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The Spence Law Firm [By Aundi Howerton] Among the writings of the founder of The Spence Law Firm, Gerry Spence, are the words “To survive, we must set aside the religion of corporate omnipotence and tell the truth for once,” and this largely sums up the man’s theory on the practice and teaching of law.
Born in Wyoming—the seat of his law
of the father and children of plutonium-
The organization was formed in 1991 and
firm and one of several states in which
contaminated employee and American
continues to serve the public interest of
he practices—Spence graduated from the
labor union activist Karen Silkwood after
Wyoming and several other western states.
University of Wyoming in 1949 and completed
she mysteriously died in a car accident. He
Spence has also structured a curriculum
law school at the same university in 1952.
earned similar high-profile recognition with
out of his vision and heads the Trial Lawyers
His early successes as a prosecutor and
big-dollar verdicts against Penthouse for
College, dedicated to training and educating
big-business defender offered both the mind
Miss Wyoming and against the McDonald’s
lawyers and judges who are also invested
fodder and material resources he would
Corporation for an oral breach of contract
in protecting the individual from powerful
need to ultimately fulfill a greater vision.
with a small, independently owned ice-
social machines. Spence’s quarterly journal,
Spence writes, [T]he warriors for the people
cream company. He later defended Randy
The WARRIOR, is a similarly intentioned
are trial lawyers.” And, indeed, the title of
Weaver in a criminal case in which Weaver
publication for judicial practitioners.
“the people’s warrior” is Spence’s banner
and another man were acquitted of murder
after almost half a century of practice.
charges in the self-defense shooting of a
On the Net
U.S. Marshall in Northern Idaho. Spence His goal is to represent the common citizen,
followed this up with a successful civil suit
The Spence Law Firm
especially the one with limited resources
against government agencies for the deaths
www.spencelawyers.com/index.html
who may be suffering at the hands of big
of Weaver’s wife and son.
business or government. Spence, the author
Gerry Spence
of 15 books on the art of the law soldier and
To supplement his self-proclaimed battle
related topics and a self-proclaimed poet and
for the “justice of the ordinary man,” Spence
photographer, is equal parts adamant and
and his firm’s partners created the nonprofit
The Karen Silkwood Story
eloquent regarding his mission and insists,
L.A.W. organization to “provide quality legal
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/
despite his firm’s high-profile status, that
representation in defense and promotion of
reaction/interact/silkwood.html
“affordability” is no concern. “If we do not
the public’s interest on substantive issues
win a monetary award for clients, we charge
of health, safety, consumer rights, and civil
nothing for our services,” he said.
liberties to Wyoming citizens as well as other individuals who are unable to secure a
Spence first gained notoriety with a $10.5
lawyer due to the nature of the controversy
million verdict against Kerr-McGee on behalf
or financial inability.”
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www.gerryspence.com/index2.html