When the Teacher Becomes the Student: Lessons I Learned from My Clients
By: Attorney Nicole Vernagallo
There’s a quiet truth in the practice of law: while we guide, advise, and advocate, we often walk away having learned something ourselves—not about the law, but about humanity.
Before I returned to practicing law, I spent years teaching students with special needs. I thought I’d mastered patience and empathy in that classroom. But nothing prepared me for what I’d learn from my clients—people navigating custody battles, probate fights, wrongful death claims, and life’s messiest moments.
Lesson 1: One Voice Can Move Mountains
A single mother came to me desperate to protect her child. She had no money, no legal knowledge—just a handwritten notebook documenting visitation violations and threats. Her voice shook when she spoke, but she stood tall. She reminded me that advocacy doesn’t begin with a court filing—it begins with courage.
Lesson 2: Grace Lives in the Gray
A woman came to me after being disinherited by her parents. She wasn’t looking to litigate capacity or dig through medical records. She simply wanted acknowledgment. In a world of hard rules and rigid deadlines, she reminded me that sometimes, justice looks like being heard—not winning.
Lesson 3: Love Isn’t Logical
I’ve had clients cling to relationships that hurt them and let go of ones they still loved. I’ve watched parents forgive unthinkable behavior and others fight over the pettiest things. Love is irrational. The law isn’t. But understanding this tension has made me a better listener—and a better lawyer.
Lesson 4: Broken Isn’t the Same as Weak
Some of the most determined clients I’ve had were emotionally exhausted. But they still showed up. That’s a kind of strength that no courtroom can measure. The dad in jeans and a wrinkled shirt who just wants to see his kid? Brave. The grandmother holding together a family after tragedy? Brave.
Lesson 5: It’s Not About Me, But It Is Personal
Clients don’t care how many cases you’ve won. They want to know: Do you care? Are you listening? Will you fight for me? That reality keeps me grounded. In a field built on performance, it reminds me to be present.
Closing Thoughts
In law school, we’re taught statutes and structure. But in real life, our clients teach us about grief, grit, and grace. I never expected to be shaped so deeply by the people who walk into my office. And yet, I’m better because of them—more compassionate, more human, and more grounded in purpose.
Because sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do isn’t speak—it’s listen.
Click here to learn more about Attorney Nicole Vernagallo.
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