Trial Techniques (Coursebook Series)

Rating:
Summary: A masterful reference work
Review: If you only ever bought one book on trial technique, this would be it. It is clear, straightforward, and easy to comprehend. It changed my own perception of how to try a case, and moved me from the rank of despairing novice to comfortable journeyman. It is easily the best reference work of its type I have ever used.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but look at Common Sense Rules of Advocacy by Evans
Review: Mauet's book is very good, but Keith Evans' book, Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers, IS FOR THE ADVOCATE AND NOT THE LITIGATOR.

Keith Evans practiced as a trial lawyer in California and as a barrister in England. In addition to law school teaching, Mr. Evans also made numerous presentations to different American Inns of Court.

Evans book is now published by TheCapitol.Net, and more information about this classic of trial advocacy can be found on their web site: thecapitol.net

Best bet is to buy Mauet's book and also the Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers by Keith Evans.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but look at Common Sense Rules of Advocacy by Evans
Review: Recently I decided to buy a basic book on trial advocacy. I saw two ready choices, Steven Lubet's "Modern Trial Advocacy" and Thomas Mauet's "Trial Techniques." Being too miserly to shell out good money for both books, I got both books on inter-library loan and compared them.

After a thorough perusal of both, I bought Lubet's book. Here's why. Lubet's book, published by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), is written on the NITA model for trial advocacy. I attended a NITA school back in 1980, and I was very impressed with their philosophy of trial advocacy. Over twenty years later, I still use some of the precepts taught at that school.

Mauet may be a very good trial attorney, but his book suggests that his knowledge of trial advocacy is completely academic. I heartily disagree with much of the "practical" advice he gives. There is a world of difference between litigation and advocacy. Litigation wins cases on appeal. Advocacy wins them at trial. Lubet's book is more for the advocate, Mauet's for the litigator.

Rating:
Summary: For the Litigator, Not the Advocate
Review: Recently I decided to buy a basic book on trial advocacy. I saw two ready choices, Steven Lubet's "Modern Trial Advocacy" and Thomas Mauet's "Trial Techniques." Being too miserly to shell out good money for both books, I got both books on inter-library loan and compared them.

After a thorough perusal of both, I bought Lubet's book. Here's why. Lubet's book, published by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), is written on the NITA model for trial advocacy. I attended a NITA school back in 1980, and I was very impressed with their philosophy of trial advocacy. Over twenty years later, I still use some of the precepts taught at that school.

Mauet may be a very good trial attorney, but his book suggests that his knowledge of trial advocacy is completely academic. I heartily disagree with much of the "practical" advice he gives. There is a world of difference between litigation and advocacy. Litigation wins cases on appeal. Advocacy wins them at trial. Lubet's book is more for the advocate, Mauet's for the litigator.

Rating:
Summary: THE DEFINITIVE BOOK ON TRIAL TECHNIQUES....
Review: This reference book tells you everything that you wanted to know about trials, but were afraid to ask. It is an excellent reference work for law students or inexperienced trial lawyers who want to grasp the fundamentals of trial techniques, so as to at least look and sound as if they know what they are doing. It is a comprehensive work that covers methodology, as well as trial strategy.

The book gives the reader instructive examples on ways of accomplishing a specific task, which, while not dispositive, are invaluable to the inexperienced. It gives the novice a starting point from which one may develop his or her own particular style. The book offers basic trial techniques without which no novice trial lawyer should be. It is your basic primer on trial work with the emphasis on jury trials. It is well organized and easy to follow. If you only have room for one trial techniques book on your shelf, this should be the one.