the most rewarding aspect is probably

the relationships that you develop I

mean I still have relationships on a

social level with people I represented

you know in the early 1990s especially

in a criminal case it really is a

special relationship because you’re kind

of going through fire with that client

so I think to me that’s one of the most

rewarding aspects get to know people at

an extremely personal level and really

every aspect of their lives and I’d say

secondly the most rewarding thing is as

you get experience uh I think what

you’re really seeking is not just your

own self-approval but the respect of

your peers and I feel like over time

I’ve really developed the respect of my

peers as a trial lawyer here in Chicago

and and as well as nationally

to be successful in the courtroom I

think takes a wide variety of skills but

particularly in federal criminal cases

and state law felony cases you have to

be of a great comfort level of being in

the courtroom trying cases in front of

juries often a different group of people

each time that you appear so you have to

be able to operate at different speeds

and handle cross-examination of

witnesses and really have a sense of

what the appropriate tone and approach

is for every witness you know you can’t

be the lawyer like you might see on TV

that is always one speed that’s just not

appropriate and it’s not effective at

trial but I think also probably the most

important thing is just a comfort level

with yourself as you try more cases and

experience success I think it’s really

comes down to are you comfortable with

yourself so that the jury’s comfortable

to you that you’re credible with that

jury that they don’t think you’re trying

to sell them something and that they

believe you even though they might not

always go your way they believe that

you’re being truthful with them and they

can respect what you’re doing