This Best Books finalist (USA Book News) is a true adventure of one lawyer's unflinching truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about a journey from the bottom of alcoholic despair to sober, soulful leadership in his profession and personal life. Like most lawyers, Gwilliam was trained to win, and he's always been an expert at getting winning legal verdicts. His biggest personal (and eventually legal) wins, however, came after facing the shame and pain of a crushing courtroom defeat. This set him on a spiritual and psychological journey that caused him to look anew at every aspect of his life, including his history as a high school gang member (he still bears the scar of a poorly removed tattoo), failed marriages, and lots of partying. Lawyers are trained to wear a slick mask of impersonal confidence and never, ever let the other side see what might be perceived as a weakness. Gwilliam, however, has found that being authentic and practicing compassion creates a foundation for even better service to clients, as well as a more satisfying personal life. Readers of Getting a Winning Verdict In My Personal Life: a Trial Lawyer Finds His Soul often comment that the book reads like a novel, yet its truth grips and inspires people of every profession. California lawyers can receive a CLE credit in substance abuse for reading the book and passing a test on it. The test is available from Gwilliam's law firm, Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli and Brewer, in Oakland, CA. - from Amzon