Professions Books

This is an excellent resource for litigators, whether novices or 30 year veterans. GREAT material here!

I am a defense attorney and this book is fabulous! Its an easy read and creative. I highly recommend it for any attorney that goes before a jury.

This book is the perfect supplement for a trial advocacy textbook. David Ball brings a valuable and fresh perspective to trial lawyers. He can do so because he is not a lawyer, but rather has an extensive background in theater such as being the former chair of the theater department at Duke University. Now, he is a professional trial consultant. For example, Ball urges lawyers to take the lessons that actors, directors and playwrights have mastered (such as the importance of telling a story that reaches the emotions of the audience) and using those techniques at trial. He makes one of many great points when he suggests how a lawyer might have ended Hamlet (badly) as opposed to how Shakespeare did. He then shows how anyone can take the lessons from Shakespeare to craft a strong ending to a closing argument in trial.

For opening statements in a personal injury case he teaches that instead of beginning with a saying such as "Driving too fast is negligent," you should capture the jury's attention with "Last August the truck driver sitting over there was going too fast and killed a little girl." Lawyers are too often focused on the details executing techniques and Ball reminds us that developing the art of trial advocacy is the most important skill of all.

Professor Ball uses his special skill in Theater Arts and perceptions of jury reaction to instruct the advocate in trial techniques.
I often refer to this book in CLE presentations along with Wellman's work on Cross Examination.

I have long been a fan of
the authors. This edition
is expanded from the original.
It's no 'quick fix'
but if you apply their principles,
the effectiveness and impact of your legal/professional writing will vastly improve

I am a federal research and writing attorney who writes appeals for a living. I was fortunate enough to attend a CLE with the author where I became acquited with this book. I have read it, and now refer to it on a regular basis. I have also purchased it as a gift for the appellate judge I used to clerk for. The book focuses on editing skills, but will obviously improve your writing skills as well. This is a "must have" for any attorney who writes for a living.

Best book ever written on legal writing.

Armstong and Terrell's lawyer's guide to effective writing and edting is simply the best book ever written on legal writing. I would advise lawyers, judges, and paralegals to buy it, read it, and use it.

What I love about this book is that it is a must read for both Liberals and Conservatives alike. Benson shows step by step why our monopolized "justice" system works against real justice -- and why the poor are the most likely to suffer at its hands. What is most comforting to me (who wholeheartedly agrees with his findings) is his conclusion that whether or not people like it, the privatization of criminal justice is inevitably growing.

What I love about this book is that it is a must read for both Liberals and Conservatives alike. Benson shows step by step why our monopolized "justice" system works against real justice -- and why the poor are the most likely to suffer at its hands. What is most comforting to me (who wholeheartedly agrees with his findings) is his conclusion that whether or not people like it, the privatization of criminal justice is inevitably growing.

In the wake of a terrible terrorist attack, various public voices are arguing for liberty-threatening countermeasures -- increases in federal power, the placement of federal marshals on aircraft, the unreasonable search and seziure of airline passengers, and so forth. Almost unnoticed and unmentioned is the fact that the terrorists succeeded in killing thousands using, apparently, no weapon more powerful than a box cutter.

A handful who are aware of this salient point are claiming that airline security was lax owing to "market failure." This is supposed to relieve us of the responsibility to establish security by means that respect rights.

But Bruce Benson's _To Serve and Protect_ addressed all of this several years ago -- broadly and in principle, though of course with no explicit discussion of the proper security measures for airlines to implement. What Benson provides in this volume is a thorough defense of a superficially counterintuitive claim that becomes less and less counterintuitive as time goes on: the free and private market is better, _much_ better, at providing security and criminal justice than is the government.

That means that his book is, sadly, perhaps more timely now than when it was written. By a simple extrapolation of the arguments presented herein, the recent tragedies indicate, not that "private" security provisions put us at risk of "market failures," but that a government monopoly on criminal justice costs lives.

