Description:
A witty, poignant, and refreshingly original poetic journey through the stages of a lawyer's life, from the first tentative steps toward law school to the triumphs, trials, and quiet revelations of practice.
Brief description: Mark Halliwell Smith is a nationally recognized real estate finance attorney and author of The Seven Secular Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to Achievement. He and his wife, Diane Shader Smith, are leading global advocates in the fight against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections
Review Quotes:
"A genuine work of art-absolutely fabulous! I was never a fan of poetry, but Beyond the First Whereas changed that. With wit, depth, and profound insight, the author reveals how poetry can bring deeper meaning to life's journeys. Every piece-from the copyright notice to LSAT prep-opened new windows of understanding to me. The Dedication moved me and my wife to tears. A truly extraordinary achievement!"
-Marschall I. Smith, former General Counsel
at Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.
"Beyond the First Whereas is a clever and beautiful presentation of the journey of becoming a lawyer. I have often wondered what the best way is to give students an idea of what their future will be like. This book captures the experience perfectly and elevates the odyssey far beyond anything I have ever read."
-Laurie L. Levenson, Professor of Law and Chair of
Ethical Advocacy, and former Associate Dean
for Academic Affairs at Loyola Law School
"This heartwarming collection of poems traces the arc of a legal career, with the precision of a seasoned advocate and the soul of a poet. Beyond the First Whereas is a love letter to the law and those who dare to practice it."
-Adeeb Sahar, Global Head of Commercial, Corporate
and International Law at X (formerly Twitter)