The Trial Lawyers College is Not a Cult
Lawyers who look at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College often see it as a cult.
This is wrong. TLC is not a cult.
Here’s Janja Lalich and Michael Langone’s checklist of cult characteristics, with my thoughts on whether they apply to the Trial Lawyers College:
The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
Yes. Many alumni mistake the TLC way, which is one way of trying cases, for The Way, and as a result reject (don’t make room in their minds for) the possibility that there are other technologies that might be more useful, for any given lawyer on any given case, than the TLC way.
Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
Yep. Suggestions that TLC alumni might attend a class not endorsed by TLC, or might communicate more freely through media not controlled by the college, are met with rants like this one:
I don’t know of any organization non-profit or otherwise which actively promotes (in the name of free speech) the undermining of itself and the promotion of its competitors. Just as you don’t shout fire in a crowded theatre, membership in TLC or any organization doesn’t allow you to shout “this organization is worthless and bad; come join this other one”. To me that is pure BS. The intent behind your “discussion” is tainted and harmful, not virtuous in the name of progress. It is an expression of anger for perceived wrongs nothing more. Freedom of speech leaves off, in my book, where malice and intent to harm begin. I know constructive criticism when I see it and this ain’t it.
Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
Arguable. Psychodrama is a mind-altering practice, but is it used in excess? My personal belief is that, as with improv, one can’t have enough psychodrama.
The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
Nope. TLC orthodoxy is pretty well limited to thinking about trial lawyering.
The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
Arguable.
The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
If so, only a little bit.
The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
Yes. In TLC, what Gerry says goes.
The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members’ participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
Nope.
The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
Ever been to a TLC fundraising session? Hoo boy!
Yep.
Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
No….not, that is, unless the “personal goals and activities they had before joining the group” included learning or teaching other ways of trying a lawsuit.
The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
Certainly.
The group is preoccupied with making money.
Unquestionably.
Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
I’m not sure, but I think not. I haven’t been watching the TLC listserv lately, though.
Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
Nope… well, yep, but only while they are attending the college.
The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.
Yep. Try encouraging TLC alumni to attend non-TLC seminars, and they see it as an attack on TLC. (See my comments on discouraging dissent.)
While the Trial Lawyers College unfortunately shares a few characteristics with cults, it is clearly distinguishable from a cult, most especially in that its alumni are allowed to live their personal lives as they want and freely associate with non-alumni.
But those characteristics that TLC does share with cults make it something other than an educational institution. The rigid orthodoxy, its attempts to control members’ thoughts, and its focus on increasing membership and fundraising call to mind an organized religion. That, I think, is much closer to the truth than “a cult.”
About The Author
Mark;
I can’t say that TLC is a cult any more than TCDLA, NCDA, ABA, SBOT, TTLA, or any other group that promotes the commonality of their existence.
All of the above support or encourage lawyers to join„ arguably, each one is dedicated to their specific purpose and arguably each one is made up of members who are zealous in their beliefs about their own “group” practicing law.
I do know this„ the more groups with lawyers I belong to, the more I realize that every lawyer group believes that their are being attacked, persecuted or singled out.
I wonder if the Catholic church ever though that way?
Of the 15 cult characteristics, you only gave two unqualified “No” answers regarding TLC. Should I be worried my staff needs to be reprogrammed?
You haven’t started counterprogramming already?
I checked and it is too expensive. I don’t suppose they give scholarships for that?
Noting that you are from Texas as well, I feel safe in saying that there are probably several District Attorney offices in Texas with charismatic leaders that are more cult-like than TLC (not overtly of course, lol!). I haven’t been to TLC but have attended the Western Trial Advocacy Institute, another of Gerry’s projects. Never felt culty to me, but could just be because Gerry’s aura was diluted by the other fantastic attorneys teaching. Although I do recall them plugging TLC…
Cult-like Texas DAs?.
Since I am a TLC graduate , I felt compeled to answer. The time at the ranch builds an intense bond on that class. While not a cult it does teach a different way to prepare your case , discover the story , and try your case . If it is a cult , I would rather be a member than be a DA.
TLC is a definite cult. I can speak from first hand knowledge as I was tossed out after two weeks this past September. They are a manipulative group of attorneys preying on idiot attorneys without the insight to understand they suck as attorneys. What hole exists in the psyche that makes some people, some lawyers, feel the need to make someone their leader, and them his follower? Whatever it is, whether the cool-aid, the fear, the lack of self-esteem, it’s flowing freely at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer College.
“Cool-aid” huh? That is scary.
Jim, I’m sorry to hear that you had a bad experience at TLC. Being a “manipulative group of attorneys preying on idiot attorneys without the insight to understand they suck as attorneys” could describe most any bar association or—if “idiot attorneys’ includes idiot future attorneys—law school. That doesn’t make it a cult.
When the personality worship of Spence is the primary focus of TLC and his devotees, yes it is a cult. I’ve lived it firsthand,with the mystic, mindless art, the psycho drama that allows the staff to leverage your mind, the unspeakable manner in which Spence could care less about the people there unless to amuse himself, the rampant philandering, his racist remarks, and the strict devotion required-all for economic gain and that’s just the surface. I worked to help prosecute a cult in 1986 at the USA in Oregon, and trust me buddy, TLC is a shadowy cult in my opinion. I feel sorry for all the misguided idiots and the purging of those who displayed any shred of independent thought. If you don’t get in line they mind F you, and if that doesn’t work, they tell the local law enforcement to remove you from the premises, as I was, because I was suicidal, which came as a surprise to me, as apparently I was the last to know. I am fine and well adjusted and let it roll off my back but the lemmings are still coming. It is warped and wrapped up in a tidy 501C3. Very bad people run this place.
Mark you must be a F Warrior or you speak frOm a position of ignorance
Did you even read the damned post, or did you just read the title and decide to leave a comment?
Mark I did read. I know from helping prosecute a dangerous cult for conspiring to murder a US Attorney and my direct experience at TLC, it’s a cult. It didn’t start out that way as many respected attorneys volunteered their time and it was genuine. None of those attorneys are welcome, nefarious charcuterie have enabled Gerry to indulge his need for worship while the attorneys set up a shadow network fleecing idiots, who are too stupid to realize they were ensnared, my late partner David Stewart being one. Your post missed the direct issue.
By the way check out the music recorded specifically for Spence’s cult. Sex, drugs and the old man are prevalent themes along with money and power. Unfortunately most of the idiots don’t have the insight that they are rubes being played. I got kicked out for being suicidal. Really now. You mean I challenged Joy Low and his band of assholes. Yah, anyone who challenges these folks are dealt with. They are flat our liars and charlatans. You are an idiot for attending. They were amusing to say the least.