Narcissists Among Us
Keeping Clients, Co-Counsel, Co-Workers, Opponents
and Judges from Destroying Your Professional Life
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Lisa Marcy & Tina Weber
Opposing counsel was overly pleasant and “fair minded.” He was even helpful. But, I recognized his pattern – it was identifiable. Soon his generosity was replaced by bitterness and accusation – his demeanor was predictable. Co-counsel advised that we should be nice to him. Not a chance. I knew where his buttons were and I intended to push them – his actions were reversible. By the time he stood to deliver his closing, he was, in a word, rude – rude to our client, rude to us and rude to the jury. The verdict came back in our favor on all 8 counts. We had tried a good case and his rudeness was not the only factor in the decision, but it was A factor and he was rude because I pushed him there.
Narcissistic patterns play out every day with opposing counsel, co-counsel, clients, witnesses, judges, subordinates and superiors. Narcissists (actual, identifiable people suffering from narcissistic personality disorder) make up 9% of the population. Their ranks in the legal profession might well be higher.
Without understanding the narcissist, you risk having your “straight-forward” case last years, costing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, draining your energy, destroying your client’s confidence in you, and increasing your exposure to challenges about your handling of the case, perhaps even leading to legal malpractice.
Lisa Marcy and Tina Weber are tested and successful trial lawyers. They offer questions to pose at every phase of a client interview, deposition, negotiation, mediation, or trial to expose the narcissist. Then they deliver proven techniques to disrupt the narcissist’s predictable behavior and to turn it to your advantage.
Learn how to effectively:
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identify the narcissist — who may be closer than you think
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defend your client (and yourself) from their destructive behavior
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maintain zealous advocacy for a narcissistic client
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depose, mediate, arbitrate and try your case, while deflating the effect of these dangerous people.
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recognize and work successfully with narcissistic co-counsel
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Program Agenda & Detail
Hours
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[Part I: 90 Minutes]
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
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the psychological and real-world definition of narcissism
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what narcissists think
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6 ways to spot a narcissist
15 Minute Break
[Part II: 90 Minutes]
“A Civil Action” — Narcissism outside the courtroom
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the narcissistic lawyer
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the narcissistic client
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the ethical dangers each will deliver to your doorstep
Lunch
[Part III: 90 Minutes]
“Liar, Liar!” Seduction in the courtroom
Depositions
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anticipating the tricks of the narcissistic opponent
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stepping around the traps of the narcissistic witness—lay & expert
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more chances for ethical trauma
Trial
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adapting proven trial techniques to deter the tricks of the narcissistic opponent at each step of the trial process
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objecting to objections: abusive behavior in court
“Neutralizing the Narcissist” - Negotiation/Mediation
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recognizing subtle manipulation
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leveraging the power of their belief in your inferiority
15 Minute Break
[Part IV: 90 Minutes]
“The Good Wife” - Narcissism in the workplace
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neutralizing a narcissistic superior or equal
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the special nightmare of the narcissistic subordinate
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the last prong of the ethical trident
“They Aren’t All Bad” - What We Can Take From Them
Recognizing our own value to clients and to the profession
“… But He’s Got a Killer Personality” - Your Neighborhood Serial Killer Narcissists
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by applying the 9 traits to some well known narcissists, we learn to apply them to
those close to us
[Adjourn]
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Unconditional Guarantee
If you are not convinced that your understanding of the course topic has
improved after completion of any P.E.G.® seminar, we will refund your course tuition.
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