The Street Lawyer

Rating:
Summary: Morals and Ethics of Lawyers
Review: While this not Grisham's best work, I think this is definitely worth the read, especially for all those out there that question lawyer ethics.

The story is about a young lawyer, Michael Brock, who has a terrifying experience at his wealthy law firm with a homeless person. The experience leaves Michael searching for more meaning to life than hourly billings, power lunches, big bonuses and high paychecks. Michael also finds out a secret about his firm, and when he leaves the firm to help the homeless, he takes it with him. The story picks up the pace from there, with astonishing actions on the part of Michael, as well as his former employers.

For anyone who thinks lawyers are the scum of the earth, this story may not set things right, but it will show that there are people who care in this world.

Rating:
Summary: Lin's Book Revierw
Review: From the beginning to the end, this book will have you hooked the whole time. It starts off in a huge corporate lawyer's office, where a homeless man walks in with a gun and fake dynamite. He takes eight lawyers hostage in an office and tells them to call him master. He asks them questions about how much they make and how much they give to the homeless each year. After that shocking experience, the main character decides that he needs to look into what this "homeless" thing is all about. He quits his job and starts working one on one with the street people. It is amazing to look into everything that goes on in the streets and is great for all ages. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: What do you think of when you think of a lawyer?
Review: When a person thinks of lawyers, they usually think of people who work in big firms and make a lot of money. Most people do not think of pro-bono lawyers, lawyers who practice law without getting paid. They do it out of their own good. John Grisham did a great job explaining what a pro-bono lawyer is.

You wouldn't think that one single day could change the rest of your life. Michael Brock was a successful lawyer who was climbing the ladder to become a partner of "Drake & Sweeney". He was making big bucks and enjoying his wealth. Then one event changed the rest of his life. He, along with a few fellow lawyers, was held hostage at his workplace. After being held hostage for no apparent reason, Michael started investigating the man that held him hostage and learned that he was a homeless man who had been in and out of shelters. Not only this, but the man was also mentally ill. For this reason, Michael predicted that the homeless man had held him hostage. Then, Michael did some more investigating and learned a new secret about the firm he worked at, "Drake & Sweeney." After more and more inspection, Michael became afraid and quit his job to work as a street lawyer. He was no longer worried about the money he made, but was more concerned with helping the homeless out. After the whole hostage situation, Michael slowly started going down the ladder he was once climbing.

This is a must read book to anyone who is interested in law and justice. "The Street Lawyer" compares two different types of lawyers and gives a great explanation of each kind of layer. Also, the novel briefly comes into contact with the fact that it is more important for one to do what they like to do rather than take up a field of work for the money. Michael wanted to help others during college and law school then, he got caught up with the money he was making and lost his interest to help others. He did not care about his clients; he just wanted to settle a case for the money. After the whole hostage situation, Michael rethinks what he has been doing and leaves his job to help the homeless.

Along with the lawyer plot and helping others, Grisham adds in a family problem. Michael is a young lawyer who is married to a hard working woman. They are both very busy with their work and they hardly get to see each other. The marriage does not end up working out and Michael is once again single. In the story, Michael has lost almost everything valuable to him. He no longer has his job at "Drake & Sweeney," he has no place to live, he loses his luxurious car, and loses all interest making big bucks and becoming wealthy.

I really enjoyed reading this book because the plot grabbed my attention from the start. The story started off strong, grabbing my attention and not letting me get distracted throughout the book. Once I started the book, I did not want to put it down; I wanted to keep reading it until I was finished. Also, the fact that it was an easy read boosted my rating for the book. I found this book very easy to read and comprehend to. The reason I found the book easy to read is because it did not have many complicated words.

Once again, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in becoming a lawyer or has an interest in law itself. It is a great book and well worth reading.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars because I loved reading it and it kept me interested. I did not daze off and the book kept me on my feet wondering what was going to happen next.

Rating:
Summary: The Street Lawyer
Review: An interesting twist to the reality of a lawyer's life is really what "The Street Lawyer" is all about. When people go to Law school to become Lawyers, most dream of becoming one of the lucky few, the multi-million dollar a year a partners. Every once in a while, however, there is a person who dreams of becoming a lawyer for the better good of humanity, one who works for the good feeling inside instead of for wealth. What John Grisham managed to do was to create a character that went from the wealthy, climbing the ladder of success, to a character who was interested and concerned with the common good.

