The Lawyer Who Blew up His Desk: And Other Tales of Legal Madness [Paperback]

Joseph L. Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998

Trial lawyer Joseph Matthews brings us the view from the legal trenches in a series of witty, dramatic, and often downright absurd looks at our justice system. Whether you are looking to laugh your briefs off or come under the spell of a wild cast of characters, Matthew's book has something for every discerning reader.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Matthews, a former criminal trial attorney, affirms popular legal criticism in this collection of short essays. But the system of adversarial jurisprudence is the culprit, and lawyers (at least many of them) are its victims. Matthews doesn't try to excuse or justify lawyers' behavior; he does try to pierce the veil that shields the public from the common humanity of lawyers. A series of incidents illustrate how lawyers struggle to deal with their humanity, for example, sneaking food to a jailed client who is subject to deportation. It is an act of affirmation to counteract numerous instances of inhumanity and legal capriciousness, such as a judge proposing to determine the fate of a client by the flip of a coin. Matthews conveys a dual perspective, empathizing with the complicated human condition but being perceived nonetheless as "the lawyer." For social critics this book confirms the vices of the adversarial system. For all professionals of the baby boom generation, the book reviews the period from the high idealism of the 1960s to a period of declining social consciousness. Vernon Ford

Review

...a wonderfully funny and furious memoir... -- The San Francisco Chronicle, Kathleen Kahn

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898159741
• ISBN-13: 978-0898159745
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,594,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joseph Matthews has been an attorney since 1971, and from 1975 to 1977 he taught at the law school of the University of California, Berkeley. He has for many years been involved in matters relating to seniors, and is the author of Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions and Long Term Care: How to Plan & Play for It, as well as How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars funny and touching, April 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lawyer Who Blew up His Desk: And Other Tales of Legal Madness (Paperback)

Real-life anecdotes from a criminal defense lawyer. As a third-year law student, it made me alternately hopeful and cynical about the profession I'm about to enter. Some of the stories are downright laugh-out-loud funny, some show you the way justice can be done, some show you how justice is (sadly) often ignored. (The coin-flip story is particularly horrifying, although there's no doubt in my mind that it's absolutely true.) Everyone will be entertained by this book, as Matthews' style is more storyteller than legalese, but it will hit home with lawyers, and defense lawyers in particular.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very amusing and entertaining; makes a great gift, October 22, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Lawyer Who Blew up His Desk: And Other Tales of Legal Madness (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book of short stories. I bought 2 of these books as gifts for lawyers. It also makes a great gift for paralegals and legal secretaries.

1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly written and depressing, April 25, 2009

By 

E. Wurtz - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lawyer Who Blew up His Desk: And Other Tales of Legal Madness (Paperback)

I believe the IRS Code is a more interesting read than this book. The author's self-loathing is evident throughout the book. Lawyers are not devils, nor are they angels. They are supposed to be problem-solvers who help people. This book is a waste of paper.