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The Medlin News
JULY 2022
Listening Plays a Critical Role Both in Court and With Clients
During my years practicing law, I’ve found listening is a skill that plays an essential role as an attorney. Paying close attention to what others are saying can make or break your case, whether during a trial or speaking with your client. But listening is like a muscle — you need to use it for it to grow. It can take some time to become an active listener, but with practice, that muscle will begin to expand.
them to feel confident about their representation. This is why I like to listen to my clients. I pay attention to what they are saying, how they say it, their tone, and body language. These context clues can help gain more insight into the situation at hand to build a stronger case.
If you don’t have the trust of your clients, it can be hard for them to feel confident about their representation. This is why I like to listen to my clients.
Listening also extends to when you’re in the courtroom. If you’re waiting for your turn to speak instead of listening to what the witness is saying on the stand, you may miss some valuable information. If you are too focused on the next
question, you could miss the answer to the last one. How the witness answers questions is critical during a trial. Their response can determine what question you ask next. If you’re listening carefully, you may be able to find something that will support your client and their case. One answer may make all the difference. This is why it’s crucial that you’re paying attention to what they are saying. In honor of World Listening Day on July 18, I implore you to listen more and talk less. You can notice so many different things when you take time to pay attention and listen. This can be used in your personal and professional life. Listening to others reassures their opinion and voice matter. It can help build more meaningful relationships as well. I use the act of listening in my everyday life, and it has helped me in more ways than one.
I had a coach who taught me ways to listen better. One of the biggest takeaways was that listening didn’t mean waiting for your turn to speak. Listening is when you actively pay attention to what the speaker is saying. Some attorneys spend time talking and lecturing, trying to impress their clients. They want to impress them with their knowledge, but they may miss out on learning more about the client and their case. How will these attorneys best represent clients if they don’t know anything about them? To help your client feel confident about you, your representation, and their case, you need to listen to them and their story. It’s great that you have tons of experience in this area, but that won’t help you if you’re not informed about the details of the case. Clients want to know you’re listening to them and that their voice is being heard. If you don’t have the trust of your clients, it can be hard for
– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
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IS IT TIME FOR A DIGITAL DETOX?
When you need a break from your busy life, you probably look at your cellphone. And when you need a break from your cellphone, you might watch TV or browse social media on your other devices. This cycle of never- ending screens can be taxing on your mental health. Everyone hits their breaking point at a different time, and you may not even realize when you’ve reached your limit. If you find yourself getting angry or upset at posted content, consistently comparing yourself to others, or feeling depressed, it may be time for a digital detox. But what is a digital detox? It’s taking a break from electronic devices, such as your cellphone or tablet, and mindlessly scrolling through social media or news stories.
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Turn off notifications. Constant notifications can be incredibly distracting, so silencing them allows us to focus more on our surroundings. Disconnect before bedtime. Turn off all electronics an hour before you go to sleep to relax your body and mind.
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Another benefit is that you’ll feel less stressed, especially if you compare yourself to others on social media or get lost in negative news cycles. Perhaps the most notable benefit of a digital detox is reclaiming your own time. Checking your cellphone and scrolling through social media can quickly become a subconscious habit. Before you know it, an hour or two has passed. Even watching television can take up huge chunks of your day. With a digital detox, you get that time back, and you can reallocate it to healthier activities.
Now that you know what it is, how can you detox yourself?
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Schedule a break from your devices. Even if it’s just for a half-hour, use the time to do other activities, such as exercise, household chores, or even gardening. If you feel like you need a break from your electronic devices, take one. It could lead to a healthier and happier life. What Is Family Member Assault? How Is It Defined and Penalized?
Who is counted as part of the household? Several factors define what a household is. There are six different ways to describe this relationship: 1) past and current spouses, 2) parents of a child not in a relationship or household, 3) foster child or parent, 4) past and current residents, 5) relatives either by blood, marriage, or adoption, and 6) past and current romantic partners. What are the penalties? Depending on if this is the first offense and other factors, there are several penalties the courts can take into consideration. If someone assaults a family member and it’s their first offense, they will receive a Class A misdemeanor that carries up to a year in jail. Repeat offenses of family violence will be charged as felonies. Aggravated assault on a family member is classified as a first-degree felony. Ongoing violence is a third-degree felony and is added to assault charges as a compounding charge. If you, or a loved one, ever face a charge of assaulting a family member, an experienced attorney may need to look at the case. Allow Medlin Law Firm to assist you at this time and look over your case. There are several resources and strategies available we can use to help you during this time.