I really thought this book was well written, especially in the first few chapters. Grisham managed to absolute devote all of the reader's attention to the book. Within the first fifty pages he managed to completely change the mindset of a work-o-holic lawyer, Michael Brock to one who is deeply concerned about what he is doing for a living, and how his marriage is deteriorating. How the act of one homeless man and the trauma that he inflicted on that small group of nine layers at "Drake & Sweeney" is truly amazing.

After the whole situation he looks at life completely different, and this is where the book starts to go a little on the wayward side. It well written, but it just seemed a bit far fetched that someone could possibly make that quick of a 180. He visits the parents and he looks up all he can find about the homeless man "mister." He decides to scrap the all he has worked for, the six figures a year, his car, his home, and even his marriage. Michael chooses to go help the needed, the homeless, and the people with out representation. Not for pay, but just for the better good. All of this because of some apparent guilt he is feeling for what happened that one day to "mister." As his own father put it "Did you turn democrat?" It just seemed almost unrealistic that in about a month a person could go from the upper crusts of America, caring nothing about anyone other than himself, to becoming the Jesse Jackson of Law.

It's a good book, well written, but would you expect anything less from Grisham. Its just a bit too far-fetched for reality, it leaves you thinking, wouldn't it be nice if life could be that simple. I'd have to say that if you are looking for a good story one that is really touching or one that shows the good of humanity this would be a great book. Even though it is a bit far fetched, it could happen if people were only a bit less greedy, and they were willing to help others. Secondly if you enjoyed any of Grisham's other books you would be sure to enjoy this one as well, as it is one of his better-written stories. Finally if you are at all interested in Law or are down about working 40 hours a week, pick this book up and live the life of an 80 hour + a week partner prospect into his transformation to a pro-bono lawyer.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, Feel-good, Unrealistic
Review: One of the few Grisham novels in which the lead character seems far too unrealistic, that too for a lawyer. Unless Grisham intended to make such a wild swing of character to emphasize the "dramatic" effect his trauma and experience has had on the character, it just seems implausible.

The plot, however, is interesting, fairly fast-paced,and original. The sub-plots involving the main character's marriage seems to be present only because a need for a sub-plot was felt.

The plight of the homeless is perhaps the aspect in the novel that deserves the most attention. It will most certainly make any reader ponder what he/she may be able to do to improve the plight of the homeless.

The usual narrative, easy-reading style of Grisham is evident in this novel as well, and readers familiar with his style wont be disappointed. This is certainly one of his better books in terms of theme, not the best in terms of executing the plot. A must read for all Grisham fans (you could care less for reviews, any way!) and a fairly good introduction to Grisham, if you havent been introduced to this author.

Rating:
Summary: Grisham hasn't lost his touch
Review: I've heard some people say that John Grishams writing has deteriorated in the last few years. You wouldn't know it by reading "The Street Lawyer".

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the sleve didn't give the whole plot away, and I enjoy that. Also, this book had the right length, not too long-winded, not too short. That's something hard to find. This book moved with a pretty fast pace. You'll find yourself wondering where your time went.

The characters are very cool. The plot is worked out just right. And there's a good mix of human interest & suspense. Oh- and another bonus, you know how sometimes you're reading and there are so many characters, you forget who is who? Well, this book doesn't have an exorbitant amount, but there were two times where I thought, who is this? (They were minor characters) And, bam, there was an immediate explanation, reminding you of who they were- repeating a scene or mentioning the connection. That was super.

I definitely recommend this book for people who like surprises, action and fun.

Rating:
Summary: INTERESTING ...but UNREALISTIC!!
Review: After over 900 reviews of this book on amazon.com at this writing, I am sure that I have nothing new to add to the overall review than what has already been said. However, of the reviews that I did read few thought this story, rising star lawyer turned lawyer of the poor and homeless was unreal.

