Back in 1992, we started this little publishing company with a book on Texas civil procedure titled O’Connor’s Texas Rules * Civil Trials. The book was unique because it discussed procedural issues in a way that no other portable legal publication had done before. It was divided into two main sections: one section containing the commentaries, which explain procedural issues from filing a lawsuit through post-trial motions, providing a sort of road map for a case, and another section containing all the rules of procedure for litigating a civil case, annotated with quotations from current cases illustrating how the courts interpret each rule. Written in plain, simple English, the book was primarily designed as a portable trial manual to give attorneys everything they needed to know about Texas procedure while in the courtroom. The book was designed—through its content, structure, and layout—to make finding a rule or commentary topic as fast and easy as possible. As a paperback, the book was priced low enough so an attorney could afford to buy an updated copy every year.
The book was written to accomplish a simple goal: give the small-town attorney a leg up on the big firms to help level the playing field. Turns out, the big firms liked the book, too—there’s something about being able to understand the law the first time you read about it.
Over 15 years and 20 productslater, we’re still at it, trying to write the best law books around. We hope, as time goes on, this blog will help you become more acquainted with our company, which is still independent by the way, and our products, both current and planned. And who knows, you might have an idea or two for us.
Oh, and if you ever come across any old advertising that says we work in jeans and polos, drink too much coffee, never, ever bill time, office in a converted downtown warehouse, and publish the best law books for lawyers, it’s still true. Well, except that most summers now we’re in shorts and t-shirts. It’s a lot hotter down here these days.
Tags: History
