Unscripted Direct

Introduction (0:00:00). Back to the grind. The Break (0:03:02). Results from seven NTC regionals and Nova's Shark Beach! Disaster Strikes New York (0:05:08). A winter storm -- and some administrative decisions -- leaves four playoff teams eliminated from NTC without getting a playoff trial. The coaches aren't pleased. Adam Shlahet, Jared Rosenblatt, and Brian Hughes join us to discuss. ...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer goes skiing. Justin coaches 6th graders. The Break (0:09:33). Results from Chester Bedell. Tournament Spotlight: Shark Beach (0:10:50). Nova Southeastern's Joe Lester explains how he's changed the Nova program, names the weakest region he's coached in, and realizes he might need tournament insurance. NTC Predictions Contest (0:29:13). Phil and Robert...

I ntroduction (0:00:00). Pints, walkouts, and opening statements. The Break (0:06:07). Results from five NTC regionals. NTC Case Balance (0:07:06). Did the State get the right yutes this time? Nightmare Scenario (0:10:46). We ask four veteran hosts how they would solve a situation with no good solutions: Brett Bayne, A.J. Bellido de Luna, Kate Donoghue, and Josh Jones. Main Interview (0:37:12). Ja...

Introduction (0:00:00). Rankings!  The Break (0:04:08). Results from NTC Regionals and the National Trial League Finals. NTC Case Balance Data (0:05:14). What did we learn from the first 450 ballots?  In Defense of Our Judge, Part II (0:14:52). We do some "real" journalism! An update on Judge Roberts and the NCAA eligibility case. NTC Predictions Contest (0:18:38). Who won Week 1? And wh...

Mailbag (0:00:00). When is the last day of the year when it's appropriate to say "Happy New Year"? Catching Up (0:03:25).  A basketball roadtrip, lying at the poker table, and staying optimistic amid terrifying world events. The Break (0:15:37). A new national champion. In Defense of Our Judge (0:16:27) . Judge Jim Roberts was well known to the trial advocacy community. Now he'...

Naughty (Witnesses), Nice (Scripties), and NTC (Case Teasers): Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin go to Seattle. Why? Bad facts... America's Next Top Trial Lawyer (0:04:13). Cash for closings! Students can visit the website to participate or learn more. The Break (0:05:25). Results from National Trial League and college football. Coach Roundtable (0:08:50) . Why are more witnesses mis...

You can still vote for the Scripties!  Click here to vote by December 7. Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer is not on a boondoggle. Justin thinks Thanksgiving food is overrated. The Break (0:05:46). Results from Loyola's National Civil Trial Competition. Promotion (0:06:42) . Kate Donoghue describes the scholarship -- and alliteration -- that helped earn her tenure track position at Stetson. US...

Click here to vote in the Fall 2025 Scripty Awards! Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer likens himself to a rockstar. Justin is humbled by a trampoline. The Break (0:05:22). Results from five competitions -- including Georgia's national championship in the 64-team All Star Bracket Challenge! Interview with star trial lawyer Tom Breen (0:08:46). How the Seattle trial lawyer got a big win despite s...

Introduction (0:00:00). "Calm down, Donna Sue." The Break (0:12:24). Results from all five Premiere sites, Chicago Cup, Georgetown's White Collar, and Hofstra's Medical Legal. Which two schools are having historically good seasons? Michael Cowen (0:16:15). The star trial lawyer, and host of Trial Lawyer Nation, talks about why he left Big Law to become a plaintiff's lawyer...

Introduction (0:00:00). Halloween costumes, community service, and the return of the Online National Championship ( click here to apply ). National Criminal Trial Competition (0:12:15). John Bishop talks about the tournament they're building at Chapman. Tournament Spotlight: The Premiere (0:24:08). UT's Mike Golden and Nova's Joe Lester join us in their Halloween costumes! They disc...

Introduction (0:00:00). Invincibility. The Break (0:03:49). Results from TOC, Davis MLK, and Buffalo-Niagara -- and special congrats to TSU's Tim Adams. Report from Tournament of Champions (0:07:20). Our correspondent (okay, it's just Justin) talks about the best things he saw, the worst things, the food, and the end of UCLA's streak. Most importantly, did Judge Roberts win the case...

Introduction   (0:00:00). Spencer teaches with his siblings, and Justin brags about his sibling . The Break (0:05:40). Results from Gold Cup, Syracuse, and St. John's. Tournament Spotlight: Tournament of Champions  (0:07:28). Board member Judge Roberts and this year's host Robert Little talk about this year's TOC. Robert laughs at Judge talking about "paramours" and "...

