Demetrio, then, was thrilled that Corboy, after Demetrio passed the bar exam in 1973, hired him. What was even more exciting? Corboy became a mentor to Demetrio. “He had a fondness for me,” Demetrio said. “He let me sit in on pre-trials. That was a big deal. A plaintiff would come in and tell a tale of woe. After the plaintiff would leave, Phil would ask me what I thought. I’d tell him and he’d share his the- ories with me. It was like a seminar in negotiations. I learned so much from him.” What was it about trial law that grabbed Demetrio’s attention back then? He pointed to the wide array of skills attorneys needed to be successful. The way Demetrio saw it, working as a trial lawyer would come with very few boring days.
Tom Demetrio and Judge Abe Marovitz
That prediction has come true.
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“I was interested in learning more about the power of persuasion,” Demetrio said. “That has always been such an important part of being a trial lawyer. The art of cross-examination is fascinating, too. The work that goes into crafting a compelling final argument is so enjoyable. And appealing to 12 strangers during a trial was something that I have always found to be a fascinating challenge.” What traits did Demetrio rely on to craft such a successful career? He points to several. Tops among them is his dedication to preparation. Demetrio works hard to make sure he is prepared for trial. And those long hours of preparation inevi- tably pay off. Demetrio points to James A. Dooley, a Chicago attorney who was once known as the dean of plaintiff lawyers. Corboy recommended that Demetrio watch
Many years ago Tom set the standards for preparation, courtroom practice and pro- fessionalism. I’ve observed Tom Deme- trio’s unique courtroom skills for more than 40 years. Tom was the first lawyer in Chicago to use horizontal plane, cross sectional brain MRI technology to demon- strate devastating brain injuries. In addition to my observations from the bench, I’ve done cases with lawyers from all over the country. On a national level, no lawyer is more deserving of a Lifetime Achievement Award. Tom is nationally recognized as establish- ing the standard for the ultimate level of practice in the highest stakes cases. A few years ago, I was doing mediations of air crash cases in Miami, Florida. Invariably, the top tier Miami lawyers referenced the strategies and results Tom Demetrio had attained in presenting and supporting their respective positions.”
Hon. Donald P. O’Connell (Ret.)
Philip Corboy and Tom Demetrio
JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2023 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS 59
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