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APR 2018
WADE LAW GROUP
THE LEGAL ISSUE 408-842-1688
www.WadeLitigation.com
PREPARATION MITIGATES NERVOUSNESS
EVERY TIME
The real-life exposure emboldened me. By the time I became a lawyer, it wasn’t new. I already had the jitters out in moot court and learned about the challenges I would face through my trial advocacy classes. I was ready. All your schooling and practice trials are put to the test when you have your first jury trial. You’re not just arguing to the judge. You’re convincing 12 people that your case is worth their vote. This was it — everything I’d been preparing for. It might sound strange, but when I entered the courtroom that day, instead of feeling intimidated, I was excited and eager to deliver my opening statement. I’d prepared so much for this day, from my first assignment to my last moot court trial. They say preparation mitigates nervousness, and they were right. I was prepared and ready to pull it off. Nevertheless, not even the most outrageous episodes of Court TV could’ve prepared me for the dramatic course my first case would take. My client was a teen who had been shot eight times by police. He was now a paraplegic. There was a lot of drama involved — least of which was my background as an ex-cop. It was a grueling case. We argued for two weeks, and in the end, we settled. It wasn’t the ending we’d hoped for. I felt exhilarated by the experience, but deflated by the outcome. Although I couldn’t have imagined fighting a case like this, it was an invaluable experience. I learned that there is a lot more to a case than preparing the perfect opening statement. Real people and real emotions are involved, and there are outcomes that you don’t expect. You learn how to deal with that, and most importantly, you learn how your defeats make you stronger Today, when I walk into the courtroom, I feel the same eagerness and anticipation I felt back then. My weeks of preparation before a case continue to mitigate nervousness. But after 20 years of practicing the law, I also have quite a bit more experience. Now, most cases I try end with the outcome my client is looking for. If preparation mitigates nervousness, then experience fosters success.
For most of my early adulthood, I religiously watched Court TV. Do you remember the station dedicated solely to broadcasting live footage from high-profile cases? It was huge phenomenon in the ‘90s, and I was fascinated with becoming a trial lawyer. So I saw this station as my chance to learn and see how it all went down. I attempted to watch it every day, from the Menendez brothers to the O.J. Simpson trial. Hollywood has put numerous spins on what it looks like to be a lawyer. While most focus on the dramatization, Court TV gave us a front-row view into how a real-life jury trial looked. They showed lawyers who are passionate about their work and the different personalities that came together to fight for a case. I watched it and dreamed of being one of those lawyers. When I got to law school, the real work began. I was no longer an observer; I was in it. I took trial advocacy classes to cultivate the legal dialect, and I was selected to be part of the moot court team at school. I practiced opening statements, cross-examination, and learned how to mold a strong closing argument. Ultimately, I learned how to advocate for my client.
Amiel Wade
“They say preparation mitigates nervousness, and they were right.”
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VISUAL BRANDING EXPANDING BEYOND YOUR LOGO
When you think of visual brands, an iconic logo might pop into your mind. But logos are only the beginning of visual branding. While a strong logo is a terrific start, there are many other aspects that you should dedicate your time and money to. Here are a couple of tips you can follow to ensure successful visual branding.
THE LOGO
Start with your logo. You want your customers to notice you, and one way to do that is with a simple yet eye-catching logo. It’s usually the first interaction someone has with your company, so make it memorable. However, it’s important not to let your logo carry everything else. Saul Bass, logo designer for United Airlines and the Girl Scouts of the USA, states, “Logos are a great extension of the internal realities of a company.” A logo is representative and gives your customers something easy to remember, but it doesn’t encapsulate your whole business.
Keep the same color schemes and style for everything, but vary the imagery and design. This helps associate the product with your company without printing the same thing over and over. When your visual brands match, it creates a bridge to your company.