While I thought the plot was wonderful, I thought that the realities of such a thing happening was next to none. Lets face it, we are a class, money-driven, my yacht is bigger than yours society. If Grisham had made his character, Michael, more realistic I could stretch my imagination to think it could have happen. For example, if Michael had decided to donate some of his time to the homeless as was the case in the end for Drake and Sweeney, this story would have made more sense. Or, if Michael had built or purchased a place/s for the homeless and talked other lawyers across the USA to donate likewise in their states, it would be believable. The character, Michael could have gone through all of the metamorphosis that he did in his investigation of the homeless and in his discovery of the working of the small office where lawyers worked for the homeless. Michael could also have talked his firm Drake and Sweeney into volunteering some of their time as well.

As this book is written, I enjoyed the read as it was refreshing to read what happen to Michael. But to state that he opted to live in an apartment without furniture and eat from a "greasey spoon" simply because a homeless man forced him to recognize the status of homeless people is ridiculous.

Yes, do read this book and form your own opinion. And for me, maybe I should write my own book if I want to control characters in a story. Beverly C. Sanders

Rating:
Summary: A law student's ethics
Review: Attorney Michael Brock has a legal job that pays six figures, which will most likely lead to a partnership. He's got a beautiful doctor wife. He's got an Ivy League education.

After a homeless man holds him and eight colleagues hostage at gunpoint, Attorney Brock learns that he has a conscience.

Brock speaks to the legal ally to the homeless, Mordecai Green. Between Green's asking for Brock's help at a shelter one snowy night, and Brock finding some damning information about his firm, Brock reverts from his money-making ambition to his much earlier desire to save the world. An addicted woman and a cookie-loving little boy make as much of a difference in his world as the gun-toting hostage-holder. Something good came from something bad, and that's a marvel, even in the world of fiction.

This is an incredible story about the Right and Wrong that's in front of us every day, and which many of us just don't see. Only Grisham could tell this story from a lawyer's point of view, and not sound pompous. Indeed, even the surprising final chapter didn't sound ridiculous.

All in all, this is a gripping tale that is not only worth reading, but worth recommending. My habits will probably change based on having read this book.

(this book was purchased from my amazon.com wishlist)

Rating:
Summary: Never read Grisham before...
Review: I've never picked up a Grisham novel before, nor many other novels for that matter.

I received this one as a Christmas gift, and decided I would go ahead and read it. I enjoyed it. I don't have alot to compare it to, as other reviewers do here, but as a not-so-frequent reader, it was an enjoyable read.

I would recommend this book to someone with a little time on their hands.

Rating:
Summary: Weak Grisham despite its moral
Review: The Street Lawyer, Grisham's ninth novel, takes us through the streets of Washington, where the homeless live seemingly without a care from the hyper-industrialized worship-the-allmighty-buck society they live in, and where a young lawyer in a top-notch firm has just been pulled by his conscience to serve the remainder of his lawyering days.

The Street Lawyer isn't, by any means, one of Grisham's best. There is a minimal of tension, no chases, no abundance of typical Grisham humour or absurdities. Where the novel succeeds is on a more educational plateau. It is, despite my criticisms, a scathing review of urban homeless aid and the politics that surround it. The initial dilemma, a group of poor tenants cast to the street as homeless squatters because of corporate greed, is a powerful one. This novel would be better, however, if Grisham had focused on that legal problem -- which carries its own obvious ramifications -- without feeding us the utterly ridiculous nonsense about a young lawyer growing a social conscience because he had a gun pointed at his head by a mentally-ill, drug-addicted homeless bum -- of all people. It really is, despite Grisham's best intentions, hard to sympathize with anybody who holds innocent people hostage because he has a bone to pick with the system.

As a result, this is one of the few Grisham "moral" novels which I've found genuinely preachy, and after reading the Runaway Jury and The Testament, that truly is saying a lot. I know Grisham intended well, but there are points where he is unrealistically idealistic. He makes it seem as though if we just threw money at them, the problem would go away. He meanwhile admits that many homeless people are drug-addicted prostitutes and pimps with a history of defiance and jail time -- their pain is self-caused. I'm all for social welfare, but society only has an obligation to help those who help it in return -- and make efforts to help themselves. I guess the moral of the story is that, had Mister been allowed to stay in his warehouse for an extra month, he wouldn't have become a drug-addicted, violent, mentally-ill, homeless social malcontent. Come on!

I'd recommend this to strong Grisham fans and people with an interest in social work. If you're looking to get into Grisham and don't know where to start, pick up The Rainmaker or A Painted House instead.

Matty J