Lawyers' Poker: 52 Lessons that Lawyers Can Learn from Card Players [Hardcover]

Steven Lubet (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 019518243X | ISBN-13: 978-0195182439 | Publication Date: May 25, 2006

Great poker players are master tacticians. Not only do they calculate odds with lightning speed and astonishing precision, but they also cunningly anticipate and manipulate the actions of their adversaries. In short, they boast skills that every lawyer can envy. This highly entertaining work might best be summed up as "better lawyering through poker." Steven Lubet shows exactly how the tactics of the poker table can be adapted to litigation, negotiation, and virtually every aspect of law practice. In a series of engaging and informative lessons, Lubet describes concepts like "betting for value," "slow playing," and "reverse bluffing," and explains how they can be used by lawyers to win their cases. The best card players, like the best lawyers, have a knack for getting their adversaries to react exactly as they want, and that talent separates the winners from the losers. Lawyers' Poker is an irresistible guide to successful lawyering and an enjoyable read for anyone with an interest in law. No poker knowledge required.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lubet, a law professor, sees much in common between the human drama of the courtroom and the poker table, and he points out the ways that lawyers can benefit from studying strategies employed by good poker players. The book is divided into suits: diamonds representing maximizing winnings; clubs signifying controlling the opposition; spades, digging for information; and hearts, ethics and character. Going beyond using poker playing as a metaphor, within each section Lubet plumbs the lessons that can be learned from the game that can be transferred to the courtroom. The underlying principle is to distinguish between those who play the odds and those who gamble. Interspersed throughout, Lubet offers real-life experiences of gamblers playing the odds at poker and lawyers in historically significant cases gambling on particular legal strategies in their cases. Highly insightful and entertaining, this book brings a fresh perspective on the law and gambling. Vernon Ford
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Lubet deals a winning hand with this entertaining and creative approach to gamesmanship. Anyone who negotiates, strategizes or bluffs--and who doesn't--will benefit from this great read. You won't be able to keep a poker-face when you read this funny and informative book."--Alan M. Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

"Steven Lubet creatively weaves together two ostensibly unconnected worlds. Highlighted by anecdotes from some of the greatest arguments in American trial history, coupled with memorable hands in the World Series of Poker, Lawyers' Poker provides illuminating insights into strategic decisions in courtrooms and card tables across America."--Kenneth W. Starr, Dean and Professor of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law

"A most clever mingling of the likes of legendary poker player Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, with the master legal tactician Clarence Darrow. Juxtaposing the color and strategies of poker playing greats with the mastery of great lawyers in "trials of the century" creates a fascinating read for a gambler, lawyer, or just the average Joe." -- Oscar B. Goodman, Mayor, City of Las Vegas

"Lawyers' Poker is clear, entertaining and educational. It is a treasure trove of valuable lessons in competent trial advocacy, the art of negotiation and ethics--all told in a page-turning, storytelling fashion. As a bonus, the reader will also be introduced to the art of poker playing! Indeed, the parallels drawn are accurate. Both the neophyte and seasoned lawyer will love this book." --Thomas A. Demetrio, Corboy & Demetrio, Member of the Inner Circle of Advocates

"Every lawyer should play his cards right by reading Lubet's book. It's a safe bet the reader will come away with some great lessons in a courtroom and maybe even a tip or two at the card table."--Robert A. Clifford, former Chair, ABA Section of Litigation

"Lawyers' Poker is a fascinating read, as with great wit, skill and clarity Lubet moves from the poker room to the courtroom with impressive knowledge of the operation of both venues. As a veteran cross-examiner, I found Lubet's thesis "straight" and his book "flush" with clever insight. Indeed, I "bet" I could argue the case he makes to a "full house"."--Benjamin Brafman, criminal defense lawyer

"What a great read--the trial lawyer's lessons are precisely the same as the skilled poker player's--the reader learns about history in both domains and smiles while being educated and entertained. This is a book for practitioners in the courtroom or the cardroom or those that want to be--or envy--either one. It is a true collector's piece!" -- Rikki Klieman, Court TV Anchor, trial attorney and best selling author

"Professor Lubet's insights about poker (and life) will make you a far better trial lawyer. I loved the book."-- Lawrence J. Fox, former Chair, ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility

"Any attorney who has ever tried a case or who aspires to be a litigator will want to read this book and learn more about how success at the poker table and winning in the courtroom are related. Reading Lawyers' Poker is a complete treat."--Trial Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019518243X
• ISBN-13: 978-0195182439
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Law > Procedures & Litigation > Litigation

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poker and Strategic Thinking, June 7, 2006

By 

Michael Webster - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lawyers' Poker: 52 Lessons that Lawyers Can Learn from Card Players (Hardcover)

Lawyers' Poker: 52 Lessons that Lawyers Can Learn from Card PlayersSteven Lubet's book will be very valuable to mediators and negotiators. Even though poker is a zero sum game, every mediator or negotiator faces a zero sum game: can we find the zone of agreement?

Where Steven's book is valuable, and this is what I concentrated on in my longer review on bizop.ca, is that every negotiator has to figure out how strong the other party believes his own case is, how strong I believe that the other party's case is, and various permutations of the "recursive reasoning".

No less an authority than the Nobel Prize Winner Professor Thomas Schelling has also endorsed Lubet's characterization of a lawyer has someone who has to solve the "recursive" reasoning problem.

Poker gives very clear examples of how to solve this strategic thinking.

Steven Lubet doesn't claim that all lawyers need to know can be learned from poker players, but he does provide clear and compelling examples of how poker players think strategically and his legal examples are enlightening.

Generally, I would characterize Steven Lubet's book as a contribution to that part of cognitive science which focuses on the interaction between heuristics and rational thought in decision theory. And as such it is both unique and valuable.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lawyers Poker, August 3, 2006

By 

Geogr Washinton - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lawyers' Poker: 52 Lessons that Lawyers Can Learn from Card Players (Hardcover)

This is a rare book about an esoteric subject which the author has made clearly understandable for a wide audience of readers. Every one who faces the misfortune to become involved in the legal process should make this their first read. It helps one understand the games lawyers play with the fates and lives of their clients, opponents, judges and juries. Those not so unfortunate will appreciate the transfer of densely packed knowledge in an extremely lively and memorable package. Those who don't understand the allure of poker will gain appreciation for the game as a model for life situations.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking, Instructive, and Entertaining, March 15, 2007

By 

Thomas G. Gardiner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lawyers' Poker: 52 Lessons that Lawyers Can Learn from Card Players (Hardcover)

Professor Lubet's book is thought-provoking, instructive, and entertaining. The similarities between litigation and poker are evident to every litigator, but Professor Lubet's accounts of various poker maneuvers and strategies will cause even the most seasoned litigator to reexamine conventional thinking. One example: the traditional strategy in defending a deposition is to limit the deponent's responses as much as possible. Professor Lubet suggests the contrary-that showing your cards in a deposition may increase the pot because 90 percent of cases settle rather than proceed to trial.

Similarly, the early raise (presenting substantial discovery early in the case) even if a bluff (because counsel does not have the resources to consider proceeding to trial), can pay dividends.

Whether the reader is a card player or not, Professor Lubet achieves the difficult task of presenting poker big game moves in an understandable but exciting way. This book is a valuable, entertaining read for every litigator. The uninitiated poker player will have a new found respect for the game.