CONSISTENCY
When your theme is inconsistent, you create mistrust between you and your customers. A changing logo or style will create a sense of uneasiness or suspicion that your company might not be authentic or reputable. Any visual element that you design to represent your company should remain the same. If it’s unavoidable, change it as minimally as possible. Consistency in visual branding builds trust and helps customers recognize you.
THEMES
When you make promotional materials or certain merchandise, such as business cards or gift cards, the design should relate to your company. This doesn’t mean you should slap the logo on every item. The theme or design that you chose to represent in your logo should be present in your merchandise and promotional media.
Incorporating visual branding beyond your logo will bring more positive recognition to your company. Follow these tips to create great visual branding.
3 APRIL FOOLS’ PRANKS FROM EARLIER, MORE TRUSTING TIMES
SWISS SPAGHETTI GROWERS ENJOY RECORD HARVEST
April Fools’ Day isn’t what it used to be. Sure, it’s still a fun distraction, with Google announcing “scratch and sniff” digital technology and Amazon declaring new features enabling Alexa to understand your pets. But it’s pretty hard for anyone to genuinely pull your leg in the internet age. Back when you couldn’t debunk a hoax with a simple Snopes search, things were a little more interesting. Here are a few of the most hilarious — yet somehow convincing — April Fools’ pranks in history. When NPR’s popular “Talk of the Nation” program announced in 1992 that former President Richard Nixon had announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, listeners were shocked. Never mind that he’d been the center of the largest presidential scam in history, but his campaign slogan, “I never did anything wrong, and I won’t do it again,” left something to be desired. NPR even brought political experts on the show to discuss the ramifications of such a move, and listeners flooded the station with outraged calls — until host John Hockenberry revealed that the on-air Nixon was actually comedian Rich Little. NIXON FOR PRESIDENT, 1992
Ah, to be as naive as we were during the early days of television. In 1957, a BBC news show called “Panorama” conducted a special report on a massive spaghetti harvest in Ticino, Switzerland, following a remarkably mild winter. The black and white images showed farmers pulling huge strands of noodles off tall trees and prompted hundreds of viewers
to call into the station and ask how they might procure their own spaghetti tree.
THOMAS EDISON’S AMAZING FOOD MACHINE
When Edison was in his prime, Americans truly believed he could create anything — even a machine that transformed air, water, and dirt into biscuits, vegetables, meat, and wine, as reported by New York Graphic in 1878. The article was reprinted in newspapers across the country. Thousands of people bought the trick. When Buffalo’s Commercial Advertiser ran an editorial on Edison’s genius in the endeavor, the Graphic reprinted it in full, along with the headline, “They Bite!”
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In 2017, the Volkswagen Group boasted record sales numbers. These numbers followed a tumultuous two years of dealing with the fallout of “dieselgate,” when the company cheated on regulatory emissions testing. The company posted positive numbers across their many brands, including Audi, Porsche, and VW. They sold a record 10.74 million vehicles around the globe in 2017, and 6.23 million of those were VW-branded cars. Volkswagen cites an increased demand in the Americas and China for their success. Following the scandal, sales did drop slightly in Europe and in VW’s home turf, Germany, but those sales eventually rebounded. The emissions scandal began in September 2015 and made headlines for several months. In fact, it continues to make headlines well into 2018 as more details emerge, including the revelation that they tested emissions on humans and monkeys in order to prove their diesel motor technology was cleaner. The company did face repercussions for cheating. In the U.S., they received a $2.8 billion criminal fine and $1.5 billion in civil penalties. They also received fines and penalties in several other countries. Additionally, a number of former executives and employees were convicted of crimes related to the scandal. One former executive, Oliver Schmidt, who oversaw VW’s emissions testing in Michigan, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Bloomberg reported that he admitted to helping to conceal VW’s cheating. Before dieselgate, VW had advertised their diesel cars as environmentally friendly due to their greater efficiency, using the term “clean diesel.” However, their vehicles’ emissions were significantly higher in the real world than during lab WHY DID VOLKSWAGEN POST RECORD SALES IN 2017? IN THE DAYS AFTER DIESELGATE
testing. Studies following dieselgate found that some cars produced as much as 40 times the allowed amount of nitrogen oxide, a major pollutant.
