“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”   – William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

We often do lose the good when our doubts betray our attempts and fear takes hold. In part, Measure for Measure is Shakespeare’s meditation on justice, and his advice has special relevance to defense lawyers and their clients.  In fact, this verse echoes in my mind whenever an associate or a client seems gloomy upon the mere reading of a Complaint–when the contest has just begun.

Put simply, we cannot let doubt about an outcome — adverse verdict potential, ugly precedent, bad facts — keep us from attempting to set things right. Fear stymies creativity. Of course, our assessment of any contest must be realistic. But doubt, like fear, clouds the judgment required to achieve the best possible outcome of any contest.

Our attempts to overcome adversity may not bring the result we want. But knowing that all attempts have been made will be the Measure by which we Measure the result in the end. And that’s it for this This and That. If you have any comments about this post, please call or email Dennis.