In an August 3rd profile of high-end family law practitioners Daniel Jaffe and Bruce Clemens, the Los Angeles Daily Journal quoted these lawyers as citing five important areas for litigators: “A lawyer has to…
Read Article[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2EirLJqghA?rel=0&w=420&h=315] I wrote last about credibility in the context of preserving one’s reputation for honesty. I doubt many lawyers will argue with the importance of reputation. However, at a more granular level, there are…
Read ArticleIt is simply too easy for lawyers to quickly lose credibility within the bar and before the judiciary. It seems we’ve already lost this battle with much of the public, but within the profession…
Read ArticleEven in an age in which instantaneous online communications, remote access and teleconferencing have made it possible to dispense with a good deal of in-person business communications, I continue to practice in a realm which requires I spend (hopefully)…
Read ArticleI used to think it was a worthy skill unique to litigators: the ability to be harsh and aggressive when it seemed appropriate in the course of representing a client (in a deposition, for…
Read ArticleI cut my teeth as a young lawyer doing almost exclusively automotive product liability defense. What always amazed me, particularly in cases involving extreme tragedy (death, disfigurement, paralysis), was how the automobile manufacturers took…
Read ArticleA great recent post at What About Clients? highlights a policy that will benefit most trial lawyers. Basically, no later than 60 days before trial, take a fresh look at everything. Here’s how it…
Read ArticleAn article in the June issue of For the Defense offers guidance on selecting the best mediator for a particular case. Among the different styles of mediator (evaluative, facilitate, hybrid), one that is often overlooked is a…
Read ArticleThe Defense Research Institute (DRI) is seeking new members and I promised to do my part with this public service announcement.* I’ve belonged to DRI since my first year of practice and I have found…
Read ArticleI know that I am not alone in feeling the inclination sometimes to dispatch a really sharply worded letter or email to my opposing counsel. I’m talking the kind of letter that says a big, snotty…
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