ELENA SARIS
I went to law school in 1989 wanting nothing more than to be a deputy public defender in Los Angeles County. I could think of no nobler profession than giving voice to the voiceless and standing up for the underdog. In the last 21 years I have represented thousands of clients. I have handled nearly every type of criminal case from DUI and prostitution to serious and violent felonies, including special circumstance murder. I am a trial lawyer. I do not sit behind a desk and delegate. I do not sit in an ivory tower and pontificate. I am in the trenches every day and I win the majority of my jury trials.
For the past 15 years I have trained other lawyers in mastering art of the jury trial. So many seminars nowadays focus on specialized areas of law. They fail to recognize that many lawyers have not yet mastered basic trial skills. My training consistently reinforces mastery of the basic skills while diving deeper into the art of the story and learning how to craft arguments that engage and persuade jurors. I focus on truly connecting with your clients and showing you proven strategies for negotiating better deals when trial is not an option.
I know that in this economy there are many lawyers coming right out of school and opening their own practice. Most of the trainings that I see for them focus on how to get clients or how to deal with escrow accounts. Those are necessary skills but precious few courses show you how to become a feared and respected trial attorney. When you master the art of the jury trial, when you learn to connect with your clients and negotiate better deals, clients come to you.
I recognize that there are many indigent defense attorneys throughout the country who do not have the funds or resources to spend several weekends in seminar after seminar. I know there are lawyers in private practice who wish they had a resource available to them to hone their skills. Many seasoned lawyers are afraid to admit that they are uncomfortable in front of jury or lack a certain skill that they desperately want to learn. I started this site for them and for all attorneys who want to learn to be better advocates for their clients.
I want to make this site the resource I wished for when I began my career. I will always be a student, honing my skills with each new trial, but I have learned strategies and techniques that can take years off your learning curve and I want to share those on these pages. I hope this site can serve as your virtual “attorney down the hallway” where you can come for training, advice and encouragement. Welcome.
