More than 50 years and 150 trials into his storied legal career, James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster has more than a few stories to tell. His new memoir, “Justice at Trial,” which goes on sale next month, sets out to tell some of the better ones while also trying to explain what trial lawyers do and why they do it. 

“Even now, as my sentences go on longer, I love to talk and persuade people,” Brosnahan told me as we chatted on a couch at his home in Berkeley, California last week for an upcoming episode of the Legal Speak podcast. A fuller version of the interview will appear in an upcoming version of the “Legal Speak” podcast. For now, here’s a sneak peek at that conversation offering a glimpse of the author and his reflections on life as a trial lawyer.