Ruminations of a Gay Litigator
The advances in gay rights and acceptance over the past 30 years are truly mind-boggling; firms now aggressively recruit LGBT+ lawyers and strive to make them part of the team.
Litigation Journal | Spring 2024 | Joy
Volume 50, Issue 3
Features
Three Tips for Finding the Joy in Legal Writing
Litigators are, at bottom, storytellers. It should be fun to work through framing and narrative arc and word selection and all of the other elements that go into quality writing.
The Joy of Using Federal Civil Procedure to Solve Your Client’s Problems
The federal civil procedure framework provides a means by which attorneys can increase their likelihood of success in the courthouse.
How to Win Repeat Business: Ten Practical Tips for Litigators
Learn the client’s expectations up front and meet them; discuss openly and plan ahead for cost considerations.
The Home (Forum) Is Where the Heart Is
Being in your home court has obvious benefits: You know the local rules and procedures; you understand the judges and their preferences; it may be easier to connect with the juries.
Nothing but the Truth: The Joy of Impeachment
Cross-examination is a foundational tool of our justice system; it is a service to distill the truth and put it on display for the community to see.
From Sorrow to Joy: How One of My Darkest Moments Continues to Shine
When a mid-level associate's mother died unexpectedly during a trial, his trial team, the judge, and opposing counsel all agreed to continue the trial.
Reliving the Joy(?) of Becoming a Lawyer
No matter how much you know as a lawyer, even if you practice in narrow areas of law, there is always more to learn.
The Innocent Abroad
Late nights and early mornings were a small price to pay for the exposure provided by time in London.
Beyond the Struggle: Joy in Social Justice Lawyering
More than winning cases, the mutually beneficial relationships formed with clients are the most meaningful part of the work.
Choosing Joy
Targeted by the guerrillas and the paramilitaries in the Colombian civil war, the author eventually fled to the United States and founded an international law firm.
If You’ve Got Trouble
Whether it’s through good intentions, bad intentions, lack of insight, or staggering ethical failures, we attorneys cause our own problems.
Finding Joy After Burning Out
The legal industry tells us from the moment we enter law school that we must look a certain way and work a certain way to succeed.
Columns
The Joy of Connection
You can set off a chain reaction that can lead to deeper fulfillment, and a demonstration that we, as lawyers, can be a force for good.
Ten Commandments for Being a Better Person and a Better Lawyer
Lessons not taught in law school or any bar review course are even more important to succeeding as an attorney and in life.
Lessons for Litigators from Claudine Gay
An unprepared or incorrectly prepared witness is a danger to herself and to those who depend on her.
Yesterday
Lawyers are hardly exempt from the risk of failing to see the past properly or to attend carefully to its present-day impact and lessons.
How I Became a Lawyer—By Mistake
After becoming a teacher, the author looked around for a new career and fell into law, almost by accident.