KC atty. shares experience at Trial Lawyers College

It was the most rewarding experience of her life. She sang, hiked, painted and wrote poetry. All to become a better attorney.

Elle Sullivant said her days for the month of July often began at 6 a.m., and didn't end until 10 p.m. She arrived at the Wyoming ranch with 47 complete strangers. She left with 47 new friends and advocates to whom she writes every day via a chat line.

"It was the most wonderful thing I've ever had the opportunity to do," Sullivant said. "It was one of the best experiences as a person as well as an attorney."

Sullivant was one of 48 attorneys across the United States selected for the Trial Lawyers College at the ranch of nationally known attorney Gerry Spence who has tried and won cases including the Karen Silkwood and Imelda Marcos cases. He also defended Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge. He is also the author of the best selling book How to Argue and Win Every Time. The program is approximately a month long of intense introspection into an attorney's life and practice.

"It was extremely spiritual," Sullivant said. "He wants you to be a better person, not so much a better attorney. He said if you became a better person, then you would naturally become a better attorney."

Sullivant was previously a Jackson County prosecutor and later worked for the attorney general's office, now has her own office in Kansas City. She focuses her practice primarily on criminal defense, employment discrimination and personal injury.

During her work at the attorney general's office, she spent her time trying sexual predator cases all across the state. While she enjoyed getting to know nearly every jurisdiction in the state, she spent a lot of time away from her young daughter, which prompted her to open her own practice last November.

While she has had numerous trial experiences since she was admitted to the bar in 1997, Sullivant said the opportunity to meet with and learn from Spence was enlightening.

"We did crazy things," Sullivant said, mentioning she put off singing for the group until the very last day of the program. Each attorney was asked to sing a song at some point during the program, in addition to reading a poem they wrote and painting a picture.

They also spent time working on every part of trial, learning their weaknesses and strengths. Sullivant said that although there were several instructors there, Spence was involved in all parts of the program.

"The coolest part was to see him actually work," she said. Spence is expected to go to trial for the first time in about 10 years on October 1. During the July program, the opposing counsel paid a visit to the ranch to discuss the case. Spence asked them to speak to the students of the program, which Sullivant said was exciting.

During the program, Sullivant said she also spent time working with an acting coach. She said she has always had a problem with speaking to fast, so the coach asked her to argue part of her trial during the program using a southern accent, which slowed down her speech.

Sullivant said Spence focused on every aspect of trial using a humanistic approach, teaching them to care for the clients, rather than just work for them.

"The most important thing he taught us is that you are perfect the way you are," Sullivant said. "A lot of times, when people don't love themselves, they fear themselves. One of his sayings was 'if you embrace your fears, you embrace yourself.'"

Copyright 2002 Dolan Media Newswires
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