Why Are Lawyers So Dramatic? Musings on a Windy March Morning

A few months ago, my university selected me for inclusion in our Chancellor's annual report on faculty activities. It's a glossy marketing magazine intended to highlight the exciting and innovative things being done throughout the world by our faculty.  I was selected because I had just finished testifying before a Department of Defense panel on the problem of sexual assault in the military.

My write-up in the annual report, however, had almost nothing to do with my testimony before the DoD panel. Instead, it focused on my work as an advocacy teacher. A university photographer came and photographed me during a trial team practice session. Superimposed over the photograph is the language: You're an expert in military law. You've advised the Department of Defense on military law and taught criminal law in the JAG School. How do you prepare your students for life and death moments in the courtroom?

 As a brief aside, my associate dean pointed out that my photo-spread is actually the centerfold of the magazine. This is a position I never thought I'd occupy in any magazine format. If you know me (bald guy with red-and-white striped tie), I'll bet you never thought I'd be a centerfold either. Sometimes our lives take unexpected turns.

Altchiler's Advocacy Abattoir: Making the First Day a Memorable Event

Bob Altchiler is the founder and principal of Altchiler, LLC, and an adjunct faculty member in the trial advocacy program at Pace Law School. In the blog post below, he shares his memorable first-day introduction to trial advocacy. Something tells me students have a great time in Professor Altchiler's Advocacy Abattoir/Trial Advocacy Course.

I tried something new in my advocacy class this past semester. I walked into the courtroom, where my class was waiting for me. Before saying a word, with my class in the jury box, I handed to each of them a bloody body part, or an x-ray of a body part. (see attached samples). 

Then I left.