Description

With Rules of the Road, Rick Friedman revolutionized the way plaintiff's lawyers structure their cases. With Polarizing the Case, he gave us the weapons to fight back against the most common and insidious defenses our opponents raise. Now, in Rick Friedman on Becoming a Trial Lawyer, Friedman turns to the inner obstacles that keep us from reaching our full potential as trial lawyers. Combining nuts-and-bolts practical advice with inspirational insights, he guides us on the journey every trial lawyer must take, from the struggle to gain trial experience to the search for happiness in a career fraught with conflict and frustration. Along the way, he addresses topics as diverse as common mistakes even the most experienced trial lawyers make, and the benefits of psychotherapy. The perfect gift for yourself—or for any trial lawyer in your life.

Reviews

"From one of the country's best trial lawyers comes some of the best advice about joining the wonderful, baffling, crucial profession of trial lawyer."
—David Ball, Ph.D., author of David Ball on Damages

"This has to be the best lawyer book I have ever read."
—Steve Alvarez, Washington

"As Rick writes, the book is not about him, but about you and your journey."
—Don Keenan, child advocate and member of the Inner Circle of Advocates

"This book belongs in every lawyer's–and law student's–library; and not hidden on the shelf, but at least as handy for easy reference as the bottle of scotch and our dog-eared To Kill a Mockingbird."
—Rick Friedling, from Plaintiff Magazine

"Those who desire to achieve success and avoid the traps of the jungle, while still functioning as a whole person, will consider this book a valuable resource. On Becoming a Trial Lawyer provides helpful insight to those who would follow the advice of Ralph Waldo Emerson: 'Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.'"
—Howard Nations and Stephen Daniel, Trial Magazine

"Rick Friedman has done it again. The author of Rules of the Road and Polarizing the Case has written what is arguably his most compelling book yet, Rick Friedman On Becoming a Trial Lawyer.... This is a must-read for new attorneys, and for every developing trial lawyer. Of course, since all good trial lawyers are continuously developing, this means that you should read this book."
—Scott Carness from WSAJ's Trial News

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction

Part I: Entering the Jungle
1. Why Be a Trial Lawyer?
2. Individual Billing Unit or Trial Lawyer?
3. Educating Yourself
4. Do You Have What It Takes?
5. Your First Trial
6. Beyond Technique
7. You and Your Opponents

Part II: Traps in the Jungle 8. Beware of Formulas
9. Do Not Expect Perfection
10. Forget Playing It Safe
11. More Is Not Better
12. Strategic Detachment: Don't React to Every Attack or Issue
13. Your Lawyer Status Carries No Wieght with the Jury
14. Forget About Looking Good
15. Don't Try to Fool the Jury
16. Don't Assume the Jury Will respond to Your Favorite Arguments
17. The Limits of Logic and Sympathy
18. Don't Gorge on Experts and Starve for Lay Witness
19. Spend More Time with Witnesses and Clients
20. Jurors Don't Need to Like You or Your Client
21. Embrace Your Conservative Values
22. Silence Can Be Your Friend
23. You Must Ask for Money
24. Superstition

Part III: At Home in the Jungle
25. Therapy
26. Winning
27. Losing
28. Settlement
29. Physical Health
30. Family and Friends
31. Competitors and Comrades
32. Partners and Staff
33. The Key to Unhappiness

Afterward
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