Montgomery on Trial, by C. Barry Montgomery and speaker Bradley C. Nahrstadt
Litigator Brad Nahrstadt from Illinois, was a frequent speaker at our litigation boot camps – state and federal – in Illinois for years. He probably taught at least ten years in a row. And he was one of our most highly rated speakers. The attorneys who learned from him loved his advice, as well as how organized he was and the incredibly helpful samples he provided. I still include some of those samples or outlines, such as for depositions, in our boot camps today.
I adore Brad and cannot recommend him—or his advice—highly enough. He was an excellent attorney and, before retiring, one of the finest instructors I knew. I’m confident that his newly published book, Montgomery on Trial, will be a fantastic resource. Read on for Brad’s own account of the book and what inspired him to write it.
In 1991 I was a second year law student. I was fortunate to land a job for the summer at a firm known at the time as Williams & Montgomery. The firm was founded and run by two of the best trial lawyers to ever grace a courtroom. I was given an offer of full-time employment and in 1992 I became an associate attorney at Williams & Montgomery.
Through a series of coincidences, I wound up doing most of my work, at least for the first fifteen years I was at the firm, for Lloyd Williams and Barry Montgomery. I worked up cases for them and tried cases with them before handling cases on my own. I learned from masters of trial practice.
Barry Montgomery was a trial attorney for over fifty years. I was one for almost thirty. Together, we have eighty years of experience trying cases. A little over a year ago we set out to distill everything we know about trying cases into one easy to use book. Montgomery on Trial is the result of our efforts. This book covers every aspect of trying a case and gives practical, hands-on advice concerning motions in limine, jury selection, opening statement, direct and cross-examinations, closing argument and jury instructions. If you have never tried a case and want to learn about the nuts-and-bolts of doing so, this book is for you. If you have tried cases and want to see what other practitioners have to say about the art of trying cases, this book is for you.
Montgomery on Trial has been published by the Illinois State Bar Association. You can order a copy by clicking on this link:
I hope you will pick up a copy.
