Letters to a Young Lawyer

As defender of both the righteous and the questionable, Alan Dershowitz has become perhaps the most famous and outspoken attorney in the land. Whether or not they agree with his legal tactics, most people would agree that he possesses a powerful and profound sense of justice. In this meditation on his profession, Dershowitz writes about life, law, and the opportunities that young lawyers have to do good and do well at the same time. We live in an age of growing dissatisfaction with law as a career, which ironically comes at a time of unprecedented wealth for many lawyers. Dershowitz addresses this paradox, as well as the uncomfortable reality of working hard for clients who are often without many redeeming qualities. He writes about the lure of money, fame, and power, as well as about the seduction of success. In the process, he conveys some of the "tricks of the trade" that have helped him win cases and become successful at the art and practice of "lawyering." Alan Dershowitz has been involved in some of the most notorious cases of the past three decades including, O.J. Simpson's trial, Muhammad Ali's appeal, and Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. Dershowitz resides in Cambridge and is a professor at Harvard Law School. He is the author of Chutzpah, The Advocates Devil, America on Trial, and The Genesis of Justice, among others.