The Law Is a Jealous Mistress

 “The law is a jealous mistress.”

Those were the words spoken to me by MS, during the early days of getting to know him (I was still a barista serving him coffee at the material time – a story for another day). At the time, I understood what he meant, or at least I thought I did. I knew that practising law would demand a great deal of my time, energy and attention. What I did not quite understand then was just how much of yourself you could end up giving to this profession.

This year, I think I finally understood what he meant.

2026 has not even come to an end, but I can already say that it has been quite a rollercoaster. A steep one, at that. There have been highs, lows, moments of triumph, disappointments and a few losses along the way. Some professional, some personal. And some that have made everything else seem rather insignificant.

One of those losses was my father-in-law. A big unexpected loss.

I was at work when I received the news that he had passed away. It is strange how an otherwise ordinary day can suddenly become one you will remember for the rest of your life. One moment, you are going about your day, occupied with the usual demands of work, and the next, something happens that puts everything into perspective.

Losing someone has a way of reminding you that life continues to unfold beyond the four walls of your office. That while you are busy meeting deadlines, preparing for trials, attending court and worrying about the next case, time is passing just as quickly for the people you love.

And perhaps that has been one of the harder lessons for me this year.

The legal profession teaches you to be prepared for almost anything. You learn to anticipate arguments, think on your feet, manage difficult situations and remain composed under pressure. Yet, for all that preparation, there are things in life that no amount of experience or careful planning can prepare you for.

I still love what I do. I love the challenge, the constant learning and even the occasional chaos that comes with being a litigator. But this year has made me think a little more about what it means to build a career while also trying to live a life outside of it and not lose yourself. The truth is, it is not easy. But I try my best every day.

Perhaps MS was right all along. The law is indeed a jealous mistress. It demands your time, your patience and sometimes more than you realise you have to give.

But I am slowly learning that while the law may demand much of me, it cannot be allowed to have all of me, though I love it very much.

There is still a little more than two months left before the year ends. I do not know what the rest of 2026 has in store, but I hope to go through it with a little more perspective, a little more gratitude and a better understanding of the things that truly matter.

After all, there is more to life than the next deadline.