Take Back the Courtroom IV: Overcoming Challenges in Trial features an all-star group of lawyers sharing the stage: Rick Friedman, Roger Dodd, Randi McGinn, Nick Rowley, and Keith Mitnik—as well as communications consultant Sari de la Motte.
This presentation primarily deals with how to work with difficult judges, abusive opposing counsel, and challenging clients. Rick, Randi, and Roger discuss the types of judges that can be problematic to your case, how to work with them, and how to win despite the challenges these judges can create. They then exchange advice about how to deal with common challenges with opposing counsel and difficult clients.
In addition, the speakers cover a wide range of rarely discussed and important topics. Rick delivers his most personal speech to date on the ten greatest mistakes he has made in his career and how you can avoid them. Randi talks about gender dynamics in the courtroom and some of the benefits of being a female trial lawyer. Roger brings up ethical issues that arise in response to difficult judges and unethical tactics by opposing counsel. Nick and Keith separately develop competing ideas about voir dire: Nick’s method of building a group and keeping most jurors versus Keith’s more traditional method of juror deselection through cause and peremptory strikes. And Sari shows how improving your methods of communicating with jurors can help increase your case outcomes.
This video is filled with meaningful discussions between the speakers about important areas of practice, including how to talk about money with jurors, innovative methods for uncovering jury bias, the importance of trying cases to getting better settlement offers, and much more.
*Please note: This video set includes highlights from an exclusive $1,200 live event for lawyers. Certain exclusive content has not been included to preserve the value of attending the live event. Similarly, this set does not include the extensive written materials from the conference. Visit our Seminars & CLE page to find the next comprehensive Trial Guides seminar where you will learn even more.
The Pleasure of Working with a Good or Great Judge
DVD 02 [1:56:37]
The Funny Judge
Opening Statement with Difficult Judges
Seeking a Mistrial
Offers of Proof
Ethical Conflicts
Using the Judicial Cannon
DVD 03 [1:54:12]
Q&A
Gender Bias
The Advantage of Being a Female Trial Lawyer
Working with Female Judges
Gender Dynamics in the Courtroom
Case Selection Red Flags and Working with Difficult Clients (Spouses and Parents)
DVD 04 [46:22]
Dealing with Abusive Opposing Counsel
The Mistake of Telling the Judge They are Wrong
DVD 05 Nick Rowley at Take Back the Courtroom IV [1:54:18]
Introduction
Getting the Jury to Care about Your Client
Reconsidering Your Role in Jury Selection
You Need to Try Cases
Connecting with the Jury
Kindness, Caring, and Vulnerability Win Cases
Proving Your Client Deserves the Verdict is Crucial
Trying Cases More Quickly and More Effectively
Keep in Mind the Needs of the Jurors
There is No Such Thing as a Bad Jury
Accepting Full Responsibility in Life and in Your Losses
Connection and Compassion are Your Secret Weapons
How to Work with a Judge Who is Hurting Your Trial
Talking to Jurors about Money
Using Visuals in Presenting Damages
Losing Trials and Coming Back
Rick and Nick Discuss the Stigma and Effect of Losing
A Quick Overview of Nick’s Method of Jury Selection
Visuals for Noneconomic Damages in a Wrongful Death Case (with Arguments for Other Noneconomic Damages Cases)
Dismantling the Defense Case Using Visuals
Damages: Comparing Losses to Material Objects
Staying Spontaneous with Damages Arguments Based on Evidence and the Venue
Creating Visuals to Explain Jury Instructions
DVD 06 [1:21:31]
Revisiting Nick’s Lecture
The Ethics of Zealous Advocacy
Common Ethical Problems for Lawyers
DVD 07 [2:25:32]
Jury Selection in Trump’s America
Civic Duty Discussion in Jury Selection
Motions for the Need for More Jury Selection
Characteristics of Bad Jurors
Jury Selection
Polarizing Questions
Does Asking Questions about Bias Poison the Jury Pool?
Two Methods of Jury Selection
Finding “Stuff Happens” Jurors
Establishing Rapport with the Jury
Talking about What You Fear Most in Jury Selection
Vulnerability
Roadblocks in Jury Selection
Introduction of Keith Mitnik
DVD 08 [1:31:37]
The Ten Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made and How You Can Avoid Them
DVD 09 [1:57:15]
What We Can Learn from Trump’s Election
Keith Mitnik on Opening Statements, Metaphors, and Analogies
Three Major Steps to Winning in Opening Statement
Putting the Defense Arguments in Context
Putting Car Crash Defenses in Context (Including Prior Degeneration, Treatment Gaps, Minor Impact, and More)
Discrediting the Defense Expert before They Take the Stand
Dealing with Aggravation of a Preexisting Condition
Dealing with Letters of Protection
Premises Liability Cases
“Crossing the Defense Expert” in Your Opening
The Power of Analogy
DVD 10 Sari de la Motte [1:45:45]
Introduction
Jurors are Like Hostages
Changing Jurors from Hostages to Willing Participants
The Power of Presence
Breathing
Four Components of Presence
Lawyer Perceptions of Jurors
Nonverbal Body Language in Trial
Using Space in Trial
Body Language Associated with Asking for Money
Charisma
Q&A
Total running time: 16 hours 54 Minutes
Take Back the Courtroom IV: Overcoming Challenges in Trial features an all-star group of lawyers sharing the stage: Rick Friedman, Roger Dodd, Randi McGinn, Nick Rowley, and Keith Mitnik—as well as communications consultant Sari de la Motte.
This presentation primarily deals with how to work with difficult judges, abusive opposing counsel, and challenging clients. Rick, Randi, and Roger discuss the types of judges that can be problematic to your case, how to work with them, and how to win despite the challenges these judges can create. They then exchange advice about how to deal with common challenges with opposing counsel and difficult clients.
In addition, the speakers cover a wide range of rarely discussed and important topics. Rick delivers his most personal speech to date on the ten greatest mistakes he has made in his career and how you can avoid them. Randi talks about gender dynamics in the courtroom and some of the benefits of being a female trial lawyer. Roger brings up ethical issues that arise in response to difficult judges and unethical tactics by opposing counsel. Nick and Keith separately develop competing ideas about voir dire: Nick’s method of building a group and keeping most jurors versus Keith’s more traditional method of juror deselection through cause and peremptory strikes. And Sari shows how improving your methods of communicating with jurors can help increase your case outcomes.
This video is filled with meaningful discussions between the speakers about important areas of practice, including how to talk about money with jurors, innovative methods for uncovering jury bias, the importance of trying cases to getting better settlement offers, and much more.
*Please note: This video set includes highlights from an exclusive $1,200 live event for lawyers. Certain exclusive content has not been included to preserve the value of attending the live event. Similarly, this set does not include the extensive written materials from the conference. Visit our Seminars & CLE page to find the next comprehensive Trial Guides seminar where you will learn even more.