Trial Magazine

I wish that my law school had offered elective improv, stand-up, or drama classes—something that would have encouraged me to think outside the box.

Courtney Leigh Winston, Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, Richmond, VA

 

I wish there had been classes devoted to the business of practicing law. Maybe there are now, but it was challenging opening my own law firm not knowing anything about renting office space, email servers, phone systems, insurance, trust accounts, financing options, marketing, employee benefits, retirement plans. I had to figure those things out on my own.

Brian Franciskato, Nash & Franciskato Law Firm, Kansas City, MO

 

How to draft and serve a complaint.

Russell Pate, The Pate Law Firm, Christiansted, V.I.

 

Insurance law. When I started as a young lawyer, I did not even know that a liability insurance policy contained two separate promises: to defend and to indemnify. And I surely did not know the difference between the two.

Richard Lee Stavins, Robbins DiMonte, Chicago, IL

 

Do not forget to pick back up the common sense you left at the entrance of law school and take it with you when you graduate.

Ken Laska, Segal & Laska, Plainville, CT

 

I wish law school taught the importance of work-life balance, setting personal boundaries, and stress management through practices like meditation, yoga, and exercise. Way too many people have chained themselves to a culture of overworking and are missing out on life.

Sharon F. Iskra, Bailey Glasser, Charleston, WV

 

I wish we had practice clinics. Now, some schools have them, but it is still mostly about theory and only a little practical application. Thankfully, I benefited from a professor—a great trial lawyer himself—who used as our textbook a book created by a group of AAJ (then ATLA) lawyers, Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit. I’ve used the forms from that book long into my career.

Dave Scott, Dave Scott Law Firm, Louisville, KY

 

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