A sad reality of civil litigation is that there is substantial pressure brought to bear to prevent civil litigants from trying their cases. Slim few of the cases that are filed in courts will ultimately be tried to conclusion. Most cases are settled. I decided to become a lawyer because I was enamored of the idea of arguing cases to a jury. Being an advocate. Saving the day for my client.
I do not have a single colleague who chose law school because of a desire to amicably resolve disputes on confidential terms. Yet most civil litigators will spend far more time and energy working on settling their cases than they will on trying them.
Going to trial is risky, time consuming and expensive. But trial is still the best opportunity to obtain justice — the last and best chance to win. There is a special place in my heart for clients who have the wherewithal put everything on the line and let a judge or jury decide their cases.