Benson is also the author of the highly recommended _The Enterpise of Law_, which sets out probably the most thorough case to date that _law_ can exist without the institutions of a territorial State. This volume is in some ways a sequel, setting out a positive case as to how "private" criminal law works and why it is, consistently and in principle, superior to government regulation. (And allegations of "market failure" are specifically addressed.)

Check it out. The need for Benson's arguments has never been greater at any time since its publication.

Professor Benson's book is very interesting and excite. Good thoughts and insights in criminal justice failures. Benson advocates free market administration of crime and punishment as solution. The question in my opinion is: what we have to avoid ? Criminal justice failures or market rules ? What seems a good ideia, maybe is the wrong way and will cause more problems than solutions. Anyway, you can't be pro or against it without this excellent book.

Excellent read - fun, informative, insightful. Should be great learning tool for those new to the M&A world, and both healthy and entertaining to those who have experience already. Lederman is a very bright guy, and his writing style is that of a fine story-teller. Always clear... always interesting. An "older" book now, but gives interesting fundamentals to foundational strategies still important in 2000. (I just re-read, and am glad I did)

I enjoyed Lederman's writing style and imagine him to be a fairly modest man of extraordinary talent. I hold the CFA designation and my reading choices tend to be finance oriented with an occasional foray into pulp like "Rainmaker", "Predator's Ball", "Liar's Poker", and the other usual suspects. "Tombstones" renewed my appreciation for the legal aspects of M&A, which are introduced here by way of an interesting personal history. Lederman provides an introduction, rather than an exhaustive study, of tax and legal issues. This book drew me in much more than "Big Deal", which I have yet to finish. I recommend both, given Wasserstein's obvious accomplishments and his more contemporary account. "Tombstones" is first and foremost a very good story and thus more engrossing. Also, the lengthy disourse on Ian Reich was heartfelt and of peculiar interest given his reemergence on the front page of the WSJ.

Great book. Hearing the stories from the inside, it'll make you skin crawl to read about the largess of the 1980's. The book covers all the "greats": Keating, Pickens, Reagan and Miklen to name a few. This book would make a great movie.

Having taken an M&A course in law school and heard Larry Lederman tell personal stories of his M&A days, I had to read this book. It was insightful and read like a novel, despite covering large amounts of technical and financial data. Larry covers his beginning days of doing deals at Cravath and later at Wachtell, engineering some of the most novel dealmaking the world has ever seen in the process. Larry's sharp mind and hard work, along with a handful of other New York lawyers and bankers in the 1980s, helped transform the market into what it is today. Recommended read for any M&A lawyer or banker or for someone aspiring to be such.

For any theatre professional, student or enthusiast. Highly recommend watching "My Dinner With Andre" as well. It's a film by Wallace Shawn.

Comprehending this book is no small feat. Sure, you start with the premise that competing with the technical spectacle of movies and TV is a fruitless pursuit. That's not difficult. Neither is the idea of embracing poverty in theatre and making the human being the only center of performance. That's dead easy. Spare costumes, little or no makeup, no sound effects, as few light effects as possible. Who can argue with that?

But this doesn't mean everybody can embrace Grotowski's vision of Poor Theatre. His is one that involves stripping away all preconceived notions of theatre from the early Modern period on. This will never fly in commercial theatre, dependent as it is on technology, nor will it satisfy many recent playwrights, who depend on technical do-funnies to make their shows work.

Grotowski also takes a funny view of plays, playwrights, and theoreticians who don't agree with him. Among other things, he considers playwrights as hired talent and plays as essentially malleable. He also suggests that the only way the writings of Artaud are useful in theatre is if they are taken elementally rather than globally - a position sure not to sit well with many avant-garde directors.

Because this book isn't a straight-ahead statement of principles, ideas, and practices, it yields its secrets only with difficulty. Parts of it aren't even written by Grotowski, but are interviews by other authors, or even observations that don't include quotes from the man himself. It was basically compiled to provide an overview of the ideas and products of the Polish Laboratory Theatre up to that time, and it encourages experiment and development by the reader.

