He was the President of the San Francisco Bar Association and former Dean of the Hastings Law School College of Advocacy, the largest advocacy center in the 1970-1980's. Mr. Wallach was active in the Jewish National Fund and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the 1970's. He has authored two books and wrote one hundred articles regarding trial advocacy during his career. Mr. Wallach has taught at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Golden Gate University School of Law, the University of San Francisco School of Law, and NITA.
He was born in the Bronx and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Wallach graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California and earned his J.D. from University of California Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.
When the trial lawyer isn't working, he enjoys spending time with his family. Mr. Wallach has five children, eleven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren who all live in the Bay Area. He is a frequent visitor to Café Macaroni, an Italian restaurant. Mr. Wallach is an avid Cal Berkeley, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, and 49ers fan.
Mr. Wallach Successful Law Career
Did Mr. Wallach receive any awards or participate in any internship that influenced his decision to go into the law? "In high school and in college I was a debater and I achieved great success as a debater. That's what influenced my decision to go to law school. I was valedictorian of my graduating class at Boalt Hall School of Law."
Does Mr. Wallach have a most memorable law school experience? He said he was one of two members that won the interstate moot competition in 1958.
Why did Mr. Wallach decide to become an attorney? He explained that he was raised in a socially aware family. Mr. Wallach also saw the law as a positive way to contribute to society.
So what is the best part of his job? "Jury trials. The risk and the rewards are appealing to me. I see the jury as not predictable, but reliable."
What is the trial lawyer known for professionally? "Individuals trust me. Advocates and judges trust me. I try to follow the rules and I am a faithful advocate. I am not a showboater. I find my former advocacy counsels become my friends, which is the greatest complement to me."
Is there an area of practice Mr. Wallach would like to develop further into? "Not really." The attorney pointed out that he would be attracted to handling mediation or arbitration cases.
When asked what his strengths and weaknesses were, he acknowledged, "I am a gifted oral advocate." As for his weakness, Mr. Wallach said, "I am not as good as my colleagues when it comes to research." The candid trial lawyer also claimed that he doesn't feel comfortable representing clients he doesn't like. Mr. Wallach admires attorneys who represent clients they are not fond of.
What does Mr. Wallach think about the legal field today? "Jury trials are decreasing rapidly and it's difficult for young lawyers to gain experience in the courtroom. Their focus becomes on arbitration and mediation to avoid jury trial. It's been a progressive change in the last twenty years. Attorneys come to me because I have experience that others don't have."
If he weren't a lawyer, what would Mr. Wallach probably be doing? "Teaching. I would probably be teaching history, especially American history."
Where does he see himself in five years' time? "In my profession, you don't see many eighty year old trial lawyers. But I have good health and have good trial results. All three of my jury trial verdicts last year went well." Mr. Wallach doesn't plan on slowing down. He will still be practicing the law in five years.
What motivates Mr. Wallach to be an attorney every day? "Good lawyers want to help individuals with their problems and that's what motivates me."
Mentoring Others and Mr. Wallach's Goals
Does Mr. Wallach have a mentor? Is he a mentor? "No. I look up to and admire others, but I do not have a specific mentor. My grandson is a young lawyer and I am a mentor for him as well as other young lawyers I have worked with. My teaching is a form of mentoring."
Does the Californian have goals? "Personally, I would like to live a long time. Eighty is old, but not as old as it used to be. I am healthy, so I would like to live as long as possible. Professionally, I will continue to teach and try cases."
Please see this article to find out if litigation is right for you: Why Most Attorneys Have No Business Being Litigators: Fifteen Reasons Why You Should Not Be a Litigator
