People ask me all the time why it is that I want to be a trial lawyer and I always tell them the same answer: I enjoy the chance to tell my client's story to a jury. Also, I love having the opportunity to think on my feet and face new challenges every day.
To be a good trial lawyer it really takes someone who is a bit of a showman. You need someone who can tell a story. I use my experience in theatre as both an actor and director to make sure I'm telling my client's story in the best possible manner, as opposed to simply reciting cold and impersonal facts. Now additionally, to be a good trial lawyer you need to have the ability to think creatively-somebody who can see all possible solutions. You also need to be a person who can be patient and relate to your client. Help them through that difficult process. Certainly to be a person who's going through the trial process can be very challenging for a person who is not used to it.
Your lawyer should be someone who knows the judges, the system, the people involved and can give you the answers that every client really wants to know. Every client always asks how long the process will take, what's the next step, and what's my chance of success.
My experience in both civil and criminal trials, as well as my experience in appeals courts, including the Ohio Supreme Court, makes me qualified to tell them those answers.
Now whether my client's a person who's been seriously injured and is surrounded by bills, someone who is facing losing their licenses, or even worse, facing going to jail; or a small business who's been hurt by another business, I take my role very seriously as someone who can help navigate them through the process. Somebody who will put my client in a position to make an educated decision on the questions as to whether or not to go to trial or whether to settle.
Now when all is said and done, there's nothing that can fully prepare a person for a trial. But having someone with you who you know and you can trust is really very important.
Now when your livelihood is on the line, you want to be sure that you've hired the right person for the job.
