In conversation with Rob Sherman

What inspired you during the project?

I was inspired by how open all of the police prosecutors were to honing their trial advocacy skills and how committed they were to this exercise. In many cases, the prosecutors had to leave home before daybreak to begin our training and they arrived fully prepared and ready to dig into the day's training. I was also moved by their willingness to stand up in front of their peers and to perform - a direct examination and a closing statement - with all of the hesitation and awkwardness inherent in working on something for the first time.

What was the most fulfilling aspect of the work?

Hands down, the most rewarding and fulfilling aspect of this training was watching the incredible growth of the prosecutors' skills and confidence over the four days. On the final day, each of the participants prepared and delivered a closing statement - either for the prosecution or defense. The quality of these closing statements - both in content and presentation - was dramatically better than the opening each had done on day one. One young prosecutor, who had been assigned to a magistrate's court just weeks earlier and had no training before our program, prepared and delivered a defense closing statement that was so well-structured, so well-thought through, and so well-delivered that I was brought to tears.

What one word describes your New Perimeter trip?

Grateful for the opportunity.

About Rob Sherman

Rob is a retired partner in DLA Piper's Boston office.

Full bio

"Hands down, the most rewarding and fulfilling aspect of this training was watching the incredible growth of the prosecutors' skills and confidence over the four days."