Trial Lawyer Nation

These cases are “righteous,” explains host Michael Cowen, “because when a tractor trailer is backing across the roadway, it is very difficult for oncoming traffic to see the trailer in time to stop.” He and trial partner Laura Pazin Porter recently resolved just such a case, in which their clients’ father died after striking an 18-wheeler that was backing across a highway at night. Laura describes...

In 2023, an American Bar Association report revealed that 81% of lawyers who use social media use LinkedIn. “That sounds like a huge number, but I guarantee you they don't maximize their use of the platform,” Delisi Friday says to host Michael Cowen. The founder of First Call Friday , Delisi trains lawyers how to get the most out of LinkedIn and other marketing strategies. Tune in for her pro tips...

Receptionist-turned-litigator Juishree Samant got a masterclass right after law school when she worked in pre-litigation, convincing potential clients to hire the firm and resolving around 500 cases. “It puts you in a position where you're comfortable picking up the phone no matter who it is you're talking to, whether that be the client, whether that be adjuster, opposing counsel,” she explains in...

Like a true crime thriller, the story of a gas station's tragic indifference unfolds as Michigan attorneys David Christensen and Sarah Kime share with host Michael Cowen how they secured a $9.5 million verdict after a clerk refused to call 911 for a stabbing victim. Shocking surveillance footage revealed the underage employee's callousness as the 30-year-old customer bled to death outside the stor...

"We want our technology to create a better experience for clients and employees, not just one more extra task to do every day," says Leon Dacbert , a lawyer and chief technology officer at Begum Law Group . Leon joins host Michael Cowen to share his experience transitioning from server-based case management software to cloud solutions. Drawing from his personal journey of selecting, implementing,...

"Seeing is believing. When people actually see something rather than just hearing someone talk about it, it makes a huge difference," host Michael Cowen says of the impact of live demonstrations in personal injury cases. In this segment of “Ask Michael and Malorie Anything,” Michael and partner Malorie Peacock reveal how real-world demonstrations can make complex principles understandable to juror...

In 1977, when attorney advertising became legal through the Bates decision, Harlan Schillinger spotted an opportunity that would pioneer an entire industry. In this episode, the self-described "grandfather of legal marketing" shares insights from his nearly five decades of experience with host Michael Cowen. While emphasizing television's enduring power, Harlan explains how social media and digita...

Host Michael Cowen welcomes back visual trial strategist Amy Hall for a discussion about her work helping lawyers connect with juries through visual displays. As she explains, people remember more of what they see than what they just hear – which makes visuals an important tactic in the courtroom. Her strategy focuses on guiding her clients to distill a case so that they display only important poi...

In the first installment of their new “Ask Malorie and Michael Anything” feature, host Michael Cowen and colleague Malorie Peacock tackle eight questions from listeners. They offer strategies and tips on topics ranging from launching a career as a personal injury lawyer, to navigating a traumatic brain injury case, to managing doubts about an expert witness. Have a question for Michael and Malorie...

Brian Glass started his career at a firm that competed with his father’s, Ben Glass Law . Today, he’s a partner at the firm, where he and his father have carved out their own practices and roles. Brian visits with host Michael Cowen to share insights about what he’s learned as the firm’s integrator who manages budget, salaries, bonuses, marketing, or anything in the “integrator box.” Tune in for h...

When it came time to name his book, Jason Hennessey left nothing to chance. Anyone searching for “law firm SEO” would find his agency, videos, and his book: “ Law Firm SEO .” “I'm dominating that keyword, and it's all by design.” With host Michael Cowen, Jason defines words in the digital marketing dictionary like “SEO” and “LSAs.” He pulls back the curtain on the Google algorithm. And he describe...

South Carolina PI attorney Dirk Derrick joins host Michael Cowen for an in-depth discussion about Dirk’s innovative approach to focus groups. By prioritizing truth-seeking and empowering clients through data-driven decisions, Dirk’s team uses focus groups to maximize case values. Plaintiffs’ attorneys who want to learn more are invited to request access to his podcast, “The Appraisers,” where othe...

Rarely does a personal injury client walk in the door with a clean medical history. Aches, pains, complaints, chiropractic visits – “it’s just the reality of life,” says Sonia Rodriguez , host Michael Cowen’s colleague at Cowen Rodriguez Peacock . In this conversation, Sonia and Michael discuss the art of strategically managing personal injury cases that involve preexisting conditions and subseque...

