 Trade In this Item for up to £7.30
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in The Golden Rules of Advocacy for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £7.30, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
About the Author
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Evans dogmatically sets forth four dimensions of advocacy and follows them up with around thirty "golden rules" of advocacy, each being a pithy saying on the art of advocacy. As a recently retired American trial advocate of some thirty two years experience, I had to agree with 90% of what Evans said. This little book is an excellent introduction to advocacy for the rank beginner. It is also a great refresher for the battle scarred veteran.
Evans makes some highly perceptive observations on the rather dismal state of modern trial advocacy, and offers the "golden rules" as an antidote. Having always maintained that most lawyers win cases in spite of their efforts rather than because of them, I couldn't agree with him more.
If you're a rookie barrister, you need this book. If you're a seasoned veteran, you could use this book. It's inexpensive, easily read, and packed full of wisdom.
So much for the accolades. Now for the critique. One of the first "golden rules" is "entertain the jury." Almost right, but no cigar. I've entertained countless jurors who have voted against me and afterward come to me and told me how much they enjoyed serving and what a wonderful lawyer I was. Lawyers can do without this sort of praise. Many cases have very little entertainment value. The facts of the case are so atrocious that no right thinking person would ever be amused. You're going to strike a sour note trying to entertain in those cases. I would reword Evans' "golden rule" thus: "engage the jury." Make them care about what happened and who it happened to. If you can get them to care, they're likely to vote your way.
Secondly, Evans urges that you "never repeat yourself." Say it once and then move on. I disagree. Repetition is the cornerstone of learning. A quarterback doesn't throw just one pass in practice. He does it over and over until he perfects his technique. A teacher doesn't tell her students the multiplication table once and expect them to know it cold. It has to be repeated it over and over. As a rule of thumb, I always tried to repeat an important point three times. Hammer it home, make sure even the sleepiest juror has heard it. (Did you notice that I just made this point three times in three different ways?)
Thirdly, much of what Evans says about cross examination is overly timid. Follow his "golden rules" of cross and you won't shoot yourself in the foot, but you'll never become a first-rate cross examiner. If you want to progress beyond the rudiments of cross examination, read Stern's "Trying Cases to Win: Cross Examination" or Posner and Dodd's "Cross Examination: Science and Technique", both available from Amazon.com.
I found this book on a recent trip to England. While in London I made a pilgrimage to the Royal Courts of Justice. Upon stopping at the visitor's kiosk to buy a guidebook, I noticed this little jewel and picked it up to read on the flight home. I thought the book had to be good if it was being sold at the doorway to the Royal Courts of Justice. I was right. It is very good.
The Only fault with the book is that it seems to be marketed exclusively for lawyers. As the previous reviewer pointed out this book is for anyone that has to present and communicate under tough conditions. It gives a mindset and a set of analytical tools which anyone from any other profession will find valuable.
Said this many many many many many many many many many many many years ago,it's ALL theatre.
Common Sense Rules 0f Advocacy For Lawyers (softcover)
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
