Category Archives: Lawyer Good
Voir Dire: Show Them Yours
In order to connect with a jury, in order for them to trust you, you have to humanize yourself. The best way to do so, is to “show them yours”. The young comedian below does a great job of this while providing a little humor along the way.
Art of Storytelling
Law school gives you the license to lawyer, but knowing how to tell a story separates lawyers with licenses.
Stories light our brains up. People learn, remember, identify and attach to stories. The science says so; our experiences remind us so. Tell a good story and the listener is more likely to not only remember what you said, but do what you ask. For lawyers, stories are the vehicle toward a favorable verdict.
Look no further than The Karate Kid, a 1984 classic about an underdog Daniel who has just moved to Southern California with his mother, and quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and preparing him to compete and ultimately defeat the brutal Cobra Kai.
But was Daniel Larusso bullied or the bully? I
This video above was created by J. Matthew Turner and is being used for educational purposes. His youtube channel can be found here.
Cross Examination Goals
J.O.B.
Real World Lawyering Jargon: Acronyms
Part of lawyering is knowing (or pretending to know) what you’re doing. To do so, you have to speak lawyer and you can’t speak lawyer unless you are aware of the legal acronym game.
Civil Lawyering Acronyms
D: Defendant
P: Plaintiff
DOL: Date of Loss
DWOP: Dismiss Without Prejudice
DWQ: Disposition by Written Question
EUO: Examination Under Oath
JNOV: Motion For Judgment Notwithstanding Verdict
MSJ: Motion for Summary Judgment
TI: Temporary Injunction
Criminal Lawyering Acronyms
ADA: Assistant District Attorney
DA: District Attorney
D: Defendant
AUSA: Federal Assistant United States Attorney
CW: Complaining Witness
CS: Community Supervision
DNF: Did Not File
DOEP: Drug Offender Education Program
DW: Deadly Weapon
GFT: Good For Trial
LPO: Loss Prevention Officer
MAG/MADJ: Motion to Adjudicate Guilt
MOEP: Magistrates Order of Emergency Protection
MNT: Motion for New Trial
MRP: Motion to Revoke Probation
MTD: Motion to Dismiss
MTS: Motion to Suppress
PC: Probable Cause
NG: Not Guilty
PDR: Petition for Discretionary Review
PO: Probation or Parole Officer or Protective Order
SJ: State Jail
TDCJ: Texas Department of Corrections (i.e. prison)
UA: Urine Analysis
Child Protective Services (CPS) Lawyer Acronyms
FGC: Family Group Conference
RO: Ruled Out
RTB: Reason to Believe
UTD: Unable to Determine
Family Lawyering Acronyms
CS: Child Support
CP: Community Property
ESPO: Extended Standard Possession Order
IOP: Intensive Out Patient
JMC: Joint Managing Conservator
MC: Managing Conservator
MOEP: Magistrate’s Order of Emergency Protection
OEP: Order of Emergency Protection
PC: Possessory Conservation
PO: Protective Order
SOP: Supportive Out Patient
SP: Separate Property
SPO: Standard Possession Order
Immigration Lawyering Acronyms
EWI/IWI Entry without Inspection
NOID Notice of Intent to Deny
SIJ: Special Immigrant Juvenile
VD: Voluntary Departure
Mediation & Arbitration Lawyering Acronyms
ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution
BATNA: Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement
COM: Court Ordered Mediation
DRC: Dispute Resolution Center
EATNA: Estimated Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement
MLATNA Most Likely Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement
MOU: Memorandum of Understanding
MSA: Mediation Settlement Agreement
WATNA: Worst Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement
Probate & Guardianship Acronyms
AOH: Affidavit of Heirship
AAL/GAL: Attorney/Guardian Ad Litem
BK: Bankruptcy
CP: Community Property
DOH: Determination of Heirship
G-Ship: Guardianship
GOP/GOE: Guardian of Person/Estate
H-Ship: Heirship
SEA: Small Estate Affidavit
SP: Separate Property
T’EE: Trustee
T’OR: Testator
Real Estate & Transactional Lawyering Acronyms
AP: Adverse Possession
BPO: Broker’s Price Opinion
CRE: Commercial Real Estate
DIL: Deed In Lieu of Foreclosure
DOT: Deed of Trust
EMK: Earnest Money Contract
EML: Existing Mineral Lease
EV: Eviction
GWD: General Warranty Deed
LL: Landlord
PN: Promissory Note
POT: Paid Outside of Title
POC: Point of Contact
RE: Real Estate
REA: Real Estate Agent
REI: Real Estate Investor
RMLO: Residential Mortgage Lease Option
SWD: Special Warranty Deed
T: Tenant
TI: Temporary Injunction
TP: Tax Payer
WD/VL: Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien
Other Lawyering Acronyms
B/4: Before
BRA: Business Records Affidavit
EE: Employee
ER: Employer
FOF: Finder of Fact
FTA: Failure to Appear
IAC: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
LM: Left Message
LMTCB: Left Message to Call Back
MTD: Motion to Dismiss
PNC: Potential New Client
POA: Power of Attorney
SOL: Statute of Limitations
UPL: Unauthorized Practice of Law
W/R: Whether
And of course when all else fails there is always, POS, SOB, FU & WTF.
Lawyering 101: Stay Calm
Reasonable Doubt Made Easy
Yep.
Lawyer Outside-the-Box
Think outside-the-box.