This isn't to say that it isn't actually useful. There are exercises for actors; there are statements of theory for directors; there are even sketches, diagrams, and photos for designers. However, expect to wrestle with this book if you're going to unlock its secrets. Once you elect to start down this path, you have a long row to hoe

"Towards A Poor Theatre" by Jerzy Grotowski is probably the most important book written on acting since Stainslavsky's three famous character books. There is so little known about Grotowski and many people have tried to fake his work and people need to read the man's original words. Grotowski's vision of theatre has had the greatest effect on me more than any other person in theatre. He saw acting as a Holy experience where both the actor and spectator were transformed after the performance. Grotowski expanded from where Stainslavsky left off and drew his ideas everywhere from modern art to religious rituals to primitive theatre. Any one interested in theatre must read this book somehow and be changed forever like I have.

There is no better book that I have read on the theory and practice of theatre. As Peter Brook says in the preface, "Grotowski is unique. Why? Because no-one else in the world, to my knowledge, no-one since Stanislavsky, has investigated the nature of acting, its phenomenon, its meaning, the nature and science of its mental-physical-emotional processes as deeply and completely as Grotowski."

Grotowski argues effectively that the split of the stage and the screen necessitates that the stage redefine its focus. The screen with its higher budget and countless retakes will always beat the stage in richness. So, Grotowski posits "If it [the stage] cannot be richer than the cinema, then let it be poor." The rest of the book illustrates what such a poor theatre means in practice. Brilliant.

Here are some professional reviews sent to my publisher:

"Campbell's book is magic. It sings. It dances. The law ought to be about people-- people in trouble, people with claims for justice who need to be heard. Art Campbell knows this. He also knows how to bring you into the lives of the people he has-- with wit, grit and dedication-- represented over the years. This is a great book. " -- Mike Tigar, internationally renowned trial attorney.

"Professor Campbell's Trial & Error reads like a fast paced work of fiction with fascinating real life experiences, laced with poetry. I am grateful that he had the insight to record and preserve these images from his life so that the public and a generation of lawyers will have the unique opportunity to peek into his past and share these vivid courtroom scenes, his keen wit and his growth as a burgeoning attorney. Campbell's journey, while sometimes painful, is remarkable for the intensity of his feelings and his single minded desire to always improve. And improve his does as we watch the birth of an outstanding lawyer. Sit back, read this book and be prepared an exciting tour through the eyes of a truly talented person." -- Mario Conte, former Executive Director of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc.

"Art Campbell provides us with brilliant flashes of insight into the mysterious workings of the legal system. His prose poems are heart-wrenching, powerful, compelling. As an insider, Campbell is in an unique position to provide vivid glimpses at the colorful characters on both sides of the law. His prose poems are full of compassion and a generosity of spirit. In sharing with us his 'tales from the trenches,' he reveals the heart and soul of a young trial lawyer." -- Nancy Kim, lawyer and author of critically acclaimed novel CHIMHOMINEY's SECRET.

"For anyone who is now, or ever has been, or ever wants to be, a criminal defense lawyer, Art Campbell's book of prose poetry is a must read. Art, who has been there and done that, is a compelling storyteller of the life of one representing criminal defendants- good, the bad and the ugly; not even the judges are spared his acerbic pen." -- Rt. Hon. James Stiven, Judge, San Diego Superior Court, Retired.

"Lawyers, the best and the worst of them, are storytellers. When the stories cluster around an ever elusive justice, as they do in Campbell's Trial and Error, law amounts to little more than tragedy. And yes, there are a few hard fought victories for clients along the way. The law, as we see in Campbell's stories, is a life of the bitter and the sweet; it makes for lawyers, a topsy-turvy life." -- Jim Elkins, Law Professor and Editor of The Legal Studies Forum.

