Description

Great poker players are master tacticians. Not only do they calculate odds with lightning speed and astonishing precision, but they also cunningly anticipate and manipulate the actions of their adversaries. In short, they boast skills that every lawyer can envy.

This highly entertaining work might best be summed up as "better lawyering through poker." Steven Lubet shows exactly how the tactics of the poker table can be adapted to litigation, negotiation, and virtually every aspect of law practice. In a series of engaging and informative lessons, Lubet describes concepts like "betting for value," "slow playing," and "reverse bluffing," and explains how they can be used by lawyers to win their cases.

The theory and practice of poker will be immediately recognizable to every attorney who has ever made a strategic choice in the face of uncertainty. Lawyers are faced with a never-ending stream of decisions that require swift action, but that are necessarily made based on spotty information. The most obvious decision is whether to settle or proceed to trial, but there are also many other, smaller decisions along the way—which depositions to take, which motions to file, which theories to pursue, which questions to ask—each one influenced to one degree or another by one opponent's behavior. Poker games are much the same. Each player must continually decide whether to raise, call, or fold without seeing some or all of the other players' cards. There is a certain amount of public information in the form of exposed cards and, more importantly, in the betting behavior and physical demeanor of the other players. The key strategy in poker is almost always to deceive the other players by misrepresenting your own cards—often by showing strength when your cards are weak (thus bluffing them into folding their hands), or by showing weakness when your cards are strong (thus encouraging them to keep betting when they cannot win). The best card players, like the best lawyers, have a knack for getting their adversaries to react exactly as they want, and that talent separates the winners from the losers.

Through a raft of engaging stories, Lubet draws on the insights of seasoned card players to show that attorneys have much to learn from poker players. Lawyers' Poker is an irresistible guide to successful lawyering and an enjoyable read for anyone with an interest in law. No poker knowledge required.

Praise for Lawyers' Poker

"A most clever mingling of the likes of legendary poker player Doyle 'Texas Dolly' Brunson, with the master legal tactician Clarence Darrow. Juxtaposing the color and strategies of poker playing greats with the mastery of great lawyers in 'trials of the century' creates a fascinating read for a gambler, lawyer, or just the average Joe."
—Oscar B. Goodman, Mayor, City of Las Vegas

"Lawyers' Poker is clear, entertaining and educational . It is a treasure trove of valuable lessons in competent trial advocacy, the art of negotiation and ethics—all told in a page-turning, storytelling fashion. As a bonus, the reader will also be introduced to the art of poker playing! Indeed, the parallels drawn are accurate. Both the neophyte and seasoned lawyer will love this book."
—Thomas A. Demetrio, Corboy & Demetrio, Member of the Inner Circle of Advocates

"Every lawyer should play his cards right by reading Lubet's book. It's a safe bet the reader will come away with some great lessons in a courtroom and maybe even a tip or two at the card table."
—Robert A. Clifford, former Chair, ABA Section of Litigation

"Lawyers' Poker is a fascinating read, as with great wit, skill and clarity Lubet moves from the poker room to the courtroom with impressive knowledge of the operation of both venues. As a veteran cross-examiner, I found Lubet's thesis 'straight' and his book 'flush' with clever insight. Indeed, I 'bet' I could argue the case he makes to a 'full house'."
—Benjamin Brafman, criminal defense lawyer

"What a great read—the trial lawyer's lessons are precisely the same as the skilled poker player's—the reader learns about history in both domains and smiles while being educated and entertained. This is a book for practitioners in the courtroom or the cardroom or those that want to be—or envy—either one. It is a true collector's piece!"
—Rikki Klieman, Court TV Anchor, trial attorney and best selling author

"Professor Lubet's insights about poker (and life) will make you a far better trial lawyer. I loved the book."
—Lawrence J. Fox, former Chair, ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility

"Any attorney who has ever tried a case or who aspires to be a litigator will want to read this book and learn more about how success at the poker table and winning in the courtroom are related. Reading Lawyers' Poker is a complete treat."
—Trial Magazine

"Lubet deals a winning hand with this entertaining and creative approach to gamesmanship. Anyone who negotiates, strategizes or bluffs—and who doesn't—will benefit from this great read. You won't be able to keep a poker-face when you read this funny and informative book."
—Alan M. Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

"Steven Lubet creatively weaves together two ostensibly unconnected worlds. Highlighted by anecdotes from some of the greatest arguments in American trial history, coupled with memorable hands in the World Series of Poker, Lawyers' Poker provides illuminating insights into strategic decisions in courtrooms and card tables across America."
—Kenneth W. Starr, Dean and Professor of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law

Extended Copyright Information

Copyright 2006 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press.

Previously published by Oxford University Press.

Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.

Jacket photograph of royal flush: copyright Thinkstock, Inmagine.
Jacket design: Tracy Baldwin.

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About the Author

Steven Lubet is Professor of Law at Northwestern University and a nationally recognized expert on trials and trial strategy. He is author of the popular textbook Modern Trial Advocacy, and, most recently, Murder in Tombstone: The Forgotten Trial Wyatt Earp, and writes an award-winning column for American Lawyer magazine. His humorous commentaries have been heard on National Public Radio's Morning Edition and his op-eds have run in Newsday the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and many other newspapers.

Like this author? Check out the list of books by this author available on DailyLit.

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Opening Lines (Experimental)

A young lawyer moved from the Indian Territories (now Oklahoma) to Texas, in the early spring of 1888. Eager to get started, he rented a small office and put his shingle on the door, but he still had to be admitted to practice. There were few law schools in those days, and there was no formal bar ...

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Copyright

Copyright 2006 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

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