That Eminem Song Blaring From the Opposing Lawyer’s Car Could be a Talisman

Law Practice

That Eminem Song Blaring From the Opposing Lawyer’s Car Could be a Talisman

Posted Feb 20, 2008, 07:49 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

Texas lawyers confided to the Houston Chronicle that they wear lucky shoes, watches and ties; use lucky briefcases; listen to lucky music; and make lucky charitable donations.

The lawyers say carrying a lucky item may not make them win a case, but it can’t hurt. “As a criminal defense lawyer, a trial is always an uphill battle,” said Kent Schaffer, who decided to keep using an old and tattered briefcase after he lost a case while using a new one. “You prepare, you do everything you can. You can't think of more. So you do this."

Other lawyers relied on lucky rituals, including Lisa Pennington, a civil trial lawyer who always writes a $100 check to the Houston Food Bank at the end of a difficult case.

Some lawyers said said they prepared for trial by listening to favorite music by artists such as Eminem, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.

Connecticut College professor Stuart Vyse, who wrote a book on superstition, says using a talisman or performing pretrial rituals can be calming. "This kind of thing comes up in circumstances where the stakes are high and there is a lack of control," he told the newspaper.

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