LAL #055 — The Inimitable Jim Nugent: Lawyer, Lector, and Ironman Triathlete

Not only does Jim Nugent genuinely love practicing law, he believes that every single person should at least matriculate through law school.  Jim is a renowned personal injury attorney anchored in New Haven, Connecticut. And Jim is my best friend. As the title of this episode briefs, Jim is also a Reader in the Catholic Church—the man to whom I give full I credit for arching my path back to the faith—and an Ironman Triathlon competitor.  Jim and I first met at the famed Trial Lawyers College many years ago. Since then, Jim has built a very successful practice upon the foundation of meeting an injured person and communicating their story to another group of human beings.  As with most LAL interviews, we cover a lot of ground. This one, however, is a unique blend of topical first impressions—such as the concept of psychodrama and what Jim dubs as "the archaeological dig of oneself"—and more enduring questions, such as the definition of justice, the trustworthiness of juries, and the vanishing trial.  I could listen to Jim talk about insurance companies' ability to buy themselves out of trials, volley the merits of the focus group as the most reliable trial preparation tool, or absorb the reason underpinning Jim's approach to witness examination for hours on end.  But what I think the young and aspiring lawyers, and the mentors among the LAL audience should hear is the sincerity in Jim's voice as he recalls the most meaningful trial of his career, the importance of spending time with our young children while they're growing up, and why after 32 years of practice he considers himself a "work in progress." I cherish these conversations, and I look forward to co-counseling a new case with Jim when the time is right.  Meet Jim Nugent: father, husband, friend, and one of the most talented lawyers on the planet.  *** Leave Law and Legitimacy a 6-Star review on whatever platform you find us. We'll settle for 5-Star reviews, too. And join me on Patreon. Your contributions there keep wind in our sails and are very, very much appreciated.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/norm-pattis/support