25: Best of 2021

12/07/21 • 39 min

In Episode 25 of May the Record Reflect, we take a listen to the best tips we heard from each episode in 2021. To hear the full episodes from which each tip was derived, please visit our podcasts on nita.org here.

Topics

1:47 Dick Harpootlian

3:49 Alison Reagan

5:57 Dean Marc Miller

9:14 Helen Geib

11:28 BJ Moore

14:35 Alicia Aquino

16:22 Shannon Bales

17:35 Hon. Nancy Vaidik

20:15 Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla

21:59 Judith Gaton

23:29 Steve Wood

27:16 J.C. Lore

29:10 Reuben Guttman

30:36 Jo Carol (LaFleur) Nesset Sale

32:59 Angela Porter

34:10 Dan Kotin

36:13 Hon. Ann Claire Williams (Ret.)

37:00 Clay Taylor

Topics

1:47 Dick Harpootlian

3:49 Alison Reagan

5:57 Dean Marc Miller

9:14 Helen Geib

11:28 BJ Moore

14:35 Alicia Aquino

16:22 Shannon Bales

17:35 Hon. Nancy Vaidik

20:15 Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla

21:59 Judith Gaton

23:29 Steve Wood

27:16 J.C. Lore

29:10 Reuben Guttman

30:36 Jo Carol (LaFleur) Nesset Sale

32:59 Angela Porter

34:10 Dan Kotin

36:13 Hon. Ann Claire Williams (Ret.)

37:00 Clay Taylor

Previous Episode

24: Tips and Tales, with Legal Legend Dick Harpootlian

In Episode 24 of May the Record