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Fundamentals of Trial Techniques
Book covers preparation for trial, jury selection, opening statements, direct examination, exhibits, cross-examination, closing arguments and objections.
- GenresLaw
Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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May 30, 2017
The poo-brown and puke-green cover of my 1980 edition doesn't do justice for Mauet's careful, crisp, and informative prose.
So, full disclosure: I am not a lawyer, nor a law student, and I am not even remotely interested in becoming either. That said, Mauet wrote a really interesting and thorough guide for trial lawyers. The chapters, which cover the entire trial process from toe to tip to closing arguments, are almost perfectly self-contained and filled with examples that you can jump right into it and plunder what you need. Definitions and explanations are sometimes obnoxiously not given till later chapters -- but in all likelihood, the reader is at least familiar with basic legalese already.
I especially appreciate the author taking the time to give entire opening, closing, and rebuttal arguments from both sides, and making very convincing cases for both prosecution/plaintiff and defense. He accomplishes just what he suggests a trial lawyer should do: be friendly, but also exude control and knowledge to your audience.
Also, hearsay is really a tricky, tricky subject...
(Now, a brief notice: laws and procedure change. I assume there were editions after mine that were updated appropriately. For instance, there's a section in my book on Jury Selection called "Ethnic Characteristics," and does not make mention of Batson challenges...since it was published ~6 years before Batson v. Kentucky and similar decisions threw a monkey wrench into that).
So, full disclosure: I am not a lawyer, nor a law student, and I am not even remotely interested in becoming either. That said, Mauet wrote a really interesting and thorough guide for trial lawyers. The chapters, which cover the entire trial process from toe to tip to closing arguments, are almost perfectly self-contained and filled with examples that you can jump right into it and plunder what you need. Definitions and explanations are sometimes obnoxiously not given till later chapters -- but in all likelihood, the reader is at least familiar with basic legalese already.
I especially appreciate the author taking the time to give entire opening, closing, and rebuttal arguments from both sides, and making very convincing cases for both prosecution/plaintiff and defense. He accomplishes just what he suggests a trial lawyer should do: be friendly, but also exude control and knowledge to your audience.
Also, hearsay is really a tricky, tricky subject...
(Now, a brief notice: laws and procedure change. I assume there were editions after mine that were updated appropriately. For instance, there's a section in my book on Jury Selection called "Ethnic Characteristics," and does not make mention of Batson challenges...since it was published ~6 years before Batson v. Kentucky and similar decisions threw a monkey wrench into that).
Displaying 1 of 1 review