Trial Lawyer Prep

Are you really prepared for that deposition, or are you falling into the trap of catchy YouTube tutorials and oversimplified online advice? Join me today as I navigate this treacherous landscape, discovering the dangerous pitfalls along the way. From the barrage of legal jargon to misinformation, these videos can lead you down a path of confusion, potentially harming your case. Using Texas law as...

Don't you just crave a fool-proof system to help you conquer trial preparation, regardless of how many people you have on your team? In my recent experience assisting a group of lawyers, it was evident that the make-or-break in their case was a robust method of prioritization and delegation.  In this episode, we dig deep into the mechanisms of planning, organizing, and executing tasks effectively...

How much power does self-perception hold over our actions, and what role does it play in a courtroom scenario? How critical is the reconciliation of dual identities, especially when it comes to legal proceedings? If these questions intrigue you, then this episode is perfect for you. Join me as I discuss the profound impact of client self-image on case testimony, how a client's perception of themse...

Unlock the secret of success in the courtroom: thorough client preparation. This episode is a wake-up call for all attorneys who underestimate the importance of client deposition or role at mediation. We unravel why investing your time in understanding the client's mindset can turn the tables in your favor and cement trust. The true value of a lawyer isn't just represented by the number of cases t...

Did you know that your wardrobe could be the key to professional success? Get ready to unlock the powerful potential of personal style on our latest episode with image consultant Joseph Rosenfeld. Joseph sheds light on his personal journey, revealing how a chance encounter with the Official Preppy Handbook at 15 shaped his unique sense of style and in turn, his approach to consulting. He takes us...

Are you wielding the full power of focus groups in your legal practice? Buckle up as we deep dive into the intriguing world of conducting focus groups, a bona fide tool for successful legal advocacy. We chew the cud on the art of maintaining neutrality amidst challenging conversations and the exploration of jurors' diverse opinions. Riding on the wave of our experiences, we delve into the importan...

Unearth the inside scoop of the courtroom as I sit down with the formidable Andrew Gould. We unpack our mutual experiences, including a mind-bending incident at Shoney's restaurant. As successful trial lawyers, we delve into ways we've learned to connect with juries and clients, enhancing our courtroom prowess, and even share a tale or two about a memorable expert witness. Ever wondered how resili...

Grief affects us all differently and can manifest in many ways beyond the loss itself. In this episode, I'm sharing valuable insights on how to better communicate with and support clients experiencing grief, how grief shows up mentally and physically for clients, and some practical tips for avoiding common communication pitfalls.  As lawyers, we can better support our clients by learning to commun...

Have you ever been told, in the midst of loss or grief, to 'stay busy' or 'give it time'? This episode explores how such childhood messages shape our perceptions of grief and loss. We'll be unpacking these often confusing and unhelpful strategies, shining a revealing light on how they can negatively impact our adult responses to grief. Then, we'll be discussing ways to reframe these ingrained mess...

Have you ever thought about the role grief plays in our lives, especially in a legal context? As a seasoned trial lawyer, I'm shedding light on this often-overlooked facet of litigation. Grief is not just a reaction to death, but a universal response to loss. From wrongful death cases to personal injury disputes, this emotional journey can be a complex maze. In this series, I guide you through my...

Ever wondered how the legal world and technology intersect? Well, get ready to demystify that as we chat with John Rubin, an innovator changing the game in the legal scene. A seasoned lawyer and entrepreneur, John brings an in-depth look at how he's leveraged his experiences in the courtroom to create ground-breaking tools for attorneys and mediators.  Join us as we navigate the legal landscape wi...

Imagine being able to improve your trial practice by utilizing DIY focus groups - well, that's exactly what our guest, Clint Schumacher, has been doing. As an attorney specializing in eminent domain cases, Clint shares his fascinating journey of implementing focus groups to enhance his practice, and how Zoom has become an essential tool in facilitating them. We also take a deep dive into recruitme...

