I worked as a trial consultant for a while and got to sit in trial. This is what struck me the most. The best trial lawyers I know are like actors, entertainers

I worked as a trial consultant for a while and got to sit in trial. This is what struck me the most. The best trial lawyers I know are like actors, entertainers, celebrities -- they have the ability to publicly act towards witnesses and juries to evoke friendly, sad, likeable, dis-likeable, happy, angry emotions in a jury. The money doesn't come from legal analysis at all; frankly many were not very bright on legal issues -- that's what second-chairs and legal experts are for. They all, without exception, were fantastically entertaining, funny, weird, charismatic people. It's an important takeaway for life in general. The money follows people who are good at emotions.