The Art of Advocacy is Like the Art of War --- The Lawyer as Warrior - Defender

The Lawyer as Warrior - Defender --- By Glen R. Graham, Attorney at Law, Tulsa, Oklahoma, over 20 years of experience (See also: http://www.glenrgraham.com/)

There is a big difference between a lawyer who is a warrior and a defender and a lawyer who is merely a businessman. An experienced trial lawyer does not fear a jury trial because he knows he was made and trained to do battle and he is not in it just for the money. A businessman is solely concerned with the bottom line which is how much money can I get for trying this case. A warrior - trial lawyer lives for the battle. He has been trained and it is as if everything he has done has lead up to the battle. A warrior's heart, he lives for the battle. No retreat, no surrender. He holds his clients life in his hands. Freedom or prison, it all depends upon the out-come of this trial. Preparation is everything. Planning, gathering the evidence, preparing for cross-examination. It is real work. A defender of the civil rights and the constitution and the humanity of mankind. It is an adversary system. Everything, everything depends upon how well the lawyer does his/her job. YOU can only be free to the extent that others are free.

The art of advocacy is in some sense like the art of war.
If you want to read some good Asian philosophy, take a look at "The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

Under chapter one, "Laying Plans," Sun Tzu says:

"All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."

"The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations before hand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat; how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose." - Sun Tzu

Yours in the Defense of Fellow Human Beings,

Glen R. Graham, Attorney at Law, Tulsa, Oklahoma
http://www.glenrgraham.com