- Roman J. Israel, Esq.: We are formed of frailty and error. Let us pardon reciprocally each other's follies. That is the first law of nature.
- Roman J. Israel, Esq.: You know, all those years of practicing, scouring law books, achieving technical triumphs through loopholes and ambiguities, none of which were adequate to save me from the reality of my present situation. Then today, in the middle of nowhere, lost, I had a revelation; an insight so sweeping, so clear. It's me George. See, I didn't see it before because I never experienced the other side. I'm the defendant and the plaintiff simultaneously. I file against myself, I represent myself, I convict myself, hereby expanding the full scope of the legal desert, because the judgment's built in. The only thing left is forgiveness and I grant that to myself. An act doesn't make the person guilty unless the mind is guilty as well.
- Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Well, I'm sorry for taking a nanosecond off of your assembly-line, rubber stamp existence
- George Pierce: Roman, Roman! Jesus, I heard about what you did in the kitchen. Salinas is our number two. And not only that, while you were schooling Sanchez in a crowded elevator...
- Roman J. Israel, Esq.: Hey, the man doesn't understand character evidence.
- George Pierce: You'll find a quiet corner. I sent you an e-mail today to come to my office.
- Roman J. Israel, Esq.: I'm sorry, when people send e-mail, they seem to think it goes straight to your brain.
- George Pierce: You better take what I'm saying seriously, because I'm being very sincere with you.
- Roman J. Israel, Esq.: I think you knew what you were getting when you brought me in, George.
- George Pierce: I thought you were functional.
- Roman J. Israel, Esq.: I think you brought me in to put your feet to the fire 'cause you're tired of treating low-income clients like dollar signs, and maybe because you remember what it feels like to actually care. That's what I think, George.
- George Pierce: Hell no, I hired you to make a buck. Which is why I thought you took the job.
- Roman J. Israel, Esq.: I need money." -chuckles drily- "Badly. Of course. But what I really need, George, is an ally. I've been waiting to meet someone of your high caliber, and yes, I am selective. So what I'm offering to you, right out here, now, is the chance to partner with me. On a piece of groundbreaking litigation I've been working on for over seven years now. Inside this case, is arguably the most important legal brief in modern legal history. A sweeping federal challenge that could yield nothing less than a grand new era of social reform, and I say that with all due confidence. The constitution guarantees us the right to a fair trial, but there can't be any fairness is ninety-five percent of all cases never get heard. Criminal cases never get heard by a jury or a judge. I am building a wholly original class action lawsuit with over thirty-five hundred names, all former clients, aimed at the heart of-of-of plea bargain reform. I'm talking about reforming the system where prosecutors are trying to pull sentences out of their hat, where actual guilt or innocence is being completely replaced by fear of having your day in court. Where people are being forced... George, to plead guilty, under the threat of overly harsh, and coercive sentences. It's a job for a legend, or someone who wants to be one.