Rating: 
Summary: irrelevant points
Review: I was rather surprised to see how boring this book can get. It has a great plot and the beginning is quite good. But after you get through the middle it's hard to keep reading. The author seems to have such a great obsession with telling the reader about what's legal and what's not that it got to a point it was hard to stick with getting through the book. The only reason I read it till the end was to see how the law suit would end up. Which was, rather predictible.
Rating: 
Summary: Not your typical Grisham
Review: Grisham must being trying to detach himself from his typical "legal thriller" books, and encompass a broader literery sense. First this, and then The Painted House? Even though this book is not exactly what I expected (where is the courtroom drama?) the book actually struck me by its moral principles. Grisham does a good job of trying to publize the homeless's strife. I would highly recommend this book for someone who enjoys books in general, not just "legal thrillers".
Rating:
Summary: One of Grisham's Best Ever!
Review: "The Street Lawyer" really took me by surprise. I believe this is one of Grisham's best books and draws attention to public issues that we see every night on the news. It literally inspired me into getting involved in problems of the needy. Like it or not, they are humans too. Everyone makes mistakes; some are just better at it then others are.I highly recommend this book to all Grisham lovers and those concerned about public issues. I highly recommend "The Testament" also, another inspirational book by Mr. Grisham.
Rating: 
Summary: Grisham heads downhill
Review: A somewhat uninspiring story of a lawyer stumbling over his own conscience. Though the descriptions of a down-and-out neighborhood and the people that are forced to live there are good, the story itself lacks pace, and the ending was about as unsatisfactory as you could imagine. If you're looking for the sort of gripping tale that Grisham weaves in 'The Firm' or 'The Testamant', you'll be sadly disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing and compelling
Review: This is the first Grisham novel I have had the fortune of reading, but it certainly will not be the last. Right from the start I found it difficult to put it down. The pages seem to turn themselves as this seamless novel unfolds. Michael Brock, a once prosperous antitrust lawyer for an enormous law firm in Washington D.C., abandons his fast-paced career heading towards parternship after a near-death experience. A homeless man referred to only as Mister takes Michael and many other top lawyers hostage high above the ground in the gigantic firm. Fortunately, Michael escapes from this situation. Although his pay is certainly harmed, and his emotions are in a knot, he decides to quit his job with the big firm and become a street lawyer, working endlessly to ensure the homeless the rights they desserve. However, Michael does not get away from his firm easily. They are after him because he knows the whereabouts of a file that became missing when he left his job. Now, the firm will stop at nothing to get the file back. But Michael Brock knows how valuable the contents of the file truly are, and this drives his passion even further. A must read for any legal/suspense lover, and from what I've heard it is one of Grisham's best. You should not think twice about reading this novel, it is sure to provide entertainment and meaning for any reader.
Rating:
Summary: Forget about this one
Review: This one has to be, by far, the worst book by Grisham, or should I say the only one which is not excellent. It is so stupid that you really don't want to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Writing Style But Lacks Credibility
Review: John Grisham has a very captivating style of writing. His strength is weaving several sub plots into an effective story. In The Street Lawyer,Grisham captivates his audience by detailing Michael Brocks trials and tribulations which stem from being held hostage by a crazed homeless man. Its quite unbelievable all the changes Brock goes through from a 75% pay cut to a divorce from his wife to being on opposite sides from his colleagues. The fact that these and many other changes occur within 32 days is incredibly impratical yet the reading is fun as Grisham certainly has a way with words. What is annoying though is when Grisham preches his political views on the state of the homeless. He needs to understand that many of the homeless "Choose" to live that way. He should have been neutral when writing this book. None the less it is an entertaining read.
Rating:
Summary: His weakest attempt
Review: This book starts off strong and then dies. Grisham is a better writer than this book indicates. Try some of his other works.
Rating:
Summary: questionable
Review: This book was a very well written book. It gave me some sense of how a lawyer who hungers for money works. An overwhelming life threatening situation also allows me to know that with such a powerful moment, someone is able to face reality and not greed for the worldly pleasures.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing But Not Too Realistic
Review: For the most part, I enjoy the literary style of John Grisham. He interweaves many interesting sub plots throughout his novels and this one is certainly no exception. The contrast between the 14th Street Legal Advocacy Groups and Sweeney are as opposite as night and day. In the case of The Street Lawyer, the plot unfolds in an easy to read style with consuming drama at many corners. Who would have expected that when Michael Brock "borrowed" the controversial file that he would be involved in an automobile accident which shaped this story. Whereas the writing style is very engaging, realisticly the story suffers. I can understand Michael Brock having some new ideas about serving the public based upon being held hostage for a day. However, to change careers from one extreme to the other at the rate of a 75% pay cut seems highly unlikely. Some of his sympathy towards the homeless particularly the family who perished in the car is a bit overdone. It is sad that they had to die that way due to negligence of the big Real Estate monguls. However, Grisham quickly characterizes the Burton family and most other homeless as completely the fault of normal society and our governments uncaring ways. This is simply not so in many cases. There are a good deal of homeless people who choose that way of life and who do not want handouts. Others are a pirahaha on society who should be behind bars or certainly in an institution. There are definitely some who just need a break and some of those will not admit it. This last category I personally feel sorry for the most. However, Grisham tends to put all homeless people before the good law abiding citizens and in many(not all) instances that is overdone. Coupled with Grisham's overly liberal philosophies, the ending of this book is quite ridiculous. All of a sudden the Sweeney firm is going to have a conscience after being so brazen in its aattitude towards the poor. The fact that all these events involving this case plus Michael's divorce, move, and involvement with a new profession and a new relationship within thirty two days is really pushing the extreme button. Good fiction is usually based on some realism. The strong lack of that quality is this novel drops the feeling here to certainly quite entertaining but not very believable.
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