Mike Leonard

0:04
the most rewarding aspect is probably

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the relationships that you develop I

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mean I still have relationships on a

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social level with people I represented

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you know in the early 1990s especially

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in a criminal case it really is a

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special relationship because you’re kind

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of going through fire with that client

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

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rewarding aspects get to know people at

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an extremely personal level and really

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every aspect of their lives and I’d say

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secondly the most rewarding thing is as

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you get experience uh I think what

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you’re really seeking is not just your

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own self-approval but the respect of

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your peers and I feel like over time

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I’ve really developed the respect of my

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peers as a trial lawyer here in Chicago

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and and as well as nationally

0:54
to be successful in the courtroom I

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think takes a wide variety of skills but

1:00
particularly in federal criminal cases

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and state law felony cases you have to

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be of a great comfort level of being in

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the courtroom trying cases in front of

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juries often a different group of people

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each time that you appear so you have to

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be able to operate at different speeds

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and handle cross-examination of

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witnesses and really have a sense of

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what the appropriate tone and approach

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is for every witness you know you can’t

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be the lawyer like you might see on TV

1:29
that is always one speed that’s just not

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appropriate and it’s not effective at

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trial but I think also probably the most

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important thing is just a comfort level

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with yourself as you try more cases and

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experience success I think it’s really

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comes down to are you comfortable with

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yourself so that the jury’s comfortable

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to you that you’re credible with that

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jury that they don’t think you’re trying

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to sell them something and that they

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believe you even though they might not

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always go your way they believe that

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you’re being truthful with them and they

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can respect what you’re doing

&nbs