Illegal Procedure

Illegal Procedure is a legal thriller in the spirit of Grisham and Turow, but with a spiritual twist, similar to Robert Whitlow’s recent novels. The story touches upon timely legal issues such as insider trading, sports agency law, NCAA violations, murder and deceit. Two young lawyers at a large, top-notch Cincinnati firm are burned out and seeking to escape being “chained to the billable hour”. Only one, Stan Jefferies, finds a way out, beginning his own sports agency practice, while his best friend Ryan Simmons hunkers down and works even harder to succeed at the firm. Initially, things appear to be a smashing success for Stan, as he draws upon his contacts and relationships with his alma mater Ohio A&M, a college football powerhouse, to snag as clients two potential top 10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft. But, how is he bankrolling his plush new offices and staff of attorneys? Ryan, desperate to appease his young family's desire for more of him, blindly follows Stan into his new practice. Initially, Ryan is elated to once again be the husband and father God called him to be, but his newfound life is crushed when another lawyer turns up dead, and he is unexpectedly arrested for murder and insider trading.