It's a new year and it's time to look at new opportunities and new ideas for you to plug in and use. Today, let's start with the best time to run focus groups. Sure, you can run a focus group at any time. But if you want to get the most out of it, there are actually six spots to run a focus group in your case.  These are great places to help you prepare the case better. You may not get through to...

Have you ever wondered how to set up a focus group system that not only saves you money but also provides invaluable feedback for your courtroom success? In this episode, I share my insights and experiences on creating your very own focus group that will help you improve your skills and case strategies. I cover the non-economic damages model, the confusion around it, and how it could create gaps i...

Discover the secrets to successfully recruiting focus group participants in our fascinating conversation with Rhonda, a seasoned virtual assistant based in Charleston, South Carolina. Learn how our innovative recruitment system, utilizing platforms like Craigslist and Facebook, has proven effective in drawing in participants from various locations across the US. Rhonda's own experience as a focus...

Roleplaying is a versatile technique that can be employed to prepare for challenging scenarios, including cross-examinations and depositions. As trial lawyers, it is an effective tool that can improve our preparedness to handle complex legal situations.  Today's discussion will focus on roleplay's application in getting clients ready for testimony, whether it is for a deposition or trial. Christop...

In this episode, we're joined by Jason Erlich, an employment lawyer out in California, and we talk about a book we both read called "Influence is Your Superpower." The author, Zoe Chance, put a lot of her research into this book about influence and the psychology of influence. As trial lawyers, we've got to deal with jurors, and we've got clients and influence adjusters. And so, this was a great b...

In this episode, we explore how focus group clips can be used as tools in mediations. Specifically, I'm sharing five simple things that we can do as plaintiff's lawyers to help our mediations, as presented by a loved and respected mediator on both sides of the aisle. Learn about virtual versus in-person mediations and strategies for client preparation, such as sending a demand before the mediation...

When we're preparing a client for testimony, whether for deposition or trial, there are basic concepts you need to keep in mind. As trial lawyers, we could be so engulfed in a lot of things that sometimes, we need to step back and look at things from a ground-level perspective.  In this episode, I'm going to discuss these three basic concepts: teaching, communication, and timing. We're going to to...

Don't skip out on measuring the credibility of your witnesses and seeing the power of influence that they have over the decision-makers in your case. And one of the best ways to do that is through witness clips.  In this episode, we discuss the importance and the usability of witness clips in a focus group. Through witness preparation, you can create a more effective focus group by giving your cli...

When you're going to get ready for trial, and you're building your team to help you pick a jury, you don't actually need a lot of people. Perhaps one to three people would suffice. Building a small group will help things become more structured for you. That being said, you've got to pick people that match up with your ideology on picking a jury altogether. Then let them in on what would help you b...

None of us are smart enough for our audience to even remember anything we've ever said. They're not going to remember anything, but they will remember how we made them feel. Hence, having that sixth sense is what separates great attorneys from the not-so-great. While you'll never be able to figure jurors out, you can always at least get a better idea of what is going right and what is going wrong...

Many successful attorneys learned to be successful by being louder and stronger. And for women, being louder and stronger doesn't necessarily mean success. Sometimes louder and stronger means aggressive and shrill.  In today's episode, Rena Cook joins us to talk about how she helps women attorneys command a great deal of authority and strength without being shrill, and how you, too, can improve yo...

One of the most effective ways lawyers and other businesses can reach their audience is through podcasting. But without the right tools, the right people, and a clear purpose as to why you're doing this, it can be so easy to get overwhelmed and lose focus on why you started the podcast in the first place. Joining us today is podcast producer Danny Ozment and he talks all about podcasting – the ben...

As trial lawyers, we can't be stagnant. People change, cultures change, our jurors change, and how they process information changes. And so, as trial lawyers, our profession is one where we have to keep working on it until we decide we're done. Joining today's episode are Patricia Kuendig and Tanya Ortega to talk all about cross-exam – the importance of sequencing your cross-examination chapters,...