your personal and professional needs are met. First, pre-planning with your team is critical. Ensure well in advance that cases are managed while you’re out. This includes covering both the foreseeable deadlines that fall while you’re out and the unforeseeable emergency that will inevitably arise during some future vacation. ?Second, communication. Confirm clients, opposing counsel, and (if necessary) the court know that you’re taking vacation. Most people respect vacation—often because they want the same courtesy in return. Proper communication can help lessen the chances of an existing matter catching fire while you’re away. Third, set expectations for everyone involved—coworkers, clients, and family. If you need to join a call on vacation, when can you be available and when are you off limits? If an unexpected client need arises, try to coordinate with team members back home to ensure it’s timely handled. And make sure your family knows when and why you might have to step away—but that you love them and, of course, you’ll be right back. ??

He Said, She Said is co-authored by Amanda Cottrell and Jonathan Clark, trial litigators at the same firm who prove that opposing viewpoints lead to better conversations. When they're not collaborating in the courtroom, they tackle life's debates with equal parts wit and wisdom.