Seasoned trial lawyer Mark Mazzarella, who applies his experience to mediation services, has an insightful and entertaining take on trial advocacy. In “Everything I Really Need to Know About Trials I Learned in Kindergarten — Part One,” published in the March 2025 San Diego ABTL Report, Mark breaks professionalism and ethics down to our core teachings.
Drawing inspiration from Robert Fulghum’s classic book, the Duckor Metzger & Wynne, APLC, Of Counsel reminds us that the fundamental principles we learned as kids, namely sharing, playing fair, being honest and cleaning up after ourselves, are just as critical in the courtroom as they were on the playground.
Want to know why closing arguments can change minds? Why playing fair wins cases? And why getting enough sleep might be the secret weapon of top trial lawyers? Mark breaks it all down with wit, wisdom and real-world experience.
Read the full article (p. 12) to see how a trial lawyer’s best lessons aren’t found in law school — they’re learned in kindergarten.