Trial lawyers have to learn how to look at the same issue from different perspectives. Seeing how an issue that appears to be against your client’s interests can be viewed in another way or how to deal with a critical issue is an important part of being a trial lawyer. When Clarence Darrow was charged in Los Angeles with conspiracy to bribe jurors in the LA Times bombing case against the McNamara brothers, a key prosecution fact was that Darrow…
I’ve talked before about the 1962 classic book Final Verdict which describesSan Francisco trial lawyer Earl Rogers and is written by his daughter Adela Rogers St. Johns. I’m not sure how many times I’ve read it, but I’ve enjoyed and learned something from it each time. Here are a fewpassages that contain lessons for trial lawyers today. He was quick witted. In an argument during trial, his opponent said "I don’t need you to teach me the law" and Rogers…
When we think about opening statement we need to remember that a trial is a battle of impression and not logic. It isn’t who has the biggest pile of evidence that wins. It’s what compelling impression is made upon the jurors. Studies make it clear that we form almost every decisions at a "gut" level and then form a reason for doing so with our intellect. It’s the big picture that counts, more then the law and more thenlogic. The…