Books make great holiday gifts for lawyers. We can read really quickly (from all the document review) and with our Type-A personalities we feel like we should always be working (even during leisure reading).
Here are my gift suggestions for the lawyer in your life.
For the new lawyer:
An Advocacy Primer
by Lee Stuesser
This is a great “how to” book for new lawyers. It covers every step of trial with clear examples. Plus, unlike most of the books on this list, it is written from a Canadian perspective.
Available at www.carswell.com
For strategy:
Reptile
by David Ball and Don Keenan
This is about accessing the decision-maker’s “reptile brain”, the primitive, instinctive brain shared by all reptiles and mammals (including humans). Helpful, practical neuropsychology.
Available at reptilekeenanball.com
For those cases with less than impartial experts:
Polarizing the Case
by Rick Friedman
While Friedman is probably better known for Rules of the Road, Polarizing the Case provides groundbreaking strategies on how to confront biased experts, especially those who claim that all (or almost all) plaintiffs are malingering fakers.
Available at www.trialguides.com
For inspiration:
Win Your Case
by Gerry Spence
Spence is “America’s Winningest Trial Lawyer” (according the cover of the book) and has written a LOT of books about being a trial lawyer. With this book, the reader really feels Spence’s passion for justice for the downtrodden. And, there is some great, practical advice, like the importance of being comfortable in your own skin.
Available at amazon.ca
For more strategy:
David Ball on Damages 3
by David Ball
Though the title says “on Damages”, this is probably the most detailed trial strategy book on both damages and liability. It is long, detailed and fascinating, with great strategy after great strategy.
Available at www.trialguides.com
For the lover of insurance law:
Principles of Insurance Law, Fourth Edition
by Jeffrey Stempel, Peter Swisher and Erik Knutsen
Don’t be put off by the intimidating size of this textbook. It is well-written and easy to understand (unlike most law school textbooks). It is an American text, but sometimes we need to look at other jurisdictions for inspiration and novel argument.
Available at
For public speaking:
Fox in Socks
Dr. Seuss
A rhyming battle between a fox wearing socks and a creature named Mr. Knox. Seriously. Practice reading this book aloud. You’ll encounter tongue-tangler after tongue-tangler, like:
Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew. While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew. Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze. Freezy trees made these trees’ cheese freeze. That’s what made these three free fleas sneeze.
If you can do these, you’ll never get tongue-twisted in court.
Available anywhere that sells children’s books. And Amazon.