In the article, “Ross Guberman’s Point Taken, How to Write Like the World’s Best Judges,” featured in the March edition of Appellate Issues, Attorney Wendy Coats provides an in-depth book review on Ross Guberman’s Point Taken How to Write Like the World’s Best Judge.
I cringe each time a new acquaintance learns that I’m an attorney and then quips, “My [niece/daughter/sister] loves to argue so I told her she should go to law school, would you be willing to talk with her?” I always say yes and nod with a brief shoulder shrug, complicit in the fiction that the attorney’s skill set is arguing.
I’m proud of that young woman’s strength, tenacity, and courage to take a stand, which have earned her the “loves to argue” reputation. Those characteristics will serve her well. But when we meet, I will ask, “Do you love to write? Do you ever ponder whether ensure, protect, or safeguard is the right word for your sentence? Do you ever get lost in a book like David Whyte’s Consolations, The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words?” I will ask her, “Do you love to read? Do you love stories about real people doing real things, who inevitably must wrestle with an un-expected, disappointing, and broken set of circumstances? And, do you like puzzles? Are you intrigued by the idea of teaching and guiding how those broken pieces should be rotated, chiseled, and duct taped back together into a right and just result?”
I’m a lawyer who loves the law in all of its un-settled, evolving, and case-by-case glory. In practice, I’m an appellate attorney but I’ve increasingly come to think of myself as a professional non-fiction writer. I draw on my legal training and experience to advocate on behalf of our clients in the appellate court arena. I am paid to write.
To read the full article, please visit American Bar.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
