I started practicing law in 1992.  I opened up my own practice immediately after graduating from law school and passing the bar exam.  For the first two years I mostly did criminal defense.  Then I started representing criminal defendants in civil matters:  they had been held in jail too long, or beaten by the police.  Then I began to represent people outside of the criminal law system injured in accidents  -- primarily car accidents. 

I liked doing that sort of work (personal injury or "PI" work).  It tends to be less contentious and less stressful than some other areas, although no area of litigation is without its stressors, as conflict is inherent in the process.

When I cannot agree with the other side -- which is often, I am afraid -- I like to adhere to two concepts.  The first is to disagree without being disagreeable.  The second is to agree to disagree:  stop trying to convince the other side that I am right and get the case before a judge or arbitrator to settle the matter.