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Will Brooks has a job is never boring. As an attorney who primarily practices criminal defense, he works on cases ranging from murder to DWI to marijauna possession. He can eat his lunch while looking at grisly murder scene photos and then come to Alamo Heights, get a WOD in and a few laughs. He talks about balancing work, family, and staying grounded in a job that can be challenging to your moral compass. As a lawyer he talks about what he considers wins for his clients and how he must dispel prejudices jury’s bring into the courtroom.
Will’s Different Cases
Will Brook’s job is “never boring” as an attorney. Will Brooks handles cases ranging from criminal trespass and possession of marijuana to murder cases.
One of the most common cases he deals with is DWIs. For the majority of the public, a DWI is the only interaction citizens may have with the legal system. “I feel like my job is to explain to them that they are not wearing the scarlet letter, their life is not over. And reign in their expectations too because that can be challenging. So you see that element where it’s just a person making a bad choice.”
When Will talks about consistent bad choices or the “repeat customer” he sees how people can have their moral compass smashed if you see people engaging in illegal acts consistently. “You can become numb to that.”
“I’m almost desensitized to certain types of things. I can hear about a grisly murder and look at photos of someone who has been stabbed to death and I can eat my lunch. And to most people that’s shocking.”
Will Brook’s Goal as a Lawyer
His mindset going into every case is that each client is not guilty. For Will Brooks, a “win” looks different for each client depending on the case. If a client is potentially facing jail time, and then it is resolved by getting probation instead, that is a win. During his discussions with his client, part of his job is helping them understand what might not seem like a win is a victory based on the circumstances.
Destressing with CrossFit
“I see [CrossFit] as constantly trying to improve my fitness and get the most out of it I possibly can. I enjoy that push and I enjoy putting work off to the side for that hour. Pushing myself at the gym allows me to completely forget about the stress of work and the daily routine.”
More from the Episode
Press play to hear more about how Will Brooks has to dispel prejudices and preconceived notions jury’s bring into the courtroom. In Forrest and Will’s conversation they discuss why in Bexar County courts are dismissing marijuana possession cases from 0-2oz, and how jail affects people psychologically. Tune into wherever you listen to podcasts.