Profile: Sorrell Trope

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SORRELL TROPE

, 81


Attorney

Trope and Trope



Why not retire?

To me, retiring is the equivalent of dying. I do not think or feel like an 81-year-old. To retire would be to concede that I am too old to be vital, which I refuse to do.


Will you ever retire?

No.


How does your spouse feel about that?

She agrees with me, totally, and is of the opinion that I would be bored, age rapidly and lose my feeling for life.


The best aspect of working past 80?

Working past 80 constantly reminds me that I can compete with individuals in my profession who are 50 or 60, and not simply compete, but compete successfully.


The worst aspect?

None.


Do you work more or fewer hours than you did in your 30s or 40s?

I work slightly fewer hours than I did when I was in my 30s or 40s, but certainly no fewer hours than I did in my 50s, 60s or 70s.


How do you learn those “new tricks” they say old dogs can’t?

The state bar requires continuing education by all of its members. In addition, I am a certified family law specialist and I am required to engage in education and practice experience in order to recertify my specialization. I do not believe I have to learn any “new tricks.” I still try cases, I still appear in court, I still attend depositions and I still meet regularly with clients.


Next big accomplishment?

Being able to continue to do what I have done practice law as I have, in the same way as I have, for as long as I possibly can. This means handling trials, hearings, depositions, and maintaining a full and active practice.


Physical fitness regime?

I walk daily, do physical training twice a week and I try to play golf once a week.


What advice would you give people who want to follow in your footsteps?

Keep focused on what you are doing, stay active and think young. Also, do not concede any deficiency because of age.


Your best decade?

This is hard to say, because retrospectively decades are simply numbers. Obviously, the 20s and 30s were perhaps the most taxing and trying because of the necessity of competing with older and more experienced lawyers. I can no more say that the decade of my 60s was better or worse than the decade of my 70s, or that the decade of my 80s will be any better or worse.

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