Ha, ha. I was a “strong but silent” lawyer also, as are all attorneys who file an official appearance in court but then let the lead attorney try the case. If he appeared in court, his job was probably to take notes on witness statements and to find documents needed by the lead attorney.
As for his experience, another article seemed to indicate that his “community organizing” experience convinced him that he wanted to be on the other side—the side with the real power, and that from that moment on his entire life has been defined as a quest for more and more political power and every action has been determined by how it affects his next election.
Sounds like he may be best described as a “go-for boy”(emphasis, BOY....)