Today we remember Clarence Darrow as one of the greatest trial lawyers in American history.
But how did he get his start?
He did what a lot of enterprising lawyers do today:
1. As a young lawyer, he moved from a small town to a growing legal market: the booming city of Chicago in the late 1800s.
2. When he arrived in Chicago, he joined a social club called the Henry George Club.
3. The Henry George Club provided him the opportunity to speak at Democratic Party events, which opportunities he took.
4. Upon developing a reputation for eloquence as a public speaker, Darrow got and accepted an offer to join the Chicago City Attorney’s Office.
5. After two years at the City Attorney’s Office, Darrow got and accepted an offer to join a railroad company as an attorney.
6. In 1894, Darrow resigned from the railroad company to defend railroad union boss Eugene Debs against federal prosecutions for organizing the Pullman Strike.
7. Darrow later pivoted to a more general litigation practice with a heavy emphasis on criminal defense work.
As a criminal defense lawyer in the 1920s, Darrow took many cases of national renown.
He got to that level by being active in his community, taking public speaking opportunities, and frequently venturing outside his comfort zone.
Put another way, not much has changed in the legal profession.
Darrow’s techniques if applied today would likely produce the same result: an accomplished legal career and a strong practice.
Though supremely talented, Darrow did not sit back and wait for the world to discover his talent. He put it on display so others could find it.
Senior eDiscovery Consultant/Business Development at Centurion Discovery Inc
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