Over the past decade, I’ve represented individuals, businesses, and insurers in high-stakes litigation across Idaho. I’ve sat at counsel tables in complex disputes, argued motions, and worked through challenges that don’t always fit neatly into a legal checklist.

Here’s what I’ve learned — and why it shapes how I represent every client today:

1. Preparation Wins More Than Charisma

No amount of courtroom flair will beat a file that’s been thoroughly worked. The attorneys who win consistently are the ones who prepare with discipline. That means reading the full record, anticipating opposing arguments, and knowing the client’s goals inside and out.

2. Listening Is the First Step in Strategy

Whether it’s a business owner in crisis or an adjuster managing a claim, every case starts with a conversation. The best trial strategies come from understanding the client’s perspective — what’s at stake, what matters most, and what a successful outcome really looks like.

3. Responsiveness Builds Trust

You can’t control every outcome, but you can control how you communicate. I’ve learned that timely, honest communication earns more long-term trust than overpromising results. Clients remember how you made them feel just as much as how you resolved their case.

4. Reputation Is Earned (and Lost) in Quiet Moments

The courtroom matters, but so does every email, phone call, and deadline. Judges, opposing counsel, and clients all notice the details. In this profession, consistency is credibility.

Whether I’m representing an individual, a company, or an insurance carrier, I approach each case with the same commitment: prepare thoroughly, listen closely, and advocate with clarity and purpose.

Written by Dustin Charters, trial attorney based in Boise, Idaho. Read more at Tolman Brizee & Cannon