Roman J. Israel, Esq. Page #3

So Jeff tells me you work

with William Henry Jackson.

Yes, for 36 years.

We are... We were partners.

He was the public face of the firm.

I was the man behind the curtain,

so to speak.

- How is he?

Unconscious several weeks now.

I'm so sorry.

- Well, come on in.

- Oh...

Um...

I have no safeguard

against unemployment.

So William and Ronald...

were old friends and associates,

going back to Berkeley.

Mm. Yeah, I'm aware.

Ronnie mentions William in his book.

Right. Yes, yes.

I'd like to speak with him.

Ron is at our headquarters

in Washington.

There something I could help you with?

Oh, uh, well, um...

first, notwithstanding...

I don't know if I could do this

much longer, progressive lawyering.

You see, I'm not accustomed

without William.

The criminal side of our practice funded

our policy and legal challenges...

as in defendants' rights...

prison conditions...

and drafted attacks

on state and federal criminal codes.

If I was freed from criminal work,

I can get back to my roots.

The bigger battles,

organized mass action...

supported

by sweeping legal challenges.

With my skill...

and, uh, experience...

I'm quite certain

I can get this organization...

right back in line

with its core beliefs.

- This organization?

- Yes.

Yeah. I wasn't aware

that we, um, had strayed.

I'm not talking about nickel-and-dime

reformism. I'm talking about...

igniting a sustained mass movement,

supported by rule change...

and injunctive relief.

And I could get results

using class-action tactics.

I'm talking about a return

to using activist litigation...

creatively, defensively,

counter-offensively.

I am very proud

of what we've done here.

I think we're making significant headway

in many, many areas.

Well, in my experience, that's...

an excuse to feel good

and to slack off.

Oh? Who's slacking off?

I attended

Western State College of Law...

at Argosy in Fullerton.

Started the first student union there.

Uh...

I chose cause over ambition.

I could've joined one of the big firms

like the rest of them and been seduced.

But I was inspired by Mr. Jackson.

I went to work for him. You can...

There's a detailed, uh, record

of all of our victories.

Civil-rights victories on there.

As for my personal life,

at a certain point...

I had to decide whether to have

a family or career. I couldn't do both.

So I stayed on the front lines.

Now, I'm offering.

at this time...

to work...

exclusively...

as your, um...

long-haul, three-dimensional...

revolutionary...

min-house, uh...

full-time, paid advocate.

Mr. Israel, we're all volunteers here.

Our few salaried staff work out of D.C.

I'd go to interview,

but I'm precluded for pecuniary reasons.

Money of late's been

a motivating factor in my life.

Well...

be that as it may...

positions are filled.

Look, I'm well worth having in this thing.

I have no doubt of that.

Because there's something

to be fired up about.

We are, believe me.

Ah. Well, I'll, um...

go through William's Rolodex.

Thank you, uh...

for your time.

You know, if you're interested

in volunteering...

we're having a meeting next week.

Uh, we could use someone

with your legal expertise.

- Perhaps you could give a talk.

- I'd like that. Here's my card.

I crossed out the office address.

And I wrote my home address,

so you can reach me via mail.

I'll probably just text you.

I can do that, I think.

- Thank you.

- Yeah. Thank you.

Right on.

What a freak.

You stand on his shoulders.

Good afternoon. Yeah,

my name is Roman J. Israel, Esquire.

Yeah, Israel. Yes.

Yes, like the... Like...

Yes, right, exactly.

I'm an attorney, civil-rights attorney.

I was inquiring about a possible job...

Uh, yes, ma'am.

Right, if I... If...

Right, if I had a job,

I wouldn't be calling you.

That's why I'm calling.

I don't have-Hello?

- -C-K-S-O-N. And I'd like to speak to

someone about any possible positions...

Yeah, Vii reach out again.

In case any jobs come up,

Yd appreciate a cal! back.

Yeah, good morning.

My name is Roman J. Israel, Esquire.

I can send you my rsum.

I was with William Henry Jackson.

I'm hoping to find out...

if there's an employment opportunity...

No, not the number that's crossed out.

It's the number below the number that's

crossed out. Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

Um, Mr. Israel?

George Pierce would like you

in his office right away.

The best thing to do is engage with the

process. Otherwise, you feel powerless.

Come on in.

I'd like you to meet Felicity Ellerbee.

- Felicity, this is Roman Israel.

- Hi.

He'll be working closely

with me on this. Sit down.

Roman's a terrific attorney.

We're lucky to have him.

Felicity's nephew Derrell was

arrested two days ago...

in connection with an armed robbery

during which a clerk was killed.

Derrell's been charged with assault,

first-degree murder.

It was his friend that was there with him.

It wasn't Derrell.

Derrell didn't know

that he was going to do that.

Of course. We completely understand.

Derrell was not the shooter.

It's our job to prove how uncomplicit

he was in the actual murder.

The way this will work is

Roman's gonna be the point person.

And you were very, very wise

to retain private counsel.

I'm not gonna lie to you,

Derrell's got a mountain to climb.

It's imperative he receives

the best defense.

I can promise you

that's what he'll get here.

- I had to mortgage my house.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- I don't like lawyers.

- Ha. Me either.

I understand.

If I don't get answers to my questions...

if I don't see results...

if I see padded sh*t popping up

in my bill...

I will fire your ass.

I'm putting up my house.

I understand.

You always dress like that?

Uh, well, uh...

in lieu of wardrobe, I have a reputation

as a dedicated advocate.

Let me give you my card.

If there's any questions...

concerns,

anything you want to talk about...

free of charge, I'm here.

I'm available for you,

It's not the crossed-out number.

It's the number

above the crossed-out number.

- What's "Esquire" mean?

- Uh...

It's a designation, uh...

in the legal arena.

It's like...

a title of dignity.

Slightly above "gentleman,"

below "knight."

Yes.

Come in.

Roman, I'd like you to meet James Lee.

Jim, this is Roman Israel.

- He'll be working closely with me on this.

- Hi.

Please sit down, Roman.

Roman's a terrific attorney.

We're lucky to have him.

Jim's wife Mari was cited last night

for felony DUI hit and run...

with added charges

for reckless driving and injury.

The way this will work is

Roman's gonna be the point person.

You were very wise

to retain private counsel.

Mari's... She's gonna need,

and deserves, the best defense possible.

We're gonna make sure

she gets exactly that.

From George.

It's then, per the night manager,

that Derrell's friend, Carter Johnson...

- shoots the clerk twice in the head.

- Okay.

They empty the register, roughly $500,

and then run into the alleyway...

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