Attorney Rod Ponton took an oath before swearing under oath in court proceeding held over video-conferencing software Zoom that he is not a cat during a court proceeding conducted via Zoom video-conferencing technology in West Texas’ 394th Judicial District Court that serves Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth and Presidio counties.
1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Lawyers have long been described as being independent thinkers who enjoy challenging the status quo, often appearing sceptical about authority and high achievers – qualities often associated with cats (or dobermans, fat cats and octopuses if taking Buzzfeed’s animal personality tests that match Myer Briggs types to animals). Because their independence often leads them away from following directions given by leadership figures reluctance to conform has led many to liken managing lawyers with herding cats as the way herding cats!
But even non-cat lawyers must remain aware of the limitations of video call software in order to avoid being taken aback by its filters, which makes asking questions essential. A lawyer who wasn’t a cat recently attempted this at a livestreamed court hearing in Presidio County, Texas but was unable to disable one filter that displayed a white kitten image on his Zoom square screen.
3. Don’t be afraid to rehearse.
Now that more legal work is being conducted online, it’s imperative for lawyers to navigate virtual environments with confidence. Rehearsing and practicing are essential in developing the confidence needed to excel in virtual settings; to be prepared for anything that might arise during video calls it’s essential that lawyers can practice different scenarios beforehand.
The internet has fallen under the spell of Rod Ponton’s viral success as “Zoom Cat Lawyer.” After signing into a Zoom conference accidentally with a white kitten filter applied over his face, his quick recovery became legendary – however it should be noted that such heroic efforts don’t stand alone when it comes to video calls.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Video calls and screen sharing have become staples of modern legal proceedings, making video calls and screen sharing essential tools. Unfortunately, not all lawyers are adept at handling this workflow, leading to some awkward or humorous incidents – perhaps most memorably when Texas attorney Rod Ponton accidentally signed into Zoom using a cat filter which displayed a white kitten on his screen during a civil forfeiture hearing.