I miss short calendar. Gathering together every Monday morning to watch each other argue motions was way more instructive than any civ pro class I ever attended. Plus, I occasionally got to see one of the old lions argue something sexy. Much better than TV.

I miss interlocutory pleadings. Motions for oyer (look it up), demurrers (ditto), pleas in abatement, the whole gamut. They were like the preliminary moves in a chess match. “Ah, Dubois chose the French opening…”

I miss local bars being something important. Time was, you only practiced in one court. When they described you as an author of an article, you were “Mr. Lawyer of the Tolland bar.” You met all your colleagues every month at the Elks, or other venue, for a bar meeting. It went a great distance toward fostering a sense of professionalism and common purpose and respect.