In musical prose and poignant self-analysis, Art Campell's tales of his early years as a defense attorney in Washington, DC, are ripe with clear-eyed portraits of the down-and-out, the untrustworthy, and the over-confident, namely, Campbell himself in the guise of the young self-proclaimed "freedom lawyer." Whether his clients are innocent or guilty matters not to this author---it's his defendants' humanity that propels him. With each drug dealer or burglar, he tries to find a way for the law to bring stability to their wayward lives. That rarely happens. I loved reading the deftly told "The Thanksgiving Addict" about a man Campbell thought he had saved but couldn't or "The Weird Case" in which the trial becomes a showdown over due process for the client and not the client's guilt. The judge's verdict is often a surprise but the truth of what the law, the prosecution, and the accused teach Campbell about life is not.

From the first to the last page, Art takes me to legal hearings, describing strategy, tactics, sharing his victories and defeats. Each poem is a mini-lesson for anyone interested in Law, and in Defending, in particular. A quick, fun book, not easy to put down.

Art uses interesting and colorful language; afterall it's prose poems -"...how easily a defense can crash when splayed on spindly legs." (p49); "...drawn a warp and woof of words..." (p54).

I enjoyed the many adages and quotes sprinkled throughout the poems, like "...When facts stand against you, pound the law. When law stands against you, pound the facts. When both stand against you, pound the podium." (p94) and the Contemporary Zen adage: "A closed mouth gathers no foot." (113).

I plan to order Art's next book - Trial & Error Volume II: For the Prosecution.

What a surprise to find a book written by an attorney about being an attorney that is rich in insight and yet doesn't take itself too seriously. In language that ranges from profoundly true to wryly ridiculous, this collection of story poems follows a student lawyer from his idealistic beginnings through the end of his first year by which time he has become the first student lawyer to argue before his state's Supreme Court. Along the way he wins some and loses some and learns that to some clients saving face is more important than the verdict. This is not a glamorous view of the law but it's clear as you read that Campbell loves the law and respects even the lowliest of his clients. He calls himself a freedom lawyer because he knows that all of us -- the scarred exheroin addict, the man denied a jury of his peers, the boy in the wrong place at the wrong time -- depend on the the fair administration of justice for our freedom. This was lots of fun to read.

This book is a must-read for any trial lawyer, and especially for criminal defense lawyers. It is a very inspiring book. John Tucker is my hero!

John Tucker offers a wealth of tactical insights gleaned from an impressive career as a litigator, mixing the pathos of legal practice for good causes with the legal theories deployed on behalf of a wide array of clients.

By striving for objectivity, Tucker avoids the self-aggrandizing tone of some other such memoirs and instead focuses on the meaty tactics, the rush to file, the strategies behind certain suits, and a bit of background to explain why things mattered to him. The diverse cases he litigated at every level, from initial motions to the Supreme Court, are presented fairly. Many are not the blockbuster cases one might have heard of - esp. Clark v. Universal Builders - the case Tucker fought for harder than any other, and though he ended up losing in court, some sort of justice prevailed. Tucker's may be the only enduring account, and as such, he offers a gift to litigators and civil rights activists alike.

Two flaws: first, the promotional packaging focuses on the Chicago Eight case, in which Tucker played a small part, as if it were the focus of the book. It's not. In some 20 pages of 360, Tucker explores it and moves on. Lazy publisher might not have read further...More relevant, Tucker evades criticizing his partners and associates (his piercing critique of Judge Hoffman drips with justified acidity), dropping only a subtle hint about other frictions. But that's a forgivable indulgence: who could fault him for refraining from offering anything but praise for mentors and colleagues?

Tucker's career is a model for litigators worthy of emulating. While much has changed since he started practicing, the ongoing struggle for justice (and clients able to pay for it) goes on.

A must read for future litigators, if only for the tactical insights.

