WHAT IS A 'TRIAL LAWYER'

Today saying somebody is a "Lawyer" really doesn't tell you much about what they do.   Lawyers may sell cars, insurance or real estate.  They may be in business.  Even if they "practice law",  they could be handling medical law,  contracts,  criminal defense or hundreds of other specialties.

A Trial Lawyer is the kind of attorney Abe Lincoln was before his political career,  or the kind of lawyer Jerry Spence of Arizona is:  an individual whose practice is primarily the representation of individuals in legal disputes.   The Trial Lawyer's essential skills are communication,  knowledge of the substantive law,  knowledge of procedural law,  and understanding of the Rules of Evidence.

With those tools,  a Trial Lawyer is capable of defending the rights of individuals,  whether in assuring fair treatment after an accident or injury,  gaining the protection of the Bankruptcy Code,  handling a Divorce,  or defending a Criminal Charge.   The Trial Lawyer is at home in the Court is has no problem taking the client's case completely through the Justice System.

About 1/2 the people who come into contact with a Trial Lawyer won't like him.  This is usually because they are on the other side of a controversy.  The Trial Lawyer places his client's interests above all others,  and as a result he sometimes makes people mad.   That's just part of the job,  and that may explain why some 10% of the entire bar has the honor of being known as a Trial Lawyer.   Some might say these are the toughest lawyers in the tradition of the unique American concept of an aggressive adversary system.

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