The Right Call is Often Not Clear
A lawyer friend called me recently. He needed a continuance, but his opposing counsel would not agree. My friend was not happy. The...
WORDS OF WISDOM
LinkedIn offers a great platform to share our experience in law. For Brewster Rawls, LinkedIn is a powerful tool to network through his seasoned law experience. Brewster has found success through sharing wisdom he has accumulated over the years. Brewster has invested time into his profile so it isn't just a platform to have existence, but to thrive, network and build meaningful connections. Below are some of the posts of wisdom Brewster has shared.
When Clients Misbehave
Sometimes clients behave in ways that are not in their own interests. They can turn a winnable case into a virtually certain loser. Been...
Job Applicant Insights: To Divulge or to Not Divulge
Trigger warning: Employment lawyers scroll on. I am going to utter heresy. You’re called by someone you know, another lawyer. A former...
Grab the Initiative
Better to ask permission or seek forgiveness? I definitely adhere to the forgiveness school of thought. I always have. Those who knew me...
Financial Stability and Viability are the Foundation of Everything Else
Recently, I ran into lawyer friend I had not seen in a while. We never practiced at the same firm, but we used to interact frequently. Of...
Size is Overhead. Overhead is Cost.
I don’t work from home much anymore. I prefer being in the office. Considering our office is on the other side of the city, however, and...
Honesty and Fairness Matter
The more things change, the more they remain the same. Reading The New York Times on Sunday (my long standing custom), this article...
Disrespect for the Due Process
The Declaration of Independence speaks of "unalienable" God given rights, including "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It...
What Was The Defense Counsel Thinking?
Often, I look at defense counsel and just want to say: What were you thinking? At times, I want to just shake them and tell them they are...
Last Medal of Honor Recipient from World War II Passes Away
The last Medal of Honor recipient from World War II died this week. Mr. Williams' story is an incredible one. Like everyone my age, I...
Changing a Tire
So, I decide to take off the rest of this week to do some unpacking at the house. A necessary chore. Before starting my happy task, I...
The Economics of Litigation are Thin
Yesterday, David Tierney and I had a Zoom meeting with a family we represent in an FTCA medical malpractice case. The end of life care...
Thoughts on the Cosby Trial
The recent jury verdict against Bill Cosby is a curious one. After a three week trial, a Los Angeles jury awarded $500,000 in a sexual...
Non-Economic Caps are Wrong in Medical Malpractice Cases
Damage caps are WRONG. Non-economic caps are especially wrong in medical malpractice cases. Today, I had to break the news to a 70 year...
In the Midst of a Nightmare Deposition
Your witness is being deposed. Maybe it's your client or your expert, but it's not going well. In fact, it's a disaster - a "technicolor...
Memorial Day
Memorial Day. Today we honor our fallen. Yesterday, we were in Knoxville, Tennessee, visiting some old friends who had just moved there....
Always Consider the Unplanned Events
I traveled about 90 miles for a routine hearing, court approval of a medical malpractice wrongful death settlement. I expected it to be a...
Civility is Good Enough
The other day I was accused by opposing counsel of sending a "rude" and "condescending" email. The other side hadn't done something it...
Partial Break is Better than No Break
To check or not to check. That is the question. Checking emails, that is. Last week, I was on a mission trip in Utah. I deliberately left...
We Are All Connected
I met another lawyer for lunch to discuss working together on FTCA medical malpractice cases. Afterwards, I ran a couple of errands then...