For any who lack faith in the America's legal system or think all lawyers are worthy subjects of jokes, Tucker's book is the proverbial lightbulb in the cave. Tucker recounts his journey through a lengthy career as a trial lawyer and along the way demonstrates that our judicial system, while short of perfect, is still the best in the world. Tucker helped the poor, the wealthy, the politically powerful and powerless and the reviled through the judicial system. Some cases he won; some he lost.
Win or lose, however, Tucker fought the good fight for his clients, often pro bono.
His story is complete. He reveals the importance of trial preparation -- an element that truly separates competent lawyers from their clumsy brethern (the latter of which I always seem to retain; while the former retain me as an expert witness). Tucker tells some wonderful stories about judges, good and bad. Like Tucker, I am from the Chicago area and am very familiar with bad judges. Tucker discloses that there have been many good judges in the area as well and provides useful insight into their judicial reasoning.
All in all, a wonderful book that will redeem lost faith in our judicial system. "Trial and Error" is not a courtroom thriller: it is far better than one -- it's real life and I for one am glad that Tucker decided to take the time to write his memoir. It is well worth reading.

Jerry

Twenty-one different courtroom cases are covered in this book by a most successful attorney who has his head on straight; by that I mean he mixes the intricacies of the law with living a "normal" life. He certainly puts in long hours in preparation, but that goes along with his job. The author states, "In the American Legal System, a lawyer's job is not to seek justice, but to win the case for his client." He relates many interesting cases, but two exceptional ones are defending a rapist who is truly mentally defective and one about defending the "Chicago Eight" in 1968. A lot of detailed information about that political incident is fascinating. Mr. Tucker does a lot of pro bono work and one of this type was defending the Contract Buyers League in Chicago...a race conflict of great proportions. Fine writing delineates complex legal cases that are most understandable.

The most striking thing about this book is the extensive use of examples throughout the book. One of the main problems in understanding the law is trying to figure out how it applies to your particular situation. The use of examples is one of the best ways for an author to explain the various aspects of any law. In this book, the author did such a fantastic job that I have picked up the book at various times in the last decade to figure out how I can solve my own particular immigration problem and I was able to fix it very fast. He does such a great job that I got carried away by the confidence the book inspires and decided to handle one of the more difficult immigration situations myself. It worked out alright but in hindsight, I should have taken the assistance of a lawyer to make things easier for myself.

Another tremendous advantage in using this book is the latest updates available through the author's website (you will have to find this yourself using Google since Amazon reviews are not allowed to have web addresses in them - any addresses will be removed automatically). Immigration law is constantly changing and it is risky to follow the advice of any book since it would be outdated the day it was printed. The author is a well known authority on the subject and in the past, I have seen that he has always been very prompt in posting updates to the book between editions and also giving his interpretations of the latest changes to the U.S. Immigration law.

One thing I was told by several immigration lawyers in 1997 is that you don't need to find a local lawyer for immigration related issues. I am not sure if this is still true but what it means is that you don't have to despair if you live in an area that doesn't have a great immigration lawyer. You can always find someone with a good reputation that may be in another state. Based on the number of immigration issues I have gone through, I would strongly recommend anyone in similar shoes to be armed with the knowledge gained through books like this one, but still consult a good lawyer (especially if you are in a complicated situation).

The final step that I have pending is becoming a U.S. citizen (I am a permanent resident right now) and I am using this book to take care of this by myself. I wish you all the best of luck and I hope you find this book as valuable as I did.

This is the best book on this subject available. I am a new citizen to this country, and it would have not happened so easily without this great book. Thank you, Mr. Wernick.

This is an excellent book for anyone going through the hurdles of US Immigration. The author covers all bases and still keeps the text easy to read and easy to reference. I have seen Mr. Wernick speak and have read his authoritative newspaper column and this book lives up to his usual high standards. It is the only book of its kind you will need and with the high cost of legal advice, you will save time and money.

