Teaching Storytelling to Attorneys

Today’s guest is a former attorney who spent his career representing victims of sexual abuse in civil litigation. David Flowers wrote Taming the Lion Tamers about the South Carolina case of convicted pedophile Eddie Fischer, and the people who protected him for decades. It’s a powerful story, and is the same case on which the Emmy-nominated documentary film What Haunts Us is based.

David fought for victims for decades, using story to their advantage. Now he teaches upcoming attorneys about the power of story.

“I’m not a fan of lawyers generally. But when the practice of law is done right, you really can change lives.” - David Flowers on storytelling for law

Using Story to Support Survivors

Fighting for victims for decades, using story to their advantage, David developed a deep understanding for how powerful story can be.

David says bringing all the Latin and legal mumbo jumbo down to an understandable format - story - is what helps humanize the people in a case. Now he teaches young lawyers how to make that part of their trial practice.

“People don’t like lawyers to begin with. The way I teach [story] is, ‘We’re sitting at a pub, having a beer, tell me the story of your case.’ That’s how I tech trial practice.” - David Flowers on story in the courtroom

“Everybody goes to law school thinking they’re going to change the world. But very few people come out of law school still thinking they can change the world. The ones who think they can, then pursue that… it’s pretty damn cool.” - David Flowers

Connect with David:

• Taming the Lion Tamers

• David on I’m Not In An Abusive Relationship

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 The Storytellers Network with Dan Moyle publishes every Monday at 7 AM EST.