A riveting story, right from the first paragraph I was hooked. Michael, a young yuppie lawyer, gets a rude awakening to the plight of the homeless in Washington DC, and decides to take some risks and make huge changes in his life. This novel had myself and friends in it's grips... the plight of the less fortunate is realistically painted, and the main character's ignorance is painfully realistic as well. What he then decides to do with his new found knowledge will hopefully also inspire others to give more to their local communities - without breaking the law. Read it and enjoy.

I am generally a fan of Grisham, but this one isn't very good. It could have been a good story but it doesn't ring true. For example, the narrator is 32, but doesn't speak like anyone that age. 32 year olds don't describe people using words like "youngster," "coed," "queers," and so on.

I think this book reflects the earnest yearning of many (most) lawyers to get away from billable hours and do something that at least SEEMS meaningful.

A great story. This was my first Grisham novel, and I really enjoyed this story. It was definitely a page-turner.

EVEN with the attempt of a heavy story, this book fails to envoke emotion on a subject that deserves a harder look. typical Grisham, the writing flows, is easy to follow and can be finished during dinner. The book builds up and but doesn't have a major conclusion, not a lot of excitement and no empathy for the main character. In The Firm, my heart was racing, in the The Street Lawyer-nothing. It is not a bad book and I will probably continue to read his novels, but this is one of his weaker stories.