Denzel goes to Hanks residence to prepare him for his testimony. Hanks insists on Denzel listen to an Italian opera with him. Denzel is frustrated because he needs to prepare his witness on the eve of the trial. Hanks begins to sway and dance to the allegro. It's a beautiful piece and goes on for a while. When its over Hanks says Ok now you can prepare me. Denzel looks at Hanks and slowly says "No you are ready"
It's always a lesson for me. The best witnesses are often those less prepared in the facts and law but are simply "themselves". It's the authenticity that counts and not the memorized responses. Gerry Spence the well known (since retired) lawyer from Jackson Hole, Wyoming holds seminars at his ranch for young attorneys. Not a work about the "law" is spoken during the entire week. Participants practice "not being a lawyer" and being just themselves. These attorneys will often go and live with a client so they can know what their clients experiences and troubles, etc. It's tough to do because as a lawyer your almost forced into having a large ego-that jurors can see through. The Spence seminar is all about not being afraid of your vulnerabilities and or of showing it. The entire process is of just being real-instead of some phony ass lawyer.
Spence tells a story about an enormous case he was about to try. After the jurors were seated the defense lawyers-a solid team of Harvard lawyers brought in boxes and boxes of documents. They were all dressed in expensive suits. Spence had nothing but his famous cowboy hat. He kept twirling it on the counsel table. The not too friendly judge kept admonishing him about the twirling of the hat-finally threatening to hold Spence in contempt. Spence then looked at the jury and smiled. He knew then he had won the case ! Just one example of "not being afraid to not be a lawyer".