We also considered an another episode title: "That's a lot of licking." Introduction (0:00:00). Justin shares a possible life change.  The Break (0:08:05). Winners from All Star Weekend Two -- the nationals field is set! NALAE Debate (0:09:00). After the NALAE Zoom call, we invited some community leaders -- Adam Shlahet, Katie Powers, Judge Jim Roberts, Robert Little, and Jared  Ros...

Introduction (0:00:00). A murder trial without due process. The Break (0:04:46). Results from All Star Weekend One and Stetson's National Pretrial.  Suggested Plagiarism with Sean Claggett (0:09:18). Nevada's Trial Lawyer of the Year gives an unusual -- and powerful -- reason to ask an open-ended question on cross. Main Interview: Rene Shekmer (0:43:20). Campbell's advocacy director...

Introduction (0:00:00). Jeff Brooks joins us to discuss the year's least controversial controversy. The Break (0:10:06). Results from Denver's Summit Cup. Interview: Kansas's Adam Sokoloff (0:11:45). Before he coached the mock trial team and oversaw the school's Innocence Project, Adam managed bands, went back to school for a philosophy degree, ran marijuana dispensaries, made...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer keeps his job. Justin extols a new approach to scrimmaging. The Break (0:08:33). Results from four competitions -- and a wagering correction. America's Next Top Trial Lawyer (0:15:39). Sacramento County DA Thien Ho announces a new competition, with cash prizes. Main Interview: Emily Stover (0:29:48). The longtime coach -- and national champion alum -- from UC L...

Introduction (0:00:00). With Spencer abandoning his co-host, Justin interviews potential replacements. Suggested Plagiarism with Brett Schreiber (0:32:48). The lawyer who won a $243,000,000 verdict against Tesla reveals some secrets, including his approach to cases with third party liability issues. Tournament Spotlight: Battle of the Experts (1:08:57). Drexel's Phil Pasquarello talks about f...

Introduction (0:00:00). Where is Spencer taking Justin for their 10th anniversary season? The Break (0:02:33). Results from the National Flash Trial Competition. Main Interview: Stephanie Sullivan (0:07:27). South Texas's director of trial advocacy talks about her famous father, her published poetry, and her addiction to replying-all. She also opens up about the role faith has played in her l...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer prepares for his ten-year anniversary. Justin gets publicly insulted. The Break (0:07:45). Your first competition results from the new season. Main Interview: John Henry (0:08:57). Loyola's new trial advocacy director talks about his favorite war stories from 80 jury trials, how trial competitions have changed in the last 25 years, whether he was Mirandized by...

Catching Up (0:00:00) . Travel, verdicts, paying off wagers, two words that unreasonably bother Spencer, alumni events, Spanish accents, and one host trying to cause an IP lawsuit for the other. Summer Recap (0:15:13). What were the five funniest moments in our community this summer? Top Gun: Chatting with the Champions (0:22:23) .  Ohio State's Sarah Paul joins with her second chair Clay Owe...

Introduction. ( 0:00:00). We're back (for a bit!) to interrupt your summer  Mailbag. (0:1:21:21). Thanks to Robert L., other personally identifying information unavailable, for the excellent "question." Applying the Rules. (0:02:31). In our first episode recorded in a real, live, professional studio, Gabe Rivin is back to apply what he taught us in the last episode. To make sure we&...

Introduction (0:00:00). Where are we? What are we doing here? We answer existential questions, and podcast. Story Fundamentals. (0:05:28). We're joined by Gabe Rivin, former showrunner for the Wondery's American Scandal and writer for publications including The Atlantic and The Paris Review . Spencer talks with Gabe about the raw materials that make a good story, they offend basically ev...

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer cuts down a tree, and Justin gets sentimental (for three reasons). The Break (0:11:38). The EATS awards! And one errata. All Star is Back! (0:12:44). St. Mary's A.J. Bellido de Luna is back and briefer than ever. He announces the return of the All Star Bracket Challenge, reveals his poker secrets, and explains how his face ended up on t-shirts. Top Gun Preview...

Introduction (00:00). Apply for competitions and vote in the Scripties ! The Break (06:11). Serious results from Amicus, ridiculous results from Amicus, and a new podcast achievement. Gavel Rankings (12:40). With the semester coming to a close, Gavel founder and head mathematician Jared Rosenblatt shares his calculations and major storylines from the 2024-25 season. He also lodges allegations of s...

Introduction (00:00). Spencer and Justin are recovering. "Ask Your Law Mom" (02:30). Buffalo Law's Jen Scharf and Lisa Bauer have their own podcast! They do serious work -- offering advice about legal careers -- but we do our best to make this discussion entirely unserious: yoga, Wordle, student slang, headphone squabbles, and an "Ask Your Law Mom" trivia game that Spencer...