I just watched the first two episodes of "Better Call Saul" and really enjoyed it. Who can forget the return of Tuco Salamanca to teach those two skateboard scam artists a lesson they will never, ever forget. Simply classic.
It could be that I can relate to this series a little better due to life experience. Actually, as a new attorney, the best experience you can get is what the Saul Goodman character does: PD trial work. If I had to start over again, this is what I would have done. As a PD you have terrible cases with moronic clients which are routinely assigned to you. Many of them seem indefensible, and the prosecutors offer you awful deals that beg you to take the case to trial. These are the cases that put your advocacy skills to the absolute truest test possible.
Doing trial work is a tough business, and I found that one of the hardest things is the constant second guessing you do after the trial. And both side's attorneys do it and even discuss it with each other once the case is over. Questions you didn't ask on cross examination. Questions you shouldn't have asked on direct examination. About 2 weeks ago I had a trial in what was a fairly simple case. The court heard testimony from the plaintiff, the defendant and the plaintiff's expert witness. My client was happy with the way all the evidence went and initially, walking out of the court, so was I. And it was the first time ever I didn't feel sick walking out of court after a trial because of some mistake I made. But then I thought about what the expert witness said and I failed to cross examine him on a really fundamental point which I shouldn't have missed. I was too focused on the cross examination I had prepared, and not focused enough on what the expert actually had said in his testimony. He said something that begged a question that I didn't ask. And I felt sick. Watching Better Caul Saul makes me think of these moments that all tral attorneys go through. And anyone starting out practicing should do exactly what this character does in the show, a lot of PD work which is the best way possible to acquire excellent trial experience.