Despite the highly publicized scandal, the Volkswagen Group managed to turn things around. In the months surrounding the scandal, many industry observers expected the automaker to take a hit to sales, but that didn’t happen. In a recent statement, Volkswagen Group’s CEO, Matthias Mueller, said, “We are thankful for the trust of our customers.” And they do have the trust of their customers. The brand successfully weathered the storm. “Some of our critics thought the diesel crisis would block our view,” Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told reporters in December 2017. “Instead, we have — undeterred by the crisis or rather fired by it — developed our digitization and electrification strategy.” It seems most of the outrage came from government officials, while the scandal didn’t resonate with consumers. Many observers chalk it up to brand loyalty — which Volkswagen and its associated brands have cultivated over several decades — coupled with marketing campaigns that shifted attention to their many vehicles. People simply love VW’s products, and a scandal isn’t going to change that.
SUDOKU
ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON BREADCRUMBS
Spring is the height of asparagus season. This dish, which features the crunch of breadcrumbs and a refreshing splash of lemon, is the perfect way to highlight the natural flavors of the vegetable without overwhelming them.
INGREDIENTS
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2 garlic cloves, minced
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2 pounds asparagus
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1 cup panko breadcrumbs
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1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped
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Kosher salt
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2 teaspoons lemon zest
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Freshly ground pepper
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Juice of one lemon (not packaged lemon juice)
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425 F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20–26 minutes, turning asparagus halfway through. 2. When asparagus is nearly done, heat remaining olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fold in parsley and lemon zest. 3. Transfer asparagus to serving platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and top with breadcrumb mixture.
Recipe inspired by Food and Wine Magazine
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WADE LAW GROUP
84 West Santa Clara Street, Ste 750 San Jose, CA 95113
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
What It’s Really Like to Be a Trial Lawyer
Your Logo Shouldn’t Run Your Business
April Fools’ Pranks From the Pre-Internet Age
3
The Reason Why VW Posted Record Sales Following a Scandal
Roasted Asparagus With Lemon Breadcrumbs
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What’s Happening in April?
YOU CAN’T MISS THESE SAN JOSE EVENTS
Theater, Soccer, and Cherry Blossoms
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES VS. HOUSTON DYNAMO When: April 14, 7:30 p.m. Where: Avaya Stadium
After making it to the playoffs last year, Chris Wondolowski and company attempt to push even further this season in the ever-competitive Western Conference. With a revamped defense that hopes to address last year’s problems on the back line, this team is looking promising. They’ll have no easy task ahead of them when they take on the Houston Dynamo, last year’s semi-finalists in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Avaya Stadium is sure to be rocking on this Saturday night, so get your tickets now. Go, Quakes!
35TH ANNUAL CUPERTINO CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL When: April 28 and 29 Where: Memorial Park Cupertino, CA
As the weather continues to warm up, so do the great events in the San Jose area. Check out these sizzling ones for April.
‘GUYS AND DOLLS’ When: April 20–29 Where: Montgomery Theater
It’s hard to pass on an event that combines culture, art, and workshops into one beautiful weekend. When you add the fact that it’s free, the festival is downright impossible to ignore. Pack up the family and head over to Memorial Park to check out the outdoor entertainment celebrating Cupertino’s Japanese sister city. There will also be indoor exhibits and demonstrations throughout the day, including music and dance performances that are sure to wow. Come for the fun, but stay for the culture.
This is a can’t-miss event for anyone who loves musical comedies. The Montgomery Theater will be home to the famous Tony Award-winning classic that is sure to be great entertainment for the whole family. With a talented cast and incredible production quality, this will be one event you’re going to love.
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