Rating: Summary: Tremendously entertaining and enlightening. Review: This is a book of a famous attorney who lived from the late 1800's to the l940's. His book is a description of his many court appearances and the value of cross-examination to discover truth and fraud. It is a must read for anyone who anticipates being on the witness stand, especially expert witinesses. It has great humor, but more importantly, describes the time proven methods of cross examination to bring out the truth. It demystifies the process and gives a human side to a mostly misunderstood and mistrusted activity. It also shows why cross examination is so very important. As a physician, I have been on witness hot-seats many times in cases brought against others. I would have given most any thing for the knowledge in this book. A must-read for anybody anticipating ever being a witness! --John Ellis, M
Rating: Summary: A Masterpiece Review: Twenty years ago as a young lawyer I tried a case with one of my firms partners, who was in his eighties. He let me try the case, and we received a rather just decision from the court. I was quite proud of myself, only to learn from my boss that the senior partner felt that my style of cross examination was ineffective at best.I determined to learn all I could about effective cross examination. The first book I read was also the last- Wellman's The Art of Cross Examination. Although the book was writen around the turn of the century, it contains a treasure trove of illustraions about different kinds of cross examination. How to Cross Examine the Hostile Witness, the Lying Witness , the scientific Witness, the Truthful Witness (the hardest job of all) The book is a true today as it was 95 years ago.
Rating: Summary: Excellent, but also see Keith Evan's Common Sense Rules Review: Wellman's book is a classic. But another classic that any lawyer who wants to be an excellent advocate should also read is Keith Evan's Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers. Mr. Evans practiced as a trial lawyer in California for many years after a decade as a barrister in England. He also taught as an adjunct law professor and gave many presentations to American Inns of Court. Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers is now published by TheCapitol.Net, and more information about Evans' book is available on their web site: thecapitol.net If you want to be a excellent advocate, you should buy BOTH Wellman and Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers.
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