Have To Admit, My Metric For "Good Lawyers" Now....

Obviously this means the lawyer must have given Trump actual legal advice. https://t.co/EHILqOESN9

— George Conway🌻 (@gtconway3d) September 27, 2022

...is ones that won't work for Trump.

Of course, he's not actually gone:

Kise is expected to remain on Trump’s legal team but is not leading the work related to the federal government’s investigation into how the former President handled 11,000 documents seized from his Florida home in August following a lengthy effort by the government to retrieve them. The reason for the shift in Kise’s role remains unclear and he may instead focus his efforts on the other investigations Trump is facing, which range from his business practices to the January 6 insurrection.

The move is notable given Kise, the former solicitor general for Florida, was brought on to the team after a weeks-long search and struggle to find someone willing to take on the case who was also experienced in Florida law. The legal strategy for fighting the Justice Department following the August seizure of over 100 documents marked as classified was also in disarray.

I'm not sure what "expertise in Florida law" (by which I presume they actually mean "experience in Florida federal courts," because there really isn't any Florida law involved in any of the investigations of Trump) has do to with Trump's business practices (he's being sued in New York under New York state law) or the January 6th insurrection (federal crimes, one and all).  But I guess Trump wants to get his outside money's worth.

Kise’s hiring came with an unusual price tag of $3 million, paid for by Trump’s outside spending arm. The retainer fee, paid upfront, raised eyebrows among other lawyers on Trump’s team, given the former President has a developed a reputation for not paying his legal fees. 

I don't know what Kise brings to the table anymore.  He's probably a good lawyer, but the Special Master is in Brooklyn, and Judge Cannon is already trying to wish this lawsuit into the cornfield.   Team Trump insist Kice's position hasn't changed, but courtroom documents will tell the tale. He hasn't appeared in court for Trump yet; let's wait and see if he ever does.

CNN reports Kice recently went into private practice.  Maybe the $3 million was worth it to him; but as a retainer, he still has to earn it.  Nothing brings down the wrath of a state bar faster than playing fast and loose with the escrow accounts.  Kice is going to have to charge a lot of billable hours to keep that fee.