Diligence. Preparation.  Thoroughness.  You've got to sharpen every edge of your case to have any hope of prevailing.  A deposition of an opposing party isn't just a fact-finding mission; it's also a showdown.  Written discovery questions to the other side aren't paper-pushing; they're guided missiles.  A case is won or lost on the approach to these critical tasks long before it reaches a courtroom for an ultimate decision.  Too many attorneys miss these opportunities because they only see a chore to check off.  But a charcoal suit and framed parchment on the wall aren't enough to champion your case effectively.  It pays to be sharp.