This engaging, easy to read book explains what really happens inside a civil dispute. The rules and procedures that people encounter are only a part of what goes on. Everyone involved in a lawsuit is helped by understanding the hidden traps that can undermine and destroy good claims and defenses. “Justice” is the goal of all civil litigants, but only the wise can hope for victory. And given the devastating outcomes that can result from filing a lawsuit, this book could be a litigant’s only hope for a good ending.
This book will both inform and entertain the following groups of people who touch and need the legal system: litigants (with or without attorneys), lawyers (especially new ones, corporate counsel, and non-litigators), mediators, law students, college students deciding on careers, small business owners, mental health professionals, insurance adjusters, and anyone who wants to understand our civil court system. No one who is contemplating a lawsuit should make that decision without reading this book. The wisdom inside this book is worth thousands of dollars in legal advice.
With this book you can learn ways to find a good lawyer, make smart decisions along the road towards trial, get important tips on representing yourself in the lawsuit, be a better mediator, lawyer, and client, protect your business from disputes and claims, improve your understanding of the pressures of litigation, and increase settlement opportunities when dealing with a claim.
Here is the real truth behind the civil court system, insights that can give you an equal footing with those who know what really goes on.
Reader reviews from clients, lawyers, mediators, experts, students, and former judges say:
“This work offers rare insight into the lawyering process for laymen as well as practicing lawyers.” - Author, former Federal Judge
“For mediators who are not lawyers, this book will give them valuable insights to use in guiding the mediation participants to a successful settlement.”- California Lawyer and Mediator
“Anyone considering pursuing a civil action and even new litigators would be well-served to read this book from cover to cover. Janet Sobel [gives] helpful explanations of the tough decisions that need to be made in civil litigation and the impact that they can have on the ultimate result and bottom line.” - California Lawyer
“Janet Sobel has created an incredible resource for anyone trapped in the legal system, people trying to find both justice and peace.” - California Consultant
“All in-house attorneys should be familiar with this book as it is an invaluable resource for learning about what to expect (and not expect) from the world of litigation.” - In-house Counsel for a California Company
“[T]his book is a must read for anyone pondering the decision to go to law school and should be required reading for all law students to gain understanding of the world into which they are embarking and to give them empathy for their clients.” - California Lawyer
“This book shares experiences that would take years of trial and error to master and is a great resource for law students to learn of the potential pitfalls and mistakes. Her work is an easy and enjoyable read.” - California Law Student
“As an expert who is often hired to form opinions in lawsuits, I can wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Sobel’s book for anyone who is a forensic expert or thinking of being one.” - California Real Estate Professional
“The book is a gift to every reader. Everyone will benefit from it in a various ways. No one should enter into a lawsuit without reading it first.” - California Health Educator
“[This] information and advice .. . .can guard against the types of decisions we layman can make when we have no idea of what we are up against.” - California Consumer
Janet E. Sobel has been a lawyer in San Diego, California, since 1983. She graduated in the top 10% of her class at the top- rated U.C.L.A. School of Law. She began her career at a large law firm, then moved to a mid-sized firm, and then to a two-person litigation practice. Her practice focused on representing individuals and small business owners in a variety of business, personal, real estate, insurance, contract, and legal malpractice disputes. After litigating for 18 years, she became disheartened, left the traditional law practice and created one that focused on trying to find pre-litigation solutions for her clients, helping them when she could and pointing them to a good litigator when she couldn’t. Ms. Sobel did a lot of things before becoming a lawyer, including teaching elementary school, being a mother to her two children, serving as an elected member of the Clark County (Las Vegas) School Board, becoming licensed as a real estate agent in Nevada.
Always one to express her views, Ms. Sobel was a championship debater in college, and a member of the top Moot Court team at U.C.L.A. Law School. She handled jury trials and appeals when she was actively litigating. After she began her non- traditional “counseling at law” practice, she earned a credential as a mediator through the National Conflict Resolution Center in San Diego.
Like Ms. Sobel, Ms. Cartwright was a litigator in both large and small firms, but ultimately found the practice of law a poor match for her interest in helping individuals. Ms. Cartwright graduated in the top 10% of her class at Tulane Law School and joined a national law firm in its San Diego office. Looking for a change from the impersonality of large-firm practice, she founded a firm with her husband, representing consumers and small businesses, and later transitioned to career advising at University of San Diego School of Law, still maintaining her practice and working on a freelance basis for other attorneys. In 2009 she was named a “Top Attorney” by the San Diego Daily Transcript.
In 2010, Ms. Cartwright returned to New Orleans to participate in the revitalization of the city after the levy failures following Hurricane Katrina. When not restoring a 150+ year-old house in the Central City neighborhood, she works as an adjunct professor and career consultant at Tulane University.
