2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What's the Verdict?, May 7, 2010
A man phones a lawyer and asks, "How much would you charge for just answering three simple questions?"
The lawyer replies, "A thousand dollars."
"A thousand dollars!" exclaims the man. "That's very expensive, isn't it?"
"It certainly is," says the lawyer. "Now, what's your third question?"
Although I'm not a lawyer, I can get away with telling a lawyer joke because my husband is an attorney. He often tells lawyer jokes at the beginning of speaking engagements, to loosen up the crowd. His sense of humor extends to his profession, and since he's hard-working and dedicated, his jokes are well received.
Because I'm familiar with the legal profession through association, I thought it might be interesting to read a novel written by a lawyer about a lawyer. Published in 2009, The Life O'Reilly is the first novel by lawyer Brian Cohen. It's the story of Nick O'Reilly, an attorney at Williams Gardner and Schmidt, a prestigious law firm on Wall St. in NYC. In an attempt to help bolster their image, Will, the managing partner, has decided that the firm needs to devote some time to pro bono cases, and Nick is assigned the first case. He's asked to represent a domestic violence victim, Dawn Nelson, who's fighting to gain custody of her three-year-old son, Jordan. Soon after their initial meeting, Nick begins to develop strong romantic feelings for Dawn (uh-oh!), and also starts to question what he's doing with his life.
"What was I doing with myself? I couldn't help but think about my unsavory corporate clients, off in their weekend cottages and vacation homes, water-skiing behind yachts and diving in Grand Cayman, basking in comfort by directors and officers liability insurance, boasting about how royally they screwed their own shareholders.
Ha, ha, ha, fraud, schmaud!
And then I thought about Dawn and drifted off on my office couch for a while until the phone rang."
~The Life O'Reilly, Brian Cohen
As Nick's story unfolds, unexpected twists and turns keep it exciting. The Life O'Reilly is written with the precision and clarity of a lawyer, but it also has heart. This novel exudes warmth (his mother is called "Mom", as if that's her name)--and humor. In Chapter 9, Nick and Dawn meet to review an affidavit and go to a "Chinese restaurant" in the village, and what occurs there is absolutely hilarious. Having grown up in NYC, I could imagine such a scenario really happening.
What's the verdict on this novel? I enjoyed reading this book, which is a modern day love story and more. It made me smile, laugh, and cry. Emotionally moving, The Life O'Reilly is about what makes life worth living, about love and sacrifice and commitment, about being at peace with yourself. It makes you think about what you will leave behind, about your legacy. Last night, I recommended this book to my husband. And now I recommend it to you.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Affecting and Haunting Story, November 8, 2009
Brian Cohen's first novel is an affecting and haunting story that captures the attention of the reader and holds it throughout, lingering long after the final page is turned.
As a partner in an affluent law firm, Nick O'Reilly is at the top of his game, but what Nick does not realize is that the rules are about to change. When the high profile attorney is assigned to a pro bono case, his focus is shifted from that of his wealthy clients on Wall Street to a young wife and mother, Dawn Nelson, seeking asylum (along with sole custody of her little boy) from her violently abusive husband.
Nick is drawn to Dawn both emotionally and physically. After listening to her heartrending account of life with her sadistic spouse, Nick becomes determined to win Dawn and Jordan's freedom. In the process of building his case, Nick's inappropriate attorney/client relations with Dawn results in devastating consequences to his career that will change his life forever.
Cohen has a fluidic writing style. His story is well paced and his characters have dimension and distinctive personalities. It is inspiring to watch Nick's heroic battle for survival as he evolves into the kind of man (and life) that will leave a lasting and impressionable legacy.
It is not often that a work of fiction leaves the reader contemplating his or her personal outlook on life, but the trials that Nick endures are easily applicable to reality. His story gives us pause to think, leaving us grateful for having made Nick's acquaintance.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A new life attitude, May 5, 2010
Nick O'Reilly works for a law firm that expects its people to put their job first and foremost. Families, friends and a personal life are not important to the senior partners. If you're going to be successful, sacrifices are expected to be made.
However, that attitude has also given the firm a bad reputation as being cold and impersonal (duh!). To change their image, they decide to designate a certain number of hours to pro bono cases. In other words, each lawyer is expected to do a case for free and work with the local legal aid to do that.
Certain of the senior partners seem to have it in for Nick. One in particular doesn't like him and is always trying to make him look bad. So, guess which lawyer is the first to be assigned one of these cases?
Nick actually finds himself enjoying working to help others. It gives him an entirely new perspective and he begins looking at his life anew. Is the high-powered position worth it? Or are there more important things in life?
Along with this new attitude, Nick finds himself attracted to the client he's been assigned to represent - a young woman who has been severely abused by her husband.
The book takes several turns and twists, including an interesting surprise ending. I found the story delightful and I thank Brian Cohen for asking me to review his book. He's a wonderful writer and I hope to read more of his work in the future.
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