In the Athenian courtroom, every citizen was expected to be their own lawyer. But what happened if you lacked the rhetorical skill to face a hostile jury of 501 of your peers? You would secretly hire a logographos, or speechwriter, to craft the perfect legal argument for you. This episode enters the clandestine world of Athens’s legal ghostwriters, the closest the city had to professional lawyers. We explore the work of masters like Lysias, who had an uncanny ability to write speeches that perfectly matched the character and social standing of his clients. These writers were experts in the art of persuasion, weaving together legal arguments, character testimonials, and emotional appeals designed to sway a jury. Their goal was to make their client’s words sound authentic and convincing. The existence of the logographer reveals the central paradox of Athenian justice: while the system championed direct citizen participation, in reality, success often depended on the skill of a hidden professional. These writers were the unacknowledged power brokers of the Athenian legal system. Their surviving speeches are now our most valuable source for understanding the day-to-day practice of law in ancient Athens.