Answer:
During my time as a federal trial court judge, I have  
identified—and this Article will discuss—eight traits of highly  
effective trial lawyers: (1) unsurpassed storytelling skills, (2) gritty  
determination to become a great trial lawyer, (3) virtuoso cross-examination skills, (4) slavish preparation, (5) unfailing courtesy,  
(6) refined listening skills, (7) unsurpassed judgment, and (8)  
reasonableness. By mastering these, one can become a feared and  
admired trial lawyer.9  Of course, readers will not become great trial lawyers by   reading and memorizing these eight traits. This Article is not a trial  
lawyer’s “magic bullet” that can be obtained from an infomercial by
  trial is as office Clarence Darrow's. They file motions as if they are  
preparing to go to trial and bill endless hours for developing untested and  
unrealistic trial strategies—knowing they will never be used. ALs earn a  
living by generating Everest-like mountains of paper. They are paper  
tigers. They never work alone, always traveling in packs. As trial dates  
approach, their relentless bravado evaporates into unlimited excuses to  
settle. They will do virtually anything to avoid trial.