Assault on a family member is a crime that courts take seriously. Although first-time offenders will occasionally get off with a Class A misdemeanor, repeat offenders will be given harsher punishments that accompany a felony charge. Here is everything you need to know about family assault charges in Texas. What is assault on a family member? Texas Family Code divides the meaning of assault on a family member in three different ways.
1. An act of violence committed against someone a person has or had a dating relationship with
2. Any violent acts committed against any person of the same household with a blood relation or romantic relationship
3. A member of the same household abuses a child in the home
Within these descriptions, an assault on a family member also includes the fear or threat of physical or sexual harm.
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Believe in Yourself and Your Abilities 3 Strategies to Build Self-Confidence
July 3, 2022, is Compliment Your Mirror Day. This holiday is about building up your self-confidence and looking at everything you’ve done that you’re proud of. Sometimes, this can be hard because of the challenges and hardships you could face in your daily life. Here are several tips on building more self-confidence from day to day. Don’t compare yourself to others. You may compare your life and success to people on social media. But an important thing to remember is that most of the things you see on social media are people’s successes. They will not show you the battles they endured and what’s going on behind the scenes. Social media does not reflect reality. So, how do you build self-confidence when you find yourself drawing comparisons to others? First, remember that doing this is not helpful and that life is not a competition. Remind yourself of your strengths and successes. Write down something you’re proud of each day to practice more confidence. Small victories count, too! Surround yourself with positive people. The people you hang out with can influence your thoughts and attitudes about yourself — even if you don’t realize it. You want to surround yourself with people who will build you up, support you, and want nothing but the best for you. If you feel bad about yourself after hanging out with someone, spending less time with that individual may
be best. In the future, pay attention to how others make you feel. Self-confidence and a positive attitude go hand-in-hand.
Face your fears. It can be tempting to put off a certain task or activity if you don’t believe in your abilities. But the only way to improve and build confidence
is to face your fears. Practice facing some fears that stem from your lack of confidence — a little self-doubt is okay; it can help improve performance. Instead of telling yourself that something is too hard or you can’t do it, say that you can accomplish and handle anything that comes your way. The way you talk to yourself matters, too. All of us battle with self-confidence in one way or another. But implementing these strategies may help you change your mindset and view of yourself and life. Just remember — you’re not alone in your struggles. You’re valued, appreciated, and can overcome anything you put your mind to.
Mouthwatering Southern BBQ
Summer isn’t complete without some Southern BBQ!
Ingredients
• 3 lbs boneless pork loin roast, trimmed
• 1/4 cup brown sugar • 18 oz barbecue sauce • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1 tbsp hot pepper sauce • 10 hamburger buns, split • Deli coleslaw (optional)
• 1 cup water • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 tbsp pepper
Directions
1. In a 4-quart slow cooker, add the roast and 1 cup of water. 2. Cover and cook the roast on high for 7 hours or until tender. 3. Once tender, shred the meat. 4. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker. Stir in salt, pepper, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire, and hot pepper sauce. 5. Cover and cook on the lowest setting for an hour. 6. When finished, serve barbecue on buns with coleslaw (optional).
Puzzle Time
Inspired by JustAPinch.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. Listen More and Speak Less
2.
The Benefits of a Digital Detox
Repeating This Crime Leads to a Felony
3. Look at Who You Surround Yourself With
Mouthwatering Southern BBQ
4. This Amazing Pup Saves the Day — Twice!
Heroes don’t always wear capes or stand on two legs — and in a specific case with a German shepherd, this is exceptionally true! A dog noticed that one of his favorite tiny humans was in some serious danger, so he saved the day, two times! This Amazing Pup Saves the Day — Twice! A Round of A-Paws A little boy and girl enjoyed the day, tossing a ball back and forth in their backyard. When the girl overthrew the ball, it unfortunately fell into a small pond behind the boy. The girl rushed inside the house to get help, but the boy stayed outside and even ended up leaning over the edge of the pond as he tried to retrieve the ball on his own. This is when a protective German shepherd, lying nearby in the grass, saw everything and immediately sprung into action. The dog first looked into the pond to locate the ball. Then, knowing the boy was in danger as he teetered on the edge, the dog tugged on the little boy’s vest with his teeth, pulling him backward to safety near the back patio of the home. Once the little boy was in a safe location, the dog located a pole net that had been leaning against the house and brought it over to the pond. While his tail wagged with pride, the dog fished the ball out of the pond. The dog then put the net down on the ground near the pond and brought the ball over to the boy, who petted him with appreciation. This German shepherd saved the day for this little boy and girl — and also saved the boy from injury and needing a dry set of clothes! What an amazing canine. He deserves a treat and a round of a-paws!
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