In this episode of “Celebrating Justice,” trial lawyer Jeremy Citron, founder and partner at The Hurt Boss, traces an unconventional path to the courtroom — from dreaming of becoming a Major League Baseball umpire to finding his calling in personal injury law. The journey starts with a nudge from his father to take the LSAT “as a fallback,” turns into early academic momentum in law school, and then shifts through big-law training at Holland & Knight. A pivotal fellowship at Atlanta Legal Aid reframes everything. Perspective changes when you work with people who have nothing, he says — and the courtroom quickly becomes home.

Citron’s early trial reps at Legal Aid deepened through criminal defense work and even a stint as a part-time municipal prosecutor. The accumulation mattered: quick thinking, comfort on his feet, a taste for real trials. What ultimately sets him apart, he explains, isn’t perfection — it’s presence. “Nobody is expecting perfection in a trial. They’re just looking for a human presentation — someone who can get the client’s perspective across and engage the jury.” The goal, always: be the most authentic version of himself on his feet.

For his "Closing Argument," Citron closes with a clear charge to the plaintiff bar: embrace the role and the responsibility. “Trial lawyers help people who will never be able to speak for themselves because the system isn’t designed for them to do so.”

Key Takeaways

• Authenticity persuades: juries seek a human presentation, not perfection.
• Early trial responsibility — especially at legal aid — accelerates courtroom growth.
• Career detours (big law, prosecution, defense) can compound into a trial-ready toolkit.
• Truth-finding is its own remedy — clients often want accountability as much as compensation.
• Passion plus preparation fuels endurance in long, complex litigation.

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