A Book All Trial Lawyers Will Want to Read

There's a new book about cross-examination that's easy to recommend: "Your Witness: Lessons on Cross-Examination and Life from Great Chicago Trial Lawyers," edited by Steven F. Molo and James R. Figliulo.

With a dedication "to all those who enjoy a good courtroom story," the book contains fifty articles about cross-examination, each by a different Chicago trial lawyer.

The book's forward is by Scott Turow, who writes that the book's authors "represent the crème de la crème of Chicago's trial bar." Turow continues: "Their combined wisdom probably means that if you read this book, you will never need to peruse another text about cross-examination."

It's a big claim, but based on the time I've spent with the book, Turow is probably right. As he adds, "[T]hese lessons are taught by the most effective educational means ever devised, a technique at which all great trial lawyers excel--story telling."

Since this is the type of book that's filled with good ideas for weblog posts, expect to hear more about Your Witness on this weblog--properly sourced, of course, so that you'll remember to get a copy for yourself.