In How Leading Lawyers Think: Expert Insights Into Judgment and Advocacy, 78 attorneys in California and New York describe how they evaluate, negotiate and resolve litigation cases. Selected for their demonstrated skill in predicting trial outcomes and knowing when cases should be settled or taken to trial, these attorneys identify the key factors in case evaluation and share successful strategies in pre-trial discovery, client counseling, negotiation, mediation, and trials. Integrating law and psychology, the book shows how skilled attorneys mentally frame cases, understand jurors’ perspectives, develop persuasive themes and arguments and achieve exceptional results for clients.

Reviews of this new book state:

“Kiser's interviews provide tremendous insight for us as a profession. This book could not have been an easy task to complete. I applaud Mr. Kiser on his work and recommend this book to those who want to gain an unvarnished insight into the minds of the country's leading attorneys.”
-- Gene Roberts, Mediator, North Texas Negotiations

“How Leading Lawyers Think is a rare inside look at decision making, mediation, negotiation and case evaluation from the perspectives of leading attorneys who have successfully taken thousands of cases to trial. The insights, experiences and values of these attorneys are masterfully woven into a story that allows the reader to rethink how decisions are made and how cases ought to be evaluated. It’s a book that will make readers not only better practitioners but better human beings.”
-- Monique McKay, Co-Founder, Master Mediator Institute

“Errors in case evaluation can be very expensive. Kiser has previously quantified the frequency and cost of such errors in acclaimed empirical research. Here, we get a peek behind those statistics to see how talented trial lawyers avoid errors and decide whether and when a case should be settled or tried to verdict. It’s a must read for clients, advocates, and mediators in the crucible of litigation.”
-- Don Philbin, Attorney/Mediator, ADRToolbox

“From the interviews of 78 leading attorneys, Kiser extracts the perspectives and insights that form the foundation of mastery of case evaluation, client counseling, negotiation and case resolution. By posing open-ended questions, he was able to illuminate the hearts, minds and souls of these lawyers as they make difficult, high-stakes decisions under risk and uncertainty. The reflections of the seasoned lawyers are analyzed and collated brilliantly, and the reader is guided effortlessly on a memorable journey of professional enrichment.”
-- Robert A. Creo, Founding President, International Academy of Mediators