Reviewed by E B Heath
Something that hurts one of us, hurts all of us. Jahan Kalantar
Talk Your Way Out of Trouble – a memoir of Jahan Kalantar’s professional life as a barrister and lawyer. In the Prologue readers will learn about the inner workings of ‘the eye’ – it’s a lawyer-y thing. Apart from that, Kalantar’s story is a straightforward account simply told. Simply told and captivating. Kalantar is an advocate of authenticity and it is this quality that the shines through the pages.
Initially, Kalantar writes about his family life, his academic history, and how he came to the law. He explains the three different types of courts and who operates within them; the separation of powers within the justice system, his experience across the different areas of law, including taking the Bar examination. But the main heft of this memoir features the characters that populated his career – mentors, clients, lawyers, barristers, and judges – all of whom could be placed on a spectrum ranging from: kind and generous, grateful, sad (I cried), purposely boring, exceptionally talented, funny, and bonkers. Like a parable, each case study illustrates a moral – What is good to do, what is not? Recognise that some people are kind, and some are cruel. The value of staying calm and listening. Trust your gut instincts at the same time remain a little sceptical. The value of writing a sincere apology when mistakes have been made. Be your authentic self.
In finding his niche within the different areas of law, Kalantar assisted experts in the field of environmental law, estate law (death and taxes), personal injury, defamation (known as Dark Arts), sexual assault, and criminal defence. From these he recounts true stories that are very interesting and mostly amusing, but there was one very sad example that demonstrated the devastating effects of domestic violence, particularly on babies and children.
When domestic violence victims tell their story, it is not always obvious how vile the perpetrator has been. Chapter 26 ‘Bearbear’ brought this to the fore. Having fled for her life to escape yet another drunken encounter with her husband, and father of a dear little girl aged three, Bearbear got left behind causing the little girl considerable grief. It was necessary to apply to the court for property recovery. The husband refuse saying he had paid for the essential items so no, he would not give them up. This would require further legal action, so Kalantar approached the father outside court to negotiate some reasonableness, only to be met with a ‘bullying, loud, awful man’, who continued to refuse any mercy toward his wife and child. ‘At least,’ said Kalantar, ‘you could give Bearbear back so your daughter can sleep, she is scared …’. Kalantar recounts that with a malicious grin he produced the toy, promptly rips it apart and throws in on the ground. The cruelty and indifference to his daughter’s happiness was astounding. Understandably, Kalantar felt a rage that he didn’t know he was capable of feeling. Thankfully a security guard escorted this man out. The really sad bit is yet to come … the little girl cried with relief when mashed-up Bearbear was returned, and immediately fell into a deep sleep. She hadn’t slept properly for two weeks. Clearly, in all the mayhem she had experienced in her life, Bearbear presented some kind of safety valve, perhaps she transferred her grief onto the toy bear and then loved and cared for it as she would have wanted to be loved by her father. When asked which of his cases is the most memorable one, Kalantar claims the above. He cried. And so did I.
The only criticism of this most interesting memoir I can muster is that I think an Index would be useful. Although not usual for this type of book, there is much information that readers might want to refer to again, easy access would be useful.
Jahan Kalantar is a Sydney-based criminal lawyer, social media commentator, entrepreneur, university lecturer and sought-after speaker and Founder of Executive Law Group, where he heads up the serious crime and mental health practice. Above all he is a kind, empathetic man, who guards his values in a competitive environment.
Highly Recommended
by Jahan Kalantar
(2025)
Pan Macmillan Australia
Paperback
ISBN. 978 1761 5622 9 7
$36.99; 336pp