21 Trial Lawyer • Spring 2022 cade Ski Club. During the winter, we downhill or cross-country ski. In 2012, the two of us were married at the Cascade Ski Club Lodge. Even during the busiest litigation periods, we take time to golf, paddle, bike or ski. A little break allows us to resume trial prep focus. In March 2020, the entire world was turned upside down due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Courts closed along with outdoor recreation. In addition to the pressure of keeping a business open during this time, I dreamt of ideas how to recreate within the COVID 19 shelter in place guidelines. This was challenging as I loved celebrating the end of a week of hard work with hard play. Fortunately, Rizk Law had technological tools in place to allow the attorneys and staff to work remotely. I worked both at home and at the office (with limitations). Our office building has enough space to allow a limited number of employees in simultaneously. For a change, employees begged to come into the office and work. A little bit of something During the first two weeks, my professional life consisted of “risk management” — fitting since I changed my last name to Rizk that February. At the end of each week, I longed for outdoor adventure to burn off the litigation energy. My husband and I adapted. We began taking advantage of our hilly neighborhood to do “urban hikes.” It was too rainy to venture out on a trail, and we explored parts of Portland we had never been to before. As the weather improved, we rode our bikes on local roads and bike paths. It was not as adventurous as what we are used to, but, as we say, “a little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing.” Jill Rizk serves as litigation paralegal and vice president for Rizk Law, a plaintiff’s personal injury firm. Rizk Law is located at 434 S. Iowa Street, Portland, OR 97239. Rizk can be reached at 503-2455677 or jill@rizklaw.com.
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