LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW STAR
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1. 800.973.1177
David Wohl; Lawyer, Legal Analyst, and Investigative Reporter; CBS2; Los Angeles [by Regan Morris] David Wohl is a lawyer in the morning and a legal analyst and journalist in the afternoon. LawCrossing talks with Wohl about his two careers and how he moved from the courtroom to network television.
Have you ever wondered how to become a
getting into. And that was just last March
“I’ve actually had a case where I went in
legal analyst for network news? You have
when I took that plunge, and things are going
and argued before a judge to allow our
to go where the trials are. And if you live in
pretty unbelievably.”
cameras in a courtroom; and then after the judge allowed that, I covered the case as a
California, chances are a major media circus Since then, Wohl has reported legal and
reporter,” he said, adding that he took on
non-legal stories, including exclusives on
that legal case pro bono. “It was a violent
Wohl’s media career started with the Scott
the proposed re-opening of Eagle Mountain
sexual predator seeking to be released from
Peterson trial in 2003. Wohl, a criminal and
State Prison in California and the case of Max
state prison. The judge granted the motion.
civil law trial attorney, took some time off
and Tracy Littman, a couple charged with a
So we had one news story of me arguing and
from his legal practice to attend the Peterson
five-year campaign of molestation against
then for the rest of the week my covering
trial, where he made himself available to
their daughter.
the trial—which was really cool because it
is coming soon to a courtroom near you.
journalists covering the case. Peterson was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, on Christmas Eve 2002, and the case has received widespread media attention. For Wohl, it was the start of a new career. As a legal analyst, Wohl has commented on most of the major news networks. In 2003, he joined CBS2 Palm Springs as its regular legal analyst covering the Peterson trial, which helped him build a reputation with editors in the newsroom. In March 2005, Wohl moved from the world of commentary to reporting and now works as an investigative reporter while still delivering legal commentary. Journalism doesn’t pay as well as law, so Wohl still tries cases in the mornings. But he no longer takes on criminal cases and
Wohl, who has been an attorney since 1989, is also a member of the Juvenile Defense
As a trial lawyer, Wohl already had the
Panel, a group of lawyers who represent
confidence to talk in front of a group of
children and families in Juvenile Court
people with eloquence and conviction. But he
Dependency cases.
says performing in front of the camera can
He says his legal knowledge has helped him
often be more stressful.
as a journalist, especially when investigating
“It’s similar. The only difference is when
legal cases, but also with general news
you’re in court, you can say, ‘Strike that’
researching skills. Although he works
or ‘Disregard that,’” he said. “When you’re
for CBS2, Wohl still does regular legal
in front of a camera, in front of tens of
commentary and analysis for Fox News
thousands of people that are watching you,
Channel, CNN, and Court TV. And he hosts a
you can’t erase what you’ve said, so you have
radio show on KNWZ in Palm Springs.
to be a little more careful.”
And he was one of the few media witnesses
For an attorney interested in becoming a
of Stanley “Tookie” Williams’ execution in
legal analyst, Wohl said that you have to
December.
take time off go to the trials. Sending emails
focuses on juvenile law so he can balance
“It was really surreal seeing that kind of a
both careers. Wohl said he hopes to work as
human drama take place before your eyes,”
a reporter full time in the future.
Wohl said. “Notwithstanding what he did to get there, it was difficult.”
“It was a big leap because you have to learn how to write stories and also the ins and
As an objective reporter on some cases and
outs of working in a newsroom and working
an analyst with opinions on others, Wohl
as a reporter,” he said. “Basically, it’s like
said the networks don’t consider the two a
learning Chinese. It’s a whole different
conflict of interest. On one recent story, Wohl
language, a whole different world you’re
was able to use his legal skills in more ways than one.
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displayed both sides of it.”
to producers and reporters won’t help, because you have to actually go and make the personal contact and be available to talk live on camera. Legal analysts rarely get paid, but they make connections and get national exposure. When Wohl started in 2003, there were a slew of high-profile trials in California. “At that time, the Peterson trial was just getting going and [NBA star] Kobe [Bryant]
continued on back
LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW STAR
www.lawcrossing.com
1. 800.973.1177
and then [Michael] Jackson—all of these big
Wohl thinks the reason people are so
“I really enjoy reporting, I’ve developed a
trials were sort of hitting their crescendo,”
interested in celebrity trials is that it
real passion for it,” he said. “I’m hoping I can
he said. “There’s no question that it won’t
gives ordinary people an eye into another
move 100 percent into the media. I’ve done
be long before some other celebrity does
world—and that the interest is unlikely to
law for a long time, I’ve gotten my fill of it,
something stupid and then another big trial
wane. Legal analysts, Wohl says, should
and I’m certainly ready to move on when the
starts. It’s become a new industry: high-
be opinionated, but not too over-the-top. A
opportunity makes itself available.”
profile televised trials.”
stance is one thing; pontificating, another.
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