Getting to Resolution, 2nd Edition

Preface

During my second year of law school I had my first “real” lawyer’s job. I was an intern at a local legal services clinic. On my first day I was handed twenty-five cases “to work on.” This would be my job for the semester. Three weeks later I asked the managing attorney for more cases. When he asked about the twenty-five he had given me, I told him that I had resolved them.

He was very surprised—and very curious. He asked how I had done it. I told him that I had reviewed the files, spoken to the clients, thought about a fair outcome and what needed to be done, called the attorney or agency on the other side, and reached a satisfactory resolution.

I knew nothing about being a lawyer. I had no inkling that the cases were difficult, needed ...