Some attorneys have made headlines through high profile cases involving celebrities or scandalous defense of high profile clients. Others have become known through public appearances.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has pledged to use all available tools against President Donald Trump and his business activities, due to her office having expansive investigative responsibilities.
Clarence Darrow
Darrow became well-known as an advocate of labor and defense of the poor after working as corporation counsel for a railroad. Once he started taking cases that fit his sense of justice, his fame skyrocketed; combined with his impressive courtroom skills he became widely revered.
His most notable case involved defending two young thrill killers who attracted widespread national media coverage, drawing widespread media coverage prior to television and newspapers. His ability to craft words with oratorical flair propelled him into national recognition.
Darrow’s life was an endless string of trials that exposed human frailty and systemic injustice. Yet his true calling remained unchanged: using the courtroom as a platform to challenge those who curbed democracy and freedom was his true calling, whether through capital punishment cases or otherwise. Darrow combined intellectualism with expert hucksterery; making his mark both intellectually and professionally.
Gary L Spence
Gerry Spence, a country lawyer who graduated with highest honors from the University of Wyoming Law School, has spent half a century defending both innocents and defendants charged with crimes alike. His exceptional civil practice and criminal defense work has garnered him international renown as one of our greatest trial attorneys of our time.
Spence has earned himself a spotless record as an attorney. From winning Karen Silkwood’s family a $10.5 million verdict against Kerr-McGee for their death to representing Randy Weaver during the Ruby Ridge federal standoff, his cases have become among the most notorious in American legal history – never losing a jury trial and becoming part of national memory.
Spence defends his comments by noting that as an attorney and representing clients involved in public disputes, his comments have placed himself into public discourse and may elicit responses from people taking opposing sides on an issue.
Thomas M Meseareau
Thomas Mesereau has earned immense renown as a highly skilled criminal defense attorney. Known for achieving acquittals in high-profile cases such as Michael Jackson, including that trial. Mesereau also co-founded and currently co-manages a legal clinic in Los Angeles where judges, lawyers, law students and others volunteer their services for those in need. Born in West Point New York and educated at Harvard University before later working for US Congressman as legislative assistant/speechwriter; later going on to obtain master’s from London School of Economics before receiving law degrees from University California Hastings College of the Law.
Mesereau takes an in-depth approach to his defense strategies, carefully investigating all aspects of a case and searching out weaknesses in prosecution’s claims. His courtroom presence and ability to connect with juries help convince them of clients’ innocence.
Mark Twain
He was an esteemed writer whose works gave great joy and enjoyment to millions. They will continue doing so for generations to come.
Twain wrote about life in the West with an approachable, humorous, and irreverent style that won him great success as an author. His breakthrough came in 1865 with his story about a jumpy frog being published in a newspaper; following this success came an excursion through Europe that was documented with humor for American newspapers and magazines back home.
He was also an astute businessman who often invested in worthless inventions and fell deeply into debt. To generate cash flow, Twain collaborated with Ulysses S. Grant on publishing his memoirs; Twain even hired salesmen across the country to sell copies; it ultimately became one of his bestselling works. However, Twain’s estate was complicated by copyrights, stocks, bonds and other investments, so he appointed three executors he trusted would stand up for him while protecting his daughter against her spendthrift tendencies.