MODEM STUD //

A Writer's Origin

Karl Gerber was born a writer, earning his first writing award in junior high school. His early college years were marked by several short stories including: “Hallway” (1989); “Eggie” (1990); and “Red Pants and Allergy Pills” (1990, 2000). During college, he notably won a writing award for an essay detailing a girl-friend’s experience being raped, which he published with her name on the essay.

In order to support himself, Gerber pursued a career as a labor lawyer. He first gained recognition as an attorney because of his ability to write winning legal briefs and appeals. For ten years, he turned out hundreds of pages of legal briefs each week, with his clients often inspiring his fiction, leading to short stories such as“Odd Client” (1994)and“Dullard” (1995).

Legal Thought Leadership

By 1997, Gerber was on his way to becoming a leading California labor lawyer. During the era of print journalism, he published numerous influential legal articles, including:

• “Self Critical Analysis Documents & After Acquired Evidence,” Consumer Attorneys of California, 1997
• “Permanent Responsibility,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 16, 1999
• “Working Moms Have Legal Rights,” Wetset Gazette, Fall 2000
• “The Late 2003 Amendment to Labor Code Sections 1102.5 and 1106 are Salutary,” Matthew Bender California Labor and Employment Bulletin, August 2004
• “Labor Code Sections 2699 & 2699.3 Traps for the Weary & Burden to All,” San Fernando Valley Bar Notes, February 2005

Fiction & Historical Narratives

Once his legal career was firmly established, Gerber returned to fiction writing. In 2006, he authored a full-length, historically accurate, Los Angeles noir novel entitled, Angelenos Ain’t Lizards aka Legend of the Lizard People. The following year, he wrote from a woman’s perspective in Does This Make My Butt Look Big?

The experience of his early online activities, particularly his time during the BBS era, led him to realize that he had a "brush with history." Understanding how those foundational activities shaped the new information era, he felt compelled to write his book Modem Stud.

Current Practice & Philosophy

Gerber maintains a vigorous schedule, continuing to write and edit legal briefs during the day, while dedicating his nights to fiction and legal articles. He is licensed in California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Texas. Since 1993, he has successfully represented 2,000 separate employees in binding arbitrations, federal court proceedings, and state court cases. His impressive 51 arbitrations and trials first-chaired won.

His professional philosophy is clear: Good story telling wins trials.