Your Witness: Lessons on Cross-Examination

by Steven F. Molo, James R. Figliulo (Editor)

In YOUR WITNESS, 50 of the nation s top trial lawyers share the secrets of the most engaging, difficult, and dramatic aspect of their work cross-examination. These secrets are revealed through richly told courtroom war stories with a point. While the stories contain some interesting bits of Chicago color mobsters, corrupt politicians and businessmen, street gangs, mass murderers, sports figures, Nobel Laureates, and Colonel McCormick of the Tribune many of the stories occur across the nation and the book has broad appeal to lawyers and non-lawyers alike.

Genres: Law

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2008

Reviews

[Mary Whisner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your Witness: Lessons on Cross-Examination and Life from Great Chicago Trial Lawyers features fifty chapters, by fifty trial attorneys, including prosecutors and defense attorneys, personal injury lawyers and corporate lawyers. The chapters are short and quick to read (but that doesn't mean they lack substance), so this is a book you can dabble in as well as read straight through.

I think a lot of the stories would be very helpful to aspiring -- or even experienced -- trial lawyers. Many of them are also interesting to anyone who likes a good story. There's humor too.

The editor says (p. 244), "Every trial lawyer 'borrows' from other trial lawyers -- whether it is stories we tell in final argument, approaches we use in cross-examination, or the way we may stand in the courtroom." Your Witness gives you a host of trial lawyers to borrow from, as they share a maxim here, a turn of phrase there, a bit of caution, a funny story, an embarrassing mistake.

[Jason Kleindorfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories from experienced Chicago trial attorneys. However, style varies from person to person. What might work for one attorney's personality and performance, another might alienate the jury in using such tactics. Overall, this book can serve to add tools to your cross-examination routine that one may not have considered.

[Stephen Barrera]

Great book so far. Real life lessons on cross-examination from Cook County attorneys.