Verdict Academy

Most trial lawyers are taught what to say in the courtroom. Charla Aldous built a 40-year career on something harder: being completely herself — and she believes it's the only path to real credibility. Charla, founder of Aldous Law in Dallas, joins host Kevin Morrison to share three principles that define her practice. Beyond authenticity, she breaks down how to catch opposing counsel off guard —...

“Mini openings are a gift,” says Michael A. Kelly . “They’re guaranteed by statute.” A shareholder at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly + Schoenberger in San Francisco, Mike joins host Kevin Morrison to deliver his top three trial tips. A member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, the International Academy, the American College, and the International Society of Barristers, Mike brings hard-won experience to th...

Currently in trial on a landmark social media case, Rahul Ravipudi takes time out to share his battle-tested philosophies in this episode of “Verdict Academy.” A partner at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi in Los Angeles, Rahul is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates and all four elite invitation-only trial organizations: ABOTA, IATL, ISOB, and ACTL. With host Kevin Morrison , he breaks down his top...

“Liar, cheat, ambulance-chaser.” If you ask people what they think of lawyers, those pejoratives are often high on the list. When you ask people what they’d like lawyers to be, the answer is almost always “a teacher.” That’s why, if you ask Randi McGinn for her first tip for lawyers, her answer is to be the human in the courtroom, not the lawyer. A partner at McGinn Montoya Love Curry & Siever...

When his dad was diagnosed with cancer at age 53, Rich Schoenberger was unsure about his future. He and his dad had a heart-to-heart. He might want to be a lawyer, he said. “What’s the best place to learn how to be a trial lawyer?” his father asked. “I have no idea.” “Well, why don’t you find out?” Some four decades later, Rich is a leading plaintiffs’ attorney and member of the “big four” invitat...

The traditional way to study juror behavior is with a focus group of 10 or 12 mock jurors. Multiply that by 25 or 30, and you have big data: a technique that studies how 300 or 400 people would evaluate a case. The idea is that a large sample can reveal what’s likely to occur in a case and why. John Campbell , a pioneer in the field of big data who co-authored the groundbreaking book “ JuryBall ,”...

Host Kevin Morrison once tried a case against Jerry Popovich . “I can tell you he is top-notch, among the best I've ever gone against,” Kevin says. But don’t take it only from Kevin. Jerry is also a member of three invitation-only trial lawyer organizations with more than 80 jury trials under his belt. Speaking with Kevin on today’s podcast – not in a courtroom – Jerry shares three key trial tips....

Karen Burgess once sang to a jury in closing argument. And she’s not even an accomplished singer. But it reflects her strategy for closing argument, and she reveals why to host Kevin Morrison . A member of the “big four” invitation-only organizations – the American Board of Trial Advocates, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Trial Lawyers, and International Society of Barr...

“There's no single solution or single approach for every case,” says Walter "Wally" Yoka , who should know – after a remarkable career spanning 40 years. A nationally recognized defense attorney and member of invitation-only organizations such as the American Board of Trial Advocates, Wally has tried cases involving products liability, commercial disputes, class actions, and catastrophic personal...

In four decades of med-mal practice, Jim Bostwick knows that he can’t fix clients who have been failed by the medical system. “But you can really make a difference in their lives.” In this conversation with host Kevin Morrison , Jim explains how he does just that. The difference, says the founder of Bostwick & Associates and member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, often comes down to expert s...

Today, Gene Brown Jr . is a member of the “Big Four” invitation-only organizations of elite trial lawyers: the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates, and International Society of Barristers. But his first trial? “I was so nervous that I sat for my opening. I examined witnesses from counsel table, and I finally garnered enough c...

“Being a defendant,” says leading defense lawyer Chris Beeman , “one of the benefits of getting to trial is that the plaintiffs do go first, so it gives the defense time to continue getting organized.” And being organized is critical, Chris says as he reflects on lessons learned from his 65 jury trials. In this conversation with host Kevin Morrison , Chris also discusses transitioning from liabili...

Fifty years: same firm, same building, same parking space. “There is something about stability in my background,” Dan Kelly says as he reflects on his legendary career. There is also wisdom to be shared, which Dan does with host Kevin Morrison in the inaugural episode of “Verdict Academy.” A retired partner from Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger and a contributor to “Plaintiff” magazine, D...

What separates trial lawyers who consistently win from those who do not? The answer is not in casebooks—it is in the conversations that happen spontaneously in the office, in quiet moments after a tough trial, and in the mentorship that used to define our profession. Verdict Academy captures these disappearing moments. Host Kevin Morrison, a nationally recognized top trial attorney, sits down with...