Heels In The Courtroom

Streamline, clarify and de-clutter your exhibit list by incorporating our top tips for preparing and presenting exhibits for depo and trial. We’ll discuss proper procedure on how to mark, submit and enter exhibits correctly and share an easy acronym to help you remember the important steps.

Summer is conference season, and whether you love them or dread them, it’s wise to prepare a positive mindset before you go. Learn how to enjoy and benefit from the “forced fun” of these events while protecting yourself and your reputation.

Listen up, clerks! Today we’re talking about what makes a clerk (or any mentee) stand out in the crowd. We’ll wrap up our discussion with top tips for making mentorship in your firm a positive opportunity for everyone.

You, your firm and the legal profession will benefit when you make mentorship a meaningful experience in your firm. We offer tips on how you can enhance the mentee’s learning experience, help them provide better work product for you and recharge your enthusiasm in the process.

Are you dealing with a client who is needy, mean, lies to you or is just plain unrealistic? Boy, we have too. Today we’re talking about how to serve difficult clients while protecting our personal and professional boundaries.

You want to help that friend of a friend with their minor auto accident settlement, but taking the case is not a good business decision. However, there are things you can do to extend goodwill and validate the referral…tune in for our tips.

What does success mean to you? Is it a monetary goal? A safe and comfortable home? Or simply the ability to shop at the “fancy” grocery store? Take a moment to re-evaluate your idea of personal success and give yourself some credit for your little successes.

Checklists help us avoid mistakes and allow our brains to focus on higher thinking. Follow along as we use pro tips from a checklist expert to create a fail-safe prep list for mediations.

Our goal is to lift you up with every episode, and today we are sharing our mentor’s most valuable life lessons. We hope these ideas help you get through the day with a little more grace, a little less angst and a lot more confidence.

Mentors help you build skills, gain confidence and are there for you when you need trusted advice on practically anything. Mary brings her mentor (and Dad) Attorney John Simon into the discussion on the power of positive mentorship.

Frustration. Guilt. Anger. Loss. It’s hard to stay focused when so many powerful emotions come at you in a single day. Listen in as we discuss our recent rides on the emotional roller coaster and learn about the tools we use to keep our sanity and come back for more.

Many female attorneys agonize over courtroom attire….but does it really matter? Intentional dressing really does communicate an attitude to the jury and imparts a first impression that can impact you and your client. Tune in for a slightly different take on the courtroom clothing conversation.

The one fact that will convince the jury your client is telling the truth is right there in the records….you just have to find it and present it in the most impactful way possible. Tune in to hear how our courtroom strategy helped the jury get justice for a brave woman who was determined to fight for what is right.

Our latest trial win involved a sexual assault case between a woman, her supervisor, and what really happened after he knocked on her hotel room door. We’ll share the facts of the case in part one and take you to trial in part two.

In the heat of trial, your mind is on the moment, not always on the potential for appeal. Failing to preserve the record can be a costly mistake. Get in the weeds with us as we discuss what you need to preserve, how to do it efficiently and why you may want to ask for help on this front in major litigation.

Jurors need legal guidance when deliberating a case because, duh, they aren’t lawyers. Jury instructions are their roadmap, and it’s definitely in your client’s best interest to be sure those instructions are as clear and concise as possible. In this episode, we discuss verdict directors, clean and dirty instructions, roving commissions, potential pitfalls and resources to create instructions that...

The New Year is a good time for reflection even if you don’t do resolutions. To kick off 2024, we checked in on last year’s silly and serious resolutions and made some new goals to guide us in the coming year. Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments and resolve to “do you” even better this year.

The holidays can be stressful but sharing the joy of traditions like making memory books, traveling home and tying the hugest tree you can find on the mini-Cooper make it all worthwhile. Join our holiday party as we share our family traditions and plans to make this holiday season our best yet. Wishing you the happiest of holidays from all of us at Heels in the Courtroom.

Seriously, opposing counsel is making faces during a tragic trucking case that involves the death of a child?! Erica Slater managed to overcome eye rolls, shoulder shrugs, claims of phantom vehicles and last-minute discovery issues to win a significant verdict for her client. Hear the whole story, and some interesting legal insights on suing family members, in this encore episode of Heels in the C...

Not every cross examination has to be adversarial. If you come on too strong with a witness who is trying hard to be helpful, you may prove your point but lose your case. We’ll talk about how to pivot your attitude and watch your nonverbals when cross examining a nice person so you win the facts without losing the jury.

Bing. Another email. Bing. Update on disturbing international unrest. Your heart hurts but…. Bing. Your exercise app interrupts with a workout nudge. Bing. Meeting reminder, and you realize you forgot to send that text. Bing. Another email. Bing. It’s just…too…much. We’re suffering from information overload. If you are too, join us as we talk through the stress and try to re-center in a healthier...

Most of us get so caught up in our hectic day-to-day world that we forget to appreciate our achievements and the people who bring us joy. So slow down and share a moment with us as we reflect on our greatest gifts and let gratitude be your attitude this week. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Heels in the Courtroom.

In Part Two of our winning case analysis, Amy Gunn and Liz Lenivy discuss witness prep, damages and dubious defense tactics. Win or lose, big cases can take a toll on attorneys, and Amy candidly shares how she will recharge her resolve and routine after celebrating one of the biggest verdicts in her career.

An inspired approach and darn good discovery skills led to a big med mal win for our client. In this encore episode, Amy Gunn and Liz Lenivy discuss their pre-trial and courtroom strategies and share some good-to-know facts about medical records in this real-life legal drama episode.

Is your client considering taking out a lawsuit loan to pay medical bills or other expenses? How can these loans impact the case, the settlement or even you as the attorney? We’ll discuss a new Missouri law that offers guidance on the issue and re-learn the proper use of the word “champerty.”