Nathaniel Fried
Legal knowledge doesn’t always just come from case studies, textbooks, and lectures. Sometimes it comes from books. We reached out to industry experts, lawyers and attornies to find their suggestions of the best books every lawyer should read. Here are what they suggested…
Want to listen to these books, instead of reading them? Start your free 30 day trial of Audible and get any book on this list 100% free. Click the banner below (if you cannot see it, you may have to disable your adblocker).
#1 Lawyer Interrupted
Lawyer Interrupted (ABA) by reformed corporate litigator Amy Impellizzeri is a must for lawyers ... hear the stories of lawyers who've taken a break from law, and successfully transitioned back.
Well, some went back -- Amy went on to write THREE award-winning novels, which should also be read, to see the sheer legal-turned-literary possibilities:
Want to read more reviews of this book (Lawyer Interrupted) or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Nancy Cleary from wyattmackenzie.com
#2 Secret Service: Hidden Systems That Deliver Unforgettable Custom
We as attorneys must recognize that the law is a service profession. Our service is legal services, but clients are accustom to good customer service, whether from Starbucks, or Target or Amazon. This book offers concrete suggestions on how a law practice can improve customer service.
Clients number one complaint is lack of communication with their lawyer. This book suggests easy to implement suggestions which will improve the client experience with the firm. Happy clients mean referrals and recommendations.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Michael McCready (a personal injury attorney) of mccreadylaw.com
#3 A Testament of Hope
If you are a lawyer that gets to present cases to a jury, there is so much to learn about the way Dr. King told a story, the words he used and the themes he wove through his sermons. This will make you a better trial lawyer.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Michael E. Perez, managing partner of Warshauer Law Group.
#4 The Power of a System
For lawyers who own their own law firm or hope to do so in the future. John Fisher creates a manual of how his office is set up and why it is set up that way.
This book has actual policies and procedures that can literally be copied and used to help start or improve the systems of an injury law firm.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Lin McCraw (a personal injury attorney) of mccrawlawgroup.com
#5 How to Win Friends and Influence People
[This book is] an oldie, but gives wonderful detailed insight on decency and human interaction that never goes out of style, and can be beneficial and life-changing.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Price McNamara (a personal injury attorney) from jpricemcnamara.com
#6 Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
(Lawyers in private practice are business people with letters behind their names.) Dr. Dweck opens your eyes to having a growth mindset that is so critical to your success as a lawyer, let alone as a business person.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Cade Parian (a personal injury attorney) from westgalawyer.com
#7 The E-Myth Attorney
Most lawyers fail in the business of law. We took away writing briefs or reviewing contracts, all the while meticulously tracking our hours. We give little thought to actually building a practice we enjoy. This book reveals some of the key business mistakes lawyers make, why they are harmful to us and our clients, and suggests ways to fix these errors.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Gregory Ward, founder of The Ward Law Group, PL.
#8 You Can’t Teach Hungry
John Morgan (author) has built the largest personal injury law firm in the country over the past 25 years. In this book, he explains how he did it and why his firm will continue to succeed. An inspirational and aspirational story with much good advice for all lawyers building a firm as well as students preparing for the LSAT.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Michael McCready (a personal injury attorney) of mccreadylaw.com
#9 Time Management for Attorneys
What lawyer can’t benefit from tips on time management? No matter how organized your day, there is something to learn in this book. For some of us, the techniques discussed in this book will change the way you work during the day.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Michael McCready (a personal injury attorney) of mccreadylaw.com
#10 Smashing Glass & Kicking Ass
Linda (the author) is one of the few women to reach the summit of the legal profession. She has represented the world’s foremost companies in “bet-the-company” cases where everything is at stake.
During her 40-year career, Linda has often tangled with outsized male egos (Mick Jagger, Michael Dell, Sumner Redstone) and with sexual harassment without ever breaking stride. Her tenacity as a gladiator for her clients earned her the prodigious title of “The Meanest Woman Alive.”
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Dan Lopez from TheMeanestWomanAlive.com
-
Great book everyone will get something out of it
#11 MacCarthy on Cross-Examination
MacCarthy on Cross-Examination is an absolute must read for any attorney who handles evidentiary hearings or trials. This book will change the way you approach trials.