Three decades as a trial lawyer; 30 trials; more than $3 billion in verdicts and settlements; thriving practices: Ask Mike Alder how he does it, and his answer is simple.  “Take a cold shower and make your bed.” Make your bed, every day, because it teaches the discipline a trial lawyer needs. Prefer a warm shower? Take a cold one anyway, because stepping outside your comfort zone prepares a t...

“If you’re a lawyer listening to this podcast and you manage anybody,” says Malorie Peacock , “I think you can find some value in some of the stuff that we’re going to talk about.” What Malorie and host Michael Cowen talk about is effective law firm leadership, and the “stuff” includes strategies for building a culture of accountability without workplace drama. Borrowing insights from Cy Wakeman’s...

Host Michael Cowen chats with Darryl Isaacs of Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Lawyers about personal branding and marketing. Darryl shares his journey from starting his practice in Kentucky to becoming a widely recognized figure in personal injury law across several states, with his own trademarked nickname: “The Hammer.” From television advertisements to digital platforms, Darryl discusses h...

“I think it’s more than just the pinky,” Teana Overton says of her client’s injury from a trip-and-fall. In fact, the pinky bone shattered, requiring surgery and limiting the client’s way of life. Teana and Drew Gilliland join host Michael Cowen to discuss how they won $1.8 million for the plaintiff. Their behind-the-scenes description of the case highlights how they developed a strong relationshi...

Host Michael Cowen invites Business Development Manager Abbey Vela to discuss how Cowen Rodriguez Peacock attracts and then keeps referral partners over the long haul. Abbey’s role at the firm is to connect and communicate with referrals; as she explains, it’s a position that “a lot of law firms tend to lack.” Michael observes that any firm interested in building a referral-based practice must be...

Renowned trucking accident lawyer Joe Fried tried the second case in the nation and the first in Georgia to test Amazon’s claims that it has no responsibility for its drivers’ conduct. The result was a $16.2 million verdict against Amazon for pain and suffering endured by his client’s son, an 8-year-old boy who was run over by a delivery van. As Joe explains to host Michael Cowen, the groundbreaki...

Think of focus groups as macro – exposing holes in the case and main issues from the jurors’ perspectives. Think of big data as micro – revealing the win rate, the ask, the possible outcome in terms of money. In her second visit to Trial Lawyer Nation , Jessica Brylo , owner and lead litigation consultant at Trial Dynamics , outlines the utility of both tools. The conversation with host Michael Co...

From October 16 to 19, Caesars Palace will be the site of Trial Lawyers University, an in-depth educational opportunity for lawyers who want to sharpen their skills, network, and perhaps – if they’re brave – belt out tunes at a karaoke bar. Trial Lawyers University founder Dan Ambrose offers a preview of what’s in store at TLU Vegas during this conversation with host Michael Cowen. He explains how...

“Statistics suck. Stories stick.” For Bruce Inosencio , this motto proved a north star guiding his case against a Michigan nursing home. With host Michael Cowen, Bruce acknowledges the challenge he faced: How to prove that the facility owed damages when the patient was an elderly, sick woman?  To do so, he and his legal team connected with the jurors so they’d be invested in the story of the...

Sean Claggett is on a mission to change the way trial lawyers use data so they don’t leave billions on the table. The author of JuryBall: The Big Data Revolution is Here , Sean, joins Michael Cowen to discuss how using focus groups and big data have helped him learn from early losses and helped his clients get what they deserve. “Asking for too much money is dangerous, but if you don’t ask for eno...

In trial, you have to be ready and just accept the fact that things are never going to be perfect. They’re never going to go the way you planned it.  In this episode of Trial Lawyer Nation , Michael Cowen and Malorie Peacock share their strategies (as well as the hiccups they overcame) from their recent $4M verdict on a trucking wrongful death case, where only 10% of the fault was put on thei...

Many people hate losing. Trial lawyers are no different. But can ignoring the thought of winning or losing a trial actually increase your chances of victory? In this episode of Trial Lawyer Nation , Michael Cowen hosts attorney Przemek Lubecki of New Orleans law firm Morris Bart . Michael and Przemek cover many topics, from embracing the performative aspect of trial, making connections with jurors...