Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles, California
Meet Thomas Johnston
Meet Thomas Johnston
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Lawyers have to get time in the courtroom to become comfortable with it. You know, I think there’s an idea that when we graduate from law school that a lawyer’s able to be comfortable in a courtroom. And the truth is that takes time and repetition. What we’re able to do is overcome whatever barriers some people have being in court and seeing what happens. I go to court and I see it as a place where something good is about to happen not where something bad is about to happen. And I think that that is a benefit of the 20 years of experience that we’ve had seeing good outcomes come from the court system.
I think its actions not words. And as a trial lawyer, I think the jurors want to see the story. And so, what that means is we have to discover what the real story is. And then we have to put it into action in front of the jury either by way of demonstration or some video evidence or something that tells the story in a way that brings it to life. And what I try to do I is I try to tell the story of change through action.
I’m careful how I spend my time outside of the office because most of our time is in the office. And when I’m not working most the time I go home to be with my family. But I do spend time in an organization called The American Board of Trial Advocates. That organization’s over 75 years old and it’s made up of plaintiffs lawyers, like I am, defense lawyers, and judges. And its invitation only for people who try cases to verdict. But that’s not what’s great about the organization, I think. What’s great about it is that it’s dedicated to civility in practice.
And what I like is the idea that a person can be a zealous and tough lawyer but still be civil to his opponent and to the court. And what I mean by civil is that my word is my bond. That if I say I’m going to do something that means that it will be done. That I’m not rude to my opponents. That the judge can rely on me to not hide evidence or say I’m going to prove something that I know I can’t prove. And I think those are high ideas and that’s what that organization stands for so I feel good spending my time with other people who try to do the same thing.
This compilation videos features personal injury attorney Thomas Johnston as he talks about his passion for what he does and what it’s like to win cases. He believes that lawyers need substantial time in the courtroom to become truly comfortable with it. Many assume that graduating from law school automatically equips a lawyer with courtroom confidence, but he knows the reality is that it takes time and repeated practice. Over the years, he has overcome the initial barriers many face, approaching the courtroom not as a place where something bad might happen, but as a space where something good is about to occur—a perspective shaped by over 20 years of experience witnessing positive outcomes in the court system.
As a trial lawyer, he emphasizes that actions speak louder than words. Jurors respond to the story being presented, which means uncovering the real story and bringing it to life in the courtroom—whether through demonstrations, evidence, or video—so that it resonates with the jury. He aims to tell a story of change through action, making the narrative tangible and compelling.
Outside the office, he is careful with his time, given that most of it is spent at work. When not working, he prioritizes being with his family. He also dedicates time to the American Board of Trial Advocates, a prestigious organization over 75 years old, comprised of plaintiffs’ lawyers, defense attorneys, and judges. Membership is by invitation only and reserved for those who have tried cases to verdict.
What he finds most remarkable about the organization is its unwavering commitment to civility in legal practice. He values the principle that a lawyer can be zealous and tough while remaining respectful toward opponents and the court. For him, being civil means honoring his word, following through on commitments, treating opposing counsel courteously, and maintaining integrity by not hiding evidence or making unprovable claims. These high ideals define the organization, and he finds fulfillment in spending his time among like-minded professionals who uphold the same ethical standards.