I practice criminal defense. I see a lot of not guilty verdicts where the defense won, not because of the defense attorney, but despite the defense attorney. If you implement the strategies and lessons taught in this book, you will be able to win the cases that other attorneys would plea out.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Michael Dye (criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Floirda) from YourFloridaCriminalAttorney.com
#12 Simple Justice
This book is an amazing history of the events leading up to the Brown decision. It really shows the bravery and brilliance of the lawyers involved. You get the full details of the families, plaintiffs, lawyers, and court system that lead to this decision.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Will Whetstone of the law firm Whetstone Perkins & Fulda (attorneyssc.com)
#13 Win with Multi-Channel Digital Marketing
A comprehensive and entertaining guide to the leading marketing strategies for attorneys. It focuses on practical solutions for increasing exposure, driving traffic, and generating leads that turn into profitable cases.
#14 DAMAGES
This book gives an impartial look at the development of medical malpractice cases in America and shows the impacts on both sides, their lawyers, and society as a told through a birth injury case.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: John Risvold (a trial lawyer in Chicago) from The Collins Law Firm
#15 Fallout
Fallout, offers jaw-dropping accounts of personal humility and suffering, and the transformation of a naïve young man into a shrewd player in the world of highly-tactical, uber-aggressive class-action litigation.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Hannah Rose
-
Amazing read. Couldn’t put it down. Reminded me of Erin Brockovich’s tale of trial and tribulations
#16 Traction
Every entrepreneurial lawyer should read Traction by Gino Wickman. This is a fantastic book that gives an easy to follow step by step roadmap to successfully running a business.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Emily LaRusch from BackOfficeBetties.com
#17 The Trusted Advisor
This book covers not only practical advice on how to build trust and confidence by professional service providers, but how to be a human being. It has a specific chapter on cross-selling and practical lists of tips and tools. I recommend reading it at least twice.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Valerie Koenig from tabhawaii.com
#18 Four Trials
Albeit a bit political, this is a book I read before every trial I have. It has nuggets of wisdom gleaned from trying complex wrongful death and medical malpractice cases. This book is often overlooked because it looks like a politician running for office wrote a biography, but it's a compelling biography told through Edward's trial work.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: John Risvold (a trial lawyer in Chicago) from The Collins Law Firm
#19 Writing to Win: The Legal Writer
[This book is by] Steve D Stark one of the best in the industry of persuasive legal writing.
I wanted to write more convincingly (in general) and understand on a basic level what 'the law' is about. This book is incredibly useful regardless of experience level (we can always improve ourselves) or discipline practiced.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Find Kristine Stevenson Seale on LinkedIn
#20 Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Regardless of the type of law practiced, all lawyers negotiate, and this book does a great job of teaching some finer points to the art of negotiation. I read it in law school and highly recommend it.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Christopher Earley, Esq. from chrisearley.com
#21 A Civil Action
[This book is] the best book ever written about complex litigation and is unlikely to be surpassed for at least a generation. The author's contemporaneous access to both the plaintiffs and Jan Schlitchman (their attorney) is unparalleled and is what allowed the author to share factual details, strategic concerns, and the emotional burdens that the plaintiffs and their counsel bore during such a lengthy lawsuit.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Donald E. Petersen from tcpa.mobi/tcpa-lawyer
#22 Bad Business : The OPM Scandal and the Seduction of the Establi
This is the BEST book about professional ethics - accountants and lawyers. Although many books about financial scams and bubble implosions call accountants and even lawyers into question for their conduct, Gandossy focuses on their complicity.
OPM (a pyramid lease finance scam) would hire a solo accountant to audit their leases. Lawyers would rely on the accountants. Lawyers would purportedly rely on the OPM officers even after OPM was caught lying because the legal ethics rules allow the lawyer to do so as long as it's a past crime. And, OPM's officers promised the lawyer that they were no longer engaged in the scam. Sad but true.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributor: Donald E. Petersen from tcpa.mobi/tcpa-lawyer
This post was created with our nice and easy submission form. Create your post!