I just read the 3rd edition of professor Wernick's "U.S. Immigration and Citizenship" book and never felt more confident filing papers with the INS. Moreover, in his currently updated edition Allan Wernick explains the intricacies of the immigration law so clearly that even a layman can grasp its basic concepts. The procedures are illustrated by real stories, each one a distinct immigration problem, which translate the dry and complicated legal lingo into plain English that may be eastily understood in the immigrant communities. This very carefully designed book touches on all important aspects of the immigration procedures and explaines recent changes in the law.
Considering that every Thursday the author answers immigration questions in his Daily News column (I am an avid reader), I must say that Allan Wernick's book is the only up-to-date book on the market. Before you spend your money on a lawyer, I strongly recommend to check out Allan Wernick's "US Immigration and Citizenship."

I have been able to find only one volume by Herbert--it was published by Methuen in 1935, and republished in 1969. This author is exceptionally good, funny, and stimulating. Somebody should make all of his writing available.

This book is riotously funny for anyone with even a modicum of legal training. I recommend it to all of my students and peers.

Is a flodded road a street or a waterway?? - Rumpelheimer v. Haddock -

Is marriage lawful or should it be considered kindred to (russian?) roulett or other games of chance and therefore be prohibited? - Marrowfat v. Marrowfat -

Is there a right of free speech or it true that the only freedom one has left e.g. on a public street is to pass at an even pace from ome end of it to another breathing unobtrusively through the nose and attracting no attention? - Engheim et.al. v. The King -

If these are the legal questions of everyday life or of eternal significance you would like to read about, then this book is for you.

Reissued in paperback in 1997, these knowing spoofs of British courts appeared 1940-1960. Madcap Englishmen litigate divorce, compulsory schooling, using a cow as a check, etc., before judges and law lords who are as idiosyncratic as the parties to the cases. (See Herbert's biography.)

Understanding Copyright Law is a well-organized, well-written, surprisingly (for such a relatively compact volume) thorough treatment of U.S. copyright law. Leaffer has a knack for developing just the right points in order to show how the copyright statutes and regulations apply to real examples. The table of contents and index make for easy access to various issues that might come up in a day-to-day copyright practice. I recommend this book be within easy reach of any IP attorney, copyright manager, or even work-originator.

I used this book to learn Copyright law while in school. I have since found that is the essential guide for practice as well. Not many of my law school text books have made it to my office shelves. . .this book is not only in my office, but it is on my desk whenever an IP issue arises. It is excellent.

Copyright law, despite the fact that everybody these days claims to understand it and its surrounding issues, is an enormously complex and convoluted subject. You would not be blamed for dreading the study of copyright law, nor any book that claimed to wrap up the topic in one handy volume. It's a rare law book that not only makes use of such an affirmative title, but then actually lives up to it, and Leaffer has provided. After a very well-written introduction, the bulk of this book covers most of the different legal categories included in copyright law, from procedures to remedies to defenses. Leaffer is not afraid to take as much space as necessary to explain some of the law's convoluted provisions, as can be seen in the 100+ page chapter on exclusive rights. Best of all, Leaffer moves beyond the strict letter-of-the-law reductionism of standard law textbooks, and ably introduces many of the social, political, and cultural issues surrounding the modern uses (and misuses) of copyright law. And all of the above is presented in an informative writing style that consciously strives to not be as dry and pedantic as typical law texts. [~doomsdayer520~]

THis is the best Copyright treatise out there for law students ( You cant haul NIMMER multiple volumes around with you )It is incredibly concise - has all the relevant cases that are the providence of lawschool casebooks. It lays everything out in a logical manner - Doictrine, Case, Policy & Rule ( elements). I highly recommend this. Aslo recommended is the PLI ( Practising Law Institute's ) Copyright Law: A Practioner Guide. ALSO Recommended is the Sum & Substance CD titled Intellectual Property - they absolutely ROCK! - Has a very thorough treatment of Copyright Law & Law School Exam problem solving / pitfalls