”

I look through the Los Angeles Times and read the sports section cover to cover first thing in the morning. I like to start my day in a relaxing way.

Then I drop my older daughter at the bus stop around 7:20 or 7:30 a.m. and drive downtown. I am usually at work before 8 a.m.

I have a bunch of e-mails waiting for me. I work on a number of large cases involving lawyers from around the country. So e-mails await me from the East Coast and from lawyers who work late on the West Coast.

At 9 or so, the phone starts ringing. I either get or make calls in regards to case meetings or client work for the day. By 10 a.m. I may be doing research, working on a brief or meeting with colleagues about work assignments or what’s going to happen next on particular cases.

I also spend time administering the firm’s pro bono program. I talk to younger lawyers about pro bono cases they may be interested in. I am in meetings and have phone conversations with agencies supporting the elderly and disabled regarding their need for pro bono services. I help them get their work through the approval processes.

I send e-mails to lawyers about the cases they may be interested in.

By midmorning, my day is taking unpredictable turns. My regular day is fairly eclectic. Yesterday, for instance, I spent 45 minutes on calls regarding coordination of clinics for hurricane survivors that the pro bono council is putting together. I worked out logistics, talking to the steering committee and making sure that all volunteer slots are filled and clients have access to them.

I also met with two associates who wanted to talk about pro bono activities and what they could do to get involved with the community. Then I had a meeting with several lawyers, preparing and strategizing for a trial next month.

I often have lunch meetings from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. I set these up with people in the community to keep the firm involved with organizations for people of low income and to make sure they can access us for their pro bono needs. I go to different places every time for lunch. Sometimes I go to the Grand Central Market and sit at a stall, and at others I may go to Ciudad, which is a great Mexican place. Sometimes I’ll skip lunch and just eat a granola bar.

Afternoons vary. Yesterday I was on a conference call with a client who is interested in getting involved with some community activity. I was also on a conference call about the appeal of a land-use trial we won.

Business usually starts to wind down about 5 or 6 p.m. Then, I try to review the day and see if I finished whatever I set out to do. The day is so unpredictable that sometimes what I wanted to work on gets lost and as the day winds down, I find that I need to spend an hour or two to finish what I had to.

I go home around 7 p.m. in time to have dinner with my wife and two daughters. I have about a 25-minute drive there.

The evenings are usually family-focused with children, their homework and school life and my wife though I often spend time at my computer responding to e-mails and getting ready for next day. One night a week I take my older daughter to soccer practice.

The last thing I do is watch the 11 o’clock news and sports report before going to bed.

”

David Lash



Counsel

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Residence:

Beverlywood in West L.A.


Sports:

Basketball, tennis


Cooking:

Popular with friends for his beefless lasagna, made with turkey meat or vegetables


Entertainer:

Knows how to juggle; specialties include tosses behind the back and under the leg


Traveler:

Recent visit to the walled city of Lucca in Italy