Jake Brigance played by Matthew McConaughey, is a young vibrant attorney who chooses to take a case that wound not only impact the life of his defendant Carl LeeHailey (Samuel Jackson), but those lives of all he knows. In the small town of Canton, Mississippi the K.K.K. submerges from the town’s depths and tensions swell to an all time high. This is in result of the crime that Carl Lee, a black man, committed. His crime was one of passion and retribution. In fear of the judicial system not upholding the law, Carl Lee decided to take it upon himself to make sure that those men saw justice. Carl Lee brutally killed two men who raped and attempted to kill his 10 year old daughter. Racial tensions go on a rampage and affect everyone who crosses its path.

This movie is filled with conflicts ranging from racial differences to sexual tensions between coworkers. To list them would be nearly impossible without posting the screen play and commenting on every scene.

Jack Brigance

Young defense attorney having money problems. He is faced with taking on a case that will inevitably have a great impact in the law system.
~Conflicts:
Money problems and lack of clients
Knows about the pending murder and does nothing to stop it.
Putting family and friends in jeopardy due to this trial.
Needs help with trial and has no assistant

Sexual tension arises between him and the new assistant.

These conflicts do seem realistic for one who is a young attorney taking over a practice. I believe that he handled most of the problems very well in the movie, with the exception of the money problem. He gets so obsessed with this one case that he stops returning phone calls and stops trying to get new clients.

Carl Lee Haily

A man on trial for the murder of the two men who raped and attempted to kill his ten year old daughter.
~Conflicts:
Will the judicial system set him free?
He doesn’t have enough money to pay Brigance.

His wife if down to less that 50 dollars to provide for the family.

In the shooting he accidently shot his long time friend in the leg.

He too handled all his situations well and seemed realistic for the situation that he was in. He apologized to his friend, which was all that he could really do. He felt no remorse for killing the boys and felt that they got what they deserved. He was able to resolve the issue with the money by accepting a "contribution" from the NAACP and a collection from his church.

Ellen Roark

Young law student who is ambitious, persistent and very rich. Needs no compensation for helping on this case and will not back down until she gets what she wants. She has a “shark” type communication style that is a well fit with the Brigance.
~Conflicts:
Wants to help with the case but was told no.
Sexual tensions with Brigance.
Has to “cheat (break and enter)” to get info on a witness.
Knowingly puts herself in danger by helping out with the case.

Also, all handled well in this movie. There was nothing that I would have done differently. Her conflict management was obviously that of a shark. She was abrupt and to the point.

Throughout the movie there were conflicts that arose from scene to scene. Most of those revolved the three previously mentioned actors. However, in the broader spectrum of the movie there was many conflicts that were race related which involved all the above: KKK, racial inequality, corrupt judges, wives facing dire times in the family, minority sheriffs as well as many other things that prevail throughout the movie. All handled well and give cause for thought.

I believe that the conflicts were handled well from the main characters in the movie. The corrupt NAACP and the bought out minister were two as wall as the rioting and the involvement of the KKK.

The instance with the NAACP, the Minister, Birgance, and Haily was a wonderful depiction of negation. The NAACP wanted to bring in different lawyers on the case and through manipulation was able to involve the Minister. Haily and Birgance were able to perceive the manipulation and willing to expose it. This worked to their advantage and got them the money they needed to continue the case as well as help out with family expenses.

The main conflict in the film leaves very little opportunity for different dispute resolution. The resolution ultimately takes place in the court room and if made by the jury. The closing argument would be the only thing that could have been done differently. It was passionate and emotional. Brigance appealed to the emotional side of the story not just the logical one. This worked out to his favor in being that it sways the jury to enter a verdict of not guilty.