The main character in The Street Lawyer, Michael Brock, experiences a major change at the very beginning of the book. Michael has been a slaving for the corporate law firm Drake & Sweeney for 7 years now, and along the way he has all but forgotten his moral values and conscience. As a lawyer, he brings in over 120k a year, most of which goes to his plush apartment and luxury car. The course of his life changes dramatically when he is captured at gunpoint, along with 8 other lawyers, and held hostage inside an office building of the Drake & Sweeney firm.  His captor is none other than a black homeless vietnam vet.  The man appears to want no money from them, or anything else for that matter. He demands to see their tax records, and wants to know how much of their earnings went to the homeless aid establishments throughout the city. The 9 lawyers made a combined 3.3 million, none of which was given to charities of any kind. Their hostage situation ends abruptly when their captor is shot by a police sniper. Michael, who was directly behind the man, ends up splattered with the man’s blood.  He is examined by doctors, and released shortly after. After the incident, Michael is unable to focus on his job. He begins to volunteer at homeless shelters, donate his time and money to charities, and even quits his high-paying job to go work for a legal clinic. He experiences  a complete and total lifestyle change thanks to his hostage situation, while the other hostages appear unaffected. He gives up his car, his house, and all the luxuries he once loved.  He is plagued by the greed he once posessed, and wonders why his captor willingly gave his life simply to prove a point.