The Experience of a Legal Career: Attorneys’ Impact on the System and the System's Impact on Attorneys

Because attorneys are essential to a fair legal process, it is important to understand the experience of a legal career. This article first reviews research on the influence of attorneys on the legal system, focusing on the effect on the influence of trial attorneys on ( a) juries, with a particular focus on attorney skill, behavior, trial decisions (i.e., joinder/severance, jury selection, opening arguments, witness selection, questioning style, cross-examination, objections, closing arguments), and characteristics (gender, race/ethnicity, attractiveness), and ( b) clients. The article then reviews the limited research on the role and impact of attorneys outside the litigation context, followed by the influence of the legal system on attorneys, with a focus on attorney distress (prevalence, causes, and consequences). The review concludes with a discussion of the overall relationship between attorneys and the legal system.

The Effect of Perspective-Taking on Trust and Understanding in Online and Face-to-Face Mediations

This research investigates the perspective taking process in online and face-to-face mediations. In particular, it addresses the question whether a perspective taking technique—being asked circular questions—helps the establishment of mutual understanding and interpersonal trust between negotiators in online and face-to-face mediation settings. This question was studied in an experimental setting in which disputants had to solve a conflict face-to-face or online by the help of a professional mediator. During the interventions, the mediator either posed mainly circular (perspective-taking) or linear questions. It was expected that mediations in which circular questions were used would lead to a higher level of mutual understanding and interpersonal trust between the disputants, and—as a result—to a more satisfying, integrative agreement. Furthermore, this study examined whether the communication mode of the intervention (online, face-to-face) affected the re-establishment of disputants’ interpersonal trust and understanding. The results of the study show that disputants’ feelings of trust in and understanding of their interaction partner improved more in the face-to-face mediations than in the online mediations. These improved feelings of understanding and trust also predicted how satisfying and integrative disputants perceived the agreement to be. Moreover, disputants perceived their mediator to be more trustworthy and more professional in the face-to-face than in the online interventions. No effect was found for mediators’ questioning style on disputants’ improved interpersonal trust and mutual understanding. We discuss the effects of the questioning style of a mediator and conclude with reflections on reasons why these effects did not lead to differences in mutual understanding and interpersonal trust between the disputants.

‘His Life Rose With Him’—John 21 and the Resurrection of Jesus

The history of Jesus as portrayed in the Fourth Gospel, not least his relationship with Peter and the Beloved Disciple and his role as light and life of the world, rose with him in the final Easter episode (Ch. 21). The questioning style of Jesus and the love exhibited and commanded by him also rose again in that resurrection narrative. Further themes from the history of Jesus, such as meals, the Eucharist, martyrdom, testimony, and truth, also find their place in the account of the risen Jesus.

READABILITY OF PHYSICS TEXTBOOKS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SOKOTO METROPOLIS

This study investigated the readability of some physics textbooks in use in secondary schools in Sokoto metropolis. Three textbooks namely Senior secondary physics by P.N Okeke, Comprehensive physics for secondary schools by G.N Ezebitiro and Principles of physics by M. Nelkon were selected for the study. Factors affecting readability of science textbooks were examined notably nature of questioning style, pictorial representation, leans and concepts presentation and suggestion for practical activities. Two hundred and seventy students from six secondary schools offering physics were involved in the study. Close Readability Test and Communicational Strategies Evaluation Test were used for collection of data. The finding of the study indicated that two textbooks (i.e. Senior secondary physics and Comprehensive Physics for Secondary Schools) were readable to senior secondary students while one (i.e Principles of Physics) was not readable to any of the levels. The three textbooks satisfied most of the qualities required for a textbook to be readable. It was recommended that readable textbooks should be selected for fruitful achievement in the subject.

Provider communication style and treatment intensification in uncontrolled hypertension

Rationale, Aims and Objectives: Provider decisions to intensify antihypertensive medications are usually based on clinical metrics (i.e., blood pressure control), but may also be based on patient provided information. When providers use a participatory questioning style, patients share more information and providers may identify barriers to blood pressure control other than an inadequate medication regimen, such as poor adherence. Providers may in turn focus on such barriers rather than intensify treatment. We examined how providers’ question style influenced their treatment intensification for uncontrolled hypertension. Methods: We used qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze data from 43 audiorecorded clinical encounters. Transcripts were coded according to a priori categories including provider question style (open- and/or closed-ended) and whether treatment was intensified, as determined by interpretation of providers’ verbalizations. We used Fisher’s exact test to evaluate the association of provider questioning style with treatment intensification.Results: Providers used a mix of open- and closed-ended questions less frequently than they used closed-ended questions alone. Treatment intensification was less common when a mix of questions was used instead of closed-ended questions alone, although this difference did not reach statistical significance (29% vs. 73% of instances, p=0.07).Conclusions: Provider communication that invites patient participation may elicit more information about patient behavior, but may not impact decisions about treatment intensification in uncontrolled hypertension. Future studies should examine this question among a larger sample and investigate the relationship of participatory communication to improvements in blood pressure control.