Law Office of Steven R. Young

No One Will Win Every Trial Jacob Stein, an extraordinary trial lawyer in the D.C. Bar who obtained the only ‘not-guilty’ verdict for his client during the famous Watergate trials, once said, “Any lawyer who says he has never lost a trial, has either had only one trial, or is a liar.” No one can win every trial. Instead, we can only combine available information with our experience and historical knowledge to make the best decision for that moment. When you lose at trial, and you will, make it a learning experience. You will know not to repeat the mistake in the future.  If you fear failure, your life in court becomes a study in quiet desperation–you become one of those cautious attorneys who try to win by not losing. That is the greatest failure of all. If you need strategic or tactical help in your cases, I have been there many times. Call me. I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #superlawyer #decision #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #greatness #privilege #truth #greatness #strategy #tactics #loss #trial

nStrategy vs. Tactics Strategy is very simple. You should use strategy like a steamroller–makeup your mind on a course and direction of action, then stick to it. It takes very little imagination and skill to conceive a workable method of strategy. Tactics, on the other hand are different. Do NOT use tactics like a steamroller. Instead, seek for weaknesses in your opponent or his case, and apply the tactic to exploit opportunities that develop in your cases. This was the rule in the Stone Age when used rocks as weapons. The rule is the same in our courtrooms we fill with technology. There is an ancient French saying, "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose,” (the more things change, the more they remain the same). Mankind has changed very little during our entire history. We are still frightened facing trial; we lose sleep, we work through lunch, we wear down, we mourn when we lose, we exult when we prevail. Technology is the only thing that changes. If you need strategic or tactical help in your cases, I have been there many times. Call me. I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #superlawyer #decision #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #greatness #privilege #truth #greatness #strategy #tactics

The Disease or the Symptom. A famous trial lawyer told me, “I do not invest in the market.” “Why not?” I asked. His answer stuck with me: “During trial, I cannot be worried about what is happening with my investments.” A trial lawyer’s focus, while in trial, is what is happening in the courtroom. The lawyer must see a juror’s passing reaction to a witness’ statement, or an opponent’s attempts to distract, or, heaven forbid, if the judge is sleeping. All these play a role in the dynamic of persuasion. Identifying a source of trouble, and addressing it, stops the source of the trouble in its tracks. However, the lawyer must know the difference between the disease and the symptoms. It does no good to “beat a snake with a stick,” when a quick cut to the snake’s head will end the threat. This ability to discern develops only with experience gained in the killing pit we call trial. If you need help making decisions concerning an upcoming trial, call me. I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #superlawyer #decision #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #greatness #privilege #truth #greatness

Do You Listen to Your Client’s Heart? Think about your last trial. Were you inspired to do things differently from what you always do? Most attorneys fall into a pattern and repeat that pattern in every trial. Ironically, these are the attorneys who complain that they feel like they are in rut. The attorney who accomplishes the most is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The “sure-thing boat” never gets far from the shore. Gerry Spence teaches that an attorney must stand naked and unafraid in front of the jury. We stretch and explore our capability. We try things no one has done before. That is the essence of greatness – adapting what you know to create something different. Talk to your client. Plumb the depths of his or her soul. When you have walked around in their skin for long enough, the inspiration will come, and you will ascend to greatness - if only in the eyes of your client. If you need help making decisions concerning an upcoming trial, call me. I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #superlawyer #decision #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #greatness #privilege #truth #greatness

Information Is like an Egg. The fresher the better. Information allows you to determine what you know and what you do not know. It may not give the answers, but it make strategic decisions more likely. Should you cross a witness? Should you pass a witness? Should you present a rebuttal case, or waive rebuttal and move to closing argument? Information fuels all these decisions and makes you better in trial. If you need help making decisions concerning an upcoming trial, call me. I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #superlawyer #decision #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #greatness #privilege #truth #Patton

Choose Your Battles. My former father-in-law was very wise. In the midst of disagreement or uncertainty, he would ask, “Is this the hill you want to die on?” His question mirrors one of my favorite quotations of George S. Patton, “Wars are not won by fighting battles; wars are won by choosing battles.” Do you resist and respond to every challenge or affront opposing counsel raises in your path to justice? Is that the proper battle for you to fight? Pick your battles and win the war. If you need help making decisions concerning an upcoming trial, call me. I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #superlawyer #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #greatness #privilege #truth #Patton

Do Not Fear Failure. No one can be 100 percent correct, 100 percent of the time. To make the best decision, combine the information currently at hand with your experience. Even when you fail (and you will) it is an excellent learning experience. At least you will know what to avoid in a similar situation in the future. If you fear failure, you will never make difficult decisions. By fearing failure, you prepare yourself to become one of those cautious people who try to win by not losing. If you are afraid of failing, you will never achieve true success or win a decisive victory. The only people who never make mistakes are the ones who never try – and that is the greatest mistake of all. If you need help making decisions concerning an upcoming trial, call me. I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #superlawyer #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #greatness #privilege #truth

Do You Want to Be Great? Any lawyer willing to work hard and strive continuously to be the best they can be in the courtroom, has the potential to ascend to the stature of greatness. Remember: “Greatness” is not measured by the size of verdicts, but by the impact on the lives of individual clients. Being great doesn’t always mean you are recognized as a “leading attorney,” or that you are rich, or famous. Many great lawyers are unknown because they did not live in the right place or time to be perceived as great except by those clients whose lives they altered in direct and significant ways. If you make one client’s life and circumstances better because you loved and cared, you are a great lawyer. Now you know the secret. If you need help learning your client’s truth, or telling your client’s story in trial, I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #superlawyer #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #greatness #privilege #truth

A Good Solution Now Is Better than a Perfect Solution Ten in Minutes. No matter how you prepare for trial, nothing will be perfect. A good exhibit or piece of evidence now, will make your story flow like a compelling movie before the jury’s eyes. You can spend a lot of time looking for the perfect piece of evidence, or rethinking or revising your plans, and never move the jury, much less win justice for your client. There comes a time when you must simply stop planning and let your heart carry the day. If you wait for the perfect moment, or the perfect lead-in to your killer piece of evidence, your opponent will control the flow in the courtroom, and throw you off your case. Too much analysis breeds paralysis. If you need help learning your client’s truth, or telling your client’s story in trial, I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #losing #privilege #truth

And the Kitchen Sink. The law firms specializing in representing insured defendants in court must be in competition to see who can assert the most affirmative defenses. An affirmative defense, if determined to be credible, can exonerate the defendant, or reduce the defendant’s culpability. It is not unusual to see more than thirty “boilerplate” defenses asserted, many of which are clearly inapplicable to your case, including the “kitchen sink.” The defense with their thirty-plus affirmative defenses, knows they are not being truthful and justify their actions stating, “It is just business.” Gerry Spence taught me that, “Truth always helps make an argument.” He teaches that a caring attorney, focused on doing justice, must learn the client’s “truth.” To do this, he advocates that you must climb inside the skin of your client and walk around. It is only through thoroughly knowing your client, their pain, their challenges, their needs, that you can look into the void as a warrior and seek justice. If you need help learning your client’s truth, or telling your client’s story in trial, I will be there for you. Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500 #GerrySpence #Juryattorney #trialattorney #thunderheadranch #thegunslinger #TLC #GSM #brainexpansion #personaldevelopment #lastminutetriallawyer #jury #trial #losing #privilege #truth