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The Will of the People
By Barry Friedman
In The Will of the People: How Public Opinion Has Influenced the Supreme Court and Shaped the Meaning of the Constitution, Barry Friedman argues that, in practice, the Supreme Court has always been subject to a higher power: the American public. Judicial positions have been abolished; the justices’ jurisdiction has been stripped; the Court has been packed; and unpopular rulings have been defied.

Friedman’s account of the relationship between popular opinion and the Supreme Court shows how the American people came to accept their most controversial institution.

The book (614 pages) is published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, www.fsgbooks.com, and costs $35.


The Articulate Advocate
By Brian K. Johnson and Marsha Hunter
The Articulate Advocate is an illustrated how-to guide, teaching lawyers not just what to say, but how to speak persuasively and spontaneously in court.

Techniques, which incorporate linguistics, neuroscience, and sports psychology, are explained in detail in order to bring out an advocate’s inherent strengths. Drills similar to those practiced by athletes allow busy professionals to develop a routine to achieve results.

The authors address questions asked frequently by lawyers and critical issues, such as body language and the effect of adrenaline on public speaking.

Visit www.ipgbooks.com to order the 206-page book for $19.95.

Florida Firearms – Law, Use, and Ownership
By Jon H. Gutmacher
Orlando criminal defense lawyer Jon Gutmacher originally published Florida Firearms in 1993; 16 years and 115,000 copies later, the “bible on Florida firearm and weapon laws” has been revised and redistributed with updates.

Florida Firearms explains weapons statutes, regulations, and state and federal case law in an easy-to-understand format. Gutmacher answers commonly asked questions, providing information on legal transportation of a firearm, the qualifications for firearm purchase, laws pertaining to weapons in schools, and more. The book’s text serves as a guide for firearm owners, buyers, and sellers.

Gutmacher is a National Rifle Association (NRA) certified firearms instructor and a member of The Florida Bar with over 30 years of litigation experience in criminal and self-defense law.

This 304-page book can be ordered directly from the publisher for $36.95 (including shipping and handling) at www.floridafirearmslaw.com. Updates to previous versions of the book are also available for download online at the same site.

The View from the First Chair
By Martin L. Grayson
Southern California defense lawyer Martin Grayson describes The View from the First Chair as a “crash course” into the litigation process and the legal and psychological art of the lawsuit.

Grayson’s work aims to provide a training manual for 3Ls, new law school graduates, and junior associates. The book covers a variety of trial-related topics, including the elements of a good deposition, how to pick a jury, preparing witnesses, proper e-mail etiquette, and courthouse demeanor.

Grayson is a former journalist turned trial lawyer with over 25 years of litigation experience.

This 176-page book can be purchased for $45 from Lawyer Avenue Press at www.lawyeravenue.com.

The Boomer Burden
By Julie Hall
Every day, approximately 4,800 baby boomers become middle-aged orphans when their elderly parents pass away.

Professional estate liquidator Julie Hall provides counsel on how to:

• Divide parents’ estate with peace of mind.

• Minimize fighting with siblings during the estate settlement process.

• Clear out the family home in 10 days or less.

• Identify potential items of value in the home.

• Have “that conversation” with parents.

• Be ethical during the entire process.

The Boomer Burden offers guidance for any executor, heir, or beneficiary going through one of life’s most overwhelming challenges: the infirmity and death of a parent.

The book is published by Thomas Nelson, 225 pages, $14.99. To order, visit www.theboomerburden.com.

Solo by Choice
By Carolyn Elefant
A practical handbook for new and prospective solo practitioners, Solo by Choice explores the world of solo practices and small law firms.

Written by Washington, D.C., lawyer Carolyn Elefant, the book covers the major aspects of solo practice, from the myths and realities of hanging a shingle to billing and client-relation demands. Elefant’s book promotes the benefits of solo and small firm practice and seeks to improve the reputation of solos within the legal profession.

Solo by Choice includes Web resources, a frequently asked questions section with interviews from solo practitioners, and real-life examples and profiles of lawyers who have taken the leap into starting their own firm.

Go to www.lawyeravenue.com to order the 300-page book for $45.

Law’s Allure
By Gordon Silverstein
In Law’s Allure, Gordon Silverstein describes the relationship between law and politics and the process of what he terms “juridification,” the increasing replacement of political dialogue with legal language and legal processes and the replacement of political decisions with judicial ones. Silverstein looks at both sides of the relationship between law and politics, from the divide between politicians and the courts over campaign financing to the constructive process made in environmental legislation. He also explores recent case studies in juridification, arguing that juridification will only increase in the years to come.

Law’s Allure is published by Cambridge University Press, 336 pages, $23.99. To order, go to www.cambridge.org/us.

Lawyers at Midlife
By Mike Long, John Clyde, and Pat Funk
Over the next 10 years, about 400,000 boomer lawyers will navigate the transition from full and active law practice to retirement. Drawing on their own experiences conducting retirement workshops for lawyers, the authors of Lawyers at Midlife offer a practical road map for lawyers anticipating or in the middle of a career transition. Mike Long, John Clyde, and Pat Funk present their knowledge on financial planning, insurance issues, career counseling, and law firm management to prepare readers for retirement.

Lawyers at Midlife includes a resources section and easy-to-use worksheets that can help guide the reader through the planning process in a logical, pragmatic way. This workbook serves as a planning tool for mid- and late-career lawyers prepared to lay the groundwork for their retirement.

The 228-page book is published by Lawyer Avenue Press, www.lawyeravenue.com and costs $35.

The Lawyer’s Guide to Practice Management Systems Software
By Andrew Z. Adkins III
The newest edition of The Lawyer’s Guide to Practice Management Software Systems is a how-to guide to understanding, evaluating, choosing, and implementing a practice management system to be used in the law firm.

Written by University of Florida law professor Andrew Adkins, this updated guide details the latest practice management software systems, helping lawyers gain a solid understanding of individual capabilities and special features. It provides direction on how to obtain software at the best prices, set up office workflow, obtain training for staff, and more. This book aims to help lawyers get their systems up and running quickly, leaving more time to work on their cases, not to track them.

Adkins is the director of the Legal Technology Institute at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and is the executive director of the International Center for Automated Information Research. Go to www.ababooks.org to order the 376-page book for $129.97.

The Reflective Counselor
By F. Gregory Coffey and Maureen C. Kessler
This meditation-a-day book is designed to help law practitioners recover from “spiritual bankruptcy.” Each daily entry includes an introductory quotation, followed by a reflection inspired by that quotation. The book covers themes ranging from personal beliefs and values to dealing with difficult people.

Coffey is a clinical psychologist with over 25 years in therapeutic practice and has served as a life coach for many lawyers. Kessler spent 30 years practicing law before becoming an ordained minister.

The book (370 pages) is published by the American Bar Association and is available at www.ababooks.org for $29.95 ($24.95 for ABA members).

1L of a Ride: A Well-Traveled Professor’s Road Map to Success in the First Year of Law School
By Andrew J. McClurg
Written by a professor with more than two decades of experience teaching law students, 1L of a Ride provides a candid beginning-to-end road map of what to expect in the first year of law school.

Andrew McClurg addresses each aspect of academic success, including five habits of successful law students, effective class participation and notetaking, and essay and multiple-choice exam strategies. Real 1Ls and other law professors also offer their own comments and advice to the reader; the book focuses on practical advice that can be followed by any student of law. The author’s advice is backed up with research and includes tips on managing stress and maintaining well-being.

McClurg is a professor at the University of Memphis School of Law. 1L of a Ride (420 pages) is published by Thomson West and is available online for $32.


Bar members can submit book reviews of approximately 500 words for publication. The reviews should be related to law but may be practical, esoteric, entertaining, or fiction. Reviews should include the number of pages, the publisher, and cost.

Book reviews may be e-mailed to ajones@flabar.org.