Unscripted Direct

It's Season 7! Season Preview (0:00:00). Justin and Spencer preview the six major storylines for the upcoming year, including some big news: Which three coaches will be writing the NTC regionals case? Which three coaches will be writing the NTC nationals case? Homecoming ( 0:17:01). Dan Tilly returns to his alma mater, Baylor Law School. He answers absurd questions about why he made the move,...

The podcast was supposed to be on vacation ... but we interrupt this summer break for an important update! On May 1 (Episode 89), we covered the witness incident at NTC Nationals. On May 15, TYLA circulated a statement about the incident. We had some follow-up questions. So, we interviewed TYLA and ACTL leadership  about the incident -- and a broader range of National Trial Competition topics. We...

Introduction . We follow up on last week's NTC critiques and unveil some new competitions. Gavel Rankings (0:10:23). Jared announces the top 10 schools from the '23-24 season, highlights the schools who made the biggest leaps, and wonders if the TOC selection criteria should be updated. Tournament of Champions (0:18:56).  Last week, Judge Roberts "translated" Jared, so Justin a...

Introduction . Spencer hosts solo! The Break (0:02:07). Results from UCLA's Amicus Cup and GW's Estrella -- as well as Stetson's 2024 EATS awards.  Anger Translator (0:03:48). President Obama had an anger translator . Now Hofstra's Jared Rosenblatt has one, too. Jared shares his opinions on NTC Nationals -- from the case issues, to pairings that didn't match the rules, to...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer knocks on doors. Justin holds tryouts. Main Interview: Thomas R. Kline (0:07:37). The Jim Beasley Story. The Pizza Kelly Story.  The Third Chair Story. The "Birthday Present to Myself" Story. The Beating-His-Grandson-at-Squash-and-Talking-Smack Story. Then Tom answers some pressing questions: What's the next Thomas R. Kline School of Law? What's...

Introduction (00:00).  Spencer visits New York. Justin revisits a past mistake. The Break (06:23). Results from STAC Nationals, NTC Nationals, and the San Fernando Valley Competition. Recap from Both Nationals (09:36). How balanced were the AAJ and NTC nationals cases? Did the new coaches review committee make a difference?  What did we think of NTC's new fourth preliminary round? Did the new...

Introduction ( 0:00:00 ) . Spencer and Justin answer questions from listeners. Nationals Predictions ( 0:08:14 ). Brett Bayne and A.J. Bellido de Luna predict the winners at NTC and AAJ Finals . A.J. tries to color code. It doesn't go well.  Both guests manage to offend several schools and coaches while making their predictions. Our Predictions ( 0:32:42 ). After Spencer survives a field trip...

Introduction . (00:00:01) Spencer's newest project: The Bay Area Trial League. Justin's newest project: the burger he ate afterwards. The Break. (00:10:54) Results from four competitions -- including some not yet announced on the listserv. Main Interview: Mercer's Katie Powers. (00:15:33) Katie specifies the one instance when she’s called "Kathryn," explains how she was ap...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin discuss how they conduct tryouts, and it leads to a broader conversation about how they structure their respective programs at Berkeley and UCLA. The Break (0:14:45). Oops.  Losing Graciously (0:17:08). Stetson's Liz Boals and Cumberland's Sara Williams discuss how coaches can teach their students to handle competition losses with professionalis...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer talks about bunk beds.  The Break (0:03:51).  Results from Queens DA and AAJ Regionals. Predictions Contest (0:06:03). Katie Powers and Sara Williams return to find out who won. Katie answers a mailbag question, and Sara tries to stay out of hot water.  Thoughts on AAJ Regionals (00:15:27). Case balance data,  some crazy protest stories, and three pet peeves. Main I...

The Break (0:00:00). Results from South Carolina's Trials and Tribulations and LSU's Bayou Challenge -- including a heartwarming tale of congeniality. AAJ Preview (0:03:35). AAJ's lottery system, whether this competition should still be on Zoom, the new death penalty for "reading," and the quality of this year's case.    Predictions Challenge (0:24:02).  Mercer's...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer returns home. Does he still qualify as a California resident? The Break (0:02:28). Results from the Shark Beach Showdown and the Online National Championship. Surprise Guest! Joe Lester.  (0:14:34). Joe Lester crashes the Zoom and talks about this first year at Nova Southeastern, does an impression of someone else with a Southern accent, explains why he has so much...

Introduction (0:00:00). Mailbag questions. The Break (0:07:05). Results from the last weekend of NTC regionals, the final stats from Robert v. Phil, and the winner of Spencer and Justin's bet.  Convene the Protest Committee! (0:15:24). Loyola's Susan Poehls, Fordham's Adam Shlahet, and South Carolina's Brett Bayne discuss how they would have handled each of five protests. Can I...

Introduction ( 0:00:00): Spencer returns from his jaunt. The Break (0:05:34): Results from Chester Bedell and Weekend Two of the National Trial Competition, and updated case balance numbers. Changes Coming to NTC ( 0:12:00): Justin puts some direct questions to NTC Co-Chairs Dave Hagan and Ryan Bauerle. Why was the first version of the case so at odds with the community case-writing memo? Why were...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer makes an absurd itinerary.  We discuss the first Berkeley-UCLA scrimmage. And Justin narrates as Spencer's lights keep going out while we record. The Break (0:09:28). Results from the National Trial League Finals and Weekend One of the National Trial Competition. Is Justice Jackson Guilty? (0:11:39). Justin crunches the case balance numbers from the first six r...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin get ready for their teams to scrimmage. NTC Survey Results (0:02:44). What did coaches say about the case? The case changes? The enlargement rule? Do people like "live" witness -- or consider them a burden? NTC Predictions Contest (0:29:31).  Baylor's Robert Little and Drexel's Phil Pasquarello make fun of each other for 30 minutes. Th...

Season six is underway! Introduction (0:00:00). Justin shares some big news. Spencer attempts a bribe.   Tribute to Nancy Schultz (0:09:24). Stetson's Liz Boals, Nova's Joe Lester, and Chapman's John Bishop talk about their friend -- and in John's case, mentor -- Chapman's Nancy Schultz. Sponsorship Update (0:36:53). Justin asked Haagen Dazs to become an official sponsor o...

Hi Everyone! Hope your holiday season has been relaxing and rejuvenating!  Just when you thought Season Five was over, we thought we'd interrupt your break with a little unscripted fun, with the second edition of our from-the-trenches reporting of the National Flash Trial Competition.  Introduction (0:00:00).  Where has Justin gone?  And who is that in his seat?  Sam Chase joins as co-host. F...

Our final episode of Season Five! Introduction (0:00:00).  TYLA announces a good rule, and the ABA contemplates a bad rule. (To send a comment to the ABA, email Fernando. Mariduena@americanbar.org and refer to Standards 304, 405, 701, and 702. ) US News (0:05:40). With  ballots coming out soon, we examine statistical trends in the US News voting. What's changed about the way people vote? Do c...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and his brother Jackson explain their recent multi-million dollar verdict -- and what it was like trying a case together. The Break (0:16:34). Final results from the Fall.  Who Won? Gavel Predictions Contest (0:18:21): Hofstra's Jared Rosenblatt announces the top 10 schools of the Fall, and Quinnipiac's Sean McGuinness and Ryan O'Neill find out who wo...

Introduction (00:00). Spencer goes to trial (with his brother!), and Justin goes to a wedding. The Break (04:13). Results from five competitions. Scripties Preview (08:14). Click this link to vote for this Fall's best competitions. Suggested Plagiarism (09:32). Rick Friedman has won three $100,000,000 verdicts and written five bestselling trial books, including Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff...

Introduction (0:00:00) . Sam puts on a wedding ring, Spencer puts on a costume, and Justin puts on a tournament.  A new national competition (0:06:20) . Find out the details! The Break (0:09:04) . Results from four competitions! Where are they now? (0:11:36) Akron's Imokhai Okolo leaves a big firm and hangs his own shingle. Main Interview (0:21:31) . McGeorge's Reza Rezvani tells us how...

Introduction (00:00). Spencer celebrates a birthday. Justin shares some big career news. The Break (07:16). Results from four competitions! Main Interview with Paige Boorman (09:01). Georgia State's director breaks into song, introduces "Sad Lunch" into mock trial lexicon, exaggerates her abilities as a markswoman, and humors Justin by playing a game called, "Georgia or Georgia...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer looks for his name in the footnotes. We preview the Tournament of Champions. The Break (0:10:10). Results from Syracuse! Main Interview with Stetson's Kate Donoghue (0:11:00).  Kate talks about surviving a bear attack that wasn't a bear attack, explains how Stetson got back to #1 in US News, shares some strong opinions about potato chips, and offers excuse...

The Break (0:03:29). Results from Stetson Pretrial, Davis MLK, and Buffalo. Plus, Spencer shows some geographical ignorance... TYLA Responds, Part II (0:05:30). TYLA announces announces the site for Nationals 2024! Are they adding a fourth preliminary round at Nats?  What will that do the schedule?  Will TYLA consider providing witnesses at Nationals to defray the costs for schools? And has TYLA r...