Book excerpt: Criminal practice demands of new advocates a daunting array of skills. They must be interviewers, investigators, counselors, researchers, scribes, planners, negotiators, ethicists, strategists, and courtroom protectors of truth, justice, and the oppressed. Mastering these many skills takes time, a luxury the system too rarely affords. Here between two covers is a wise and readable guide to all facets of a new advocate's role. More than a trial-practice manual, this handbook looks beneath a lawyer's public duties to the preparation and planning that lead to courtroom success. And it gives both prosecutors and defenders an insider's view of their counterparts' roles, lending insights that build both effectiveness and mutual respect.