You spent decades in courtrooms, chasing justice, and suddenly you realize… the human stories behind contracts, criminal cases, and corporate disputes are what truly matter. Today, retired trial lawyer Pat Cotter joins us to reflect on a 43-year career spent standing for fairness, truth, and compassion—and why even “small” cases can leave a huge impact. Atty. Pat walks us through what it means to treat law as a pursuit of justice, how technology and AI are changing litigation, and why remembering the human side of every case keeps even the most seasoned attorneys grounded. How seeing law as a lifelong pursuit of justice keeps work meaningful, and clients prioritized Why even “small-dollar” cases can be life-changing for clients, and why effort matters more than perfection How commercial and criminal work alike carry a human impact behind every contract, dispute, or trial What massive technological change—from paper files to millions of emails—and AI mean for diligence and practice today How to maintain pride, ethics, and perspective over decades without succumbing to cynicism That’s all for today! Big thanks to Atty. Pat Cotter for sharing his insights on fairness, justice, and the human side of law. If you’re inspired by decades of courtroom experience and want to learn how law can be meaningful beyond the verdict, this episode is a must-listen. About Atty. Pat Cotter: Atty. Pat Cotter is a career trial lawyer with 43 years of experience spanning criminal prosecution, public defense, and private practice. He worked as a criminal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, including on the John Gotti case, later became a prominent defense attorney, and most recently defended a co-defendant of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in a four-month federal trial, securing a split jury verdict and eventual dismissal. Early in his career, Pat served as a public defender in Brooklyn, representing indigent clients. He recently retired, leaving the law with a legacy of wins, no more deadlines, and a career guided by fairness, truth, understanding, and compassion. Connect with Ron Bockstahler: Email: ronb@amataoffices.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronbockstahler/ Company website: https://amatacorp.com/ “Don't Lose Your Balance” book: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Lose-Your-Balance-Business/dp/1964046467 Show notes by Team Podcastologist Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
You spent decades in courtrooms, chasing justice, and suddenly you realize… the human stories behind contracts, criminal cases, and corporate disputes are what truly matter. Today, retired trial lawyer Pat Cotter joins us to reflect on a 43-year career spent standing for fairness, truth, and compassion—and why even “small” cases can leave a huge impact.
Atty. Pat walks us through what it means to treat law as a pursuit of justice, how technology and AI are changing litigation, and why remembering the human side of every case keeps even the most seasoned attorneys grounded.
That’s all for today! Big thanks to Atty. Pat Cotter for sharing his insights on fairness, justice, and the human side of law. If you’re inspired by decades of courtroom experience and want to learn how law can be meaningful beyond the verdict, this episode is a must-listen.
About Atty. Pat Cotter:
Atty. Pat Cotter is a career trial lawyer with 43 years of experience spanning criminal prosecution, public defense, and private practice. He worked as a criminal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, including on the John Gotti case, later became a prominent defense attorney, and most recently defended a co-defendant of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in a four-month federal trial, securing a split jury verdict and eventual dismissal. Early in his career, Pat served as a public defender in Brooklyn, representing indigent clients. He recently retired, leaving the law with a legacy of wins, no more deadlines, and a career guided by fairness, truth, understanding, and compassion.
Connect with Ron Bockstahler:
Email: ronb@amataoffices.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronbockstahler/
Company website: https://amatacorp.com/
“Don't Lose Your Balance” book: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Lose-Your-Balance-Business/dp/1964046467
Show notes by Team Podcastologist
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.