A judge offers seven concise essays that set out the virtues he considers essential to effective advocacy: honesty, courage, industry, wit, eloquence, judgment, and fellowship. He mixes practical advice, professional anecdotes, and historical reflection to show how lawyers should combine persuasive technique with ethical restraint, diligent preparation, and respect for colleagues and the court. Each chapter focuses on a particular quality, explaining courtroom demeanor, methods of argument, and the balance between zealous client representation and fidelity to truth. The collection aims to instruct newer practitioners and to remind experienced counsel that legal skill must be grounded in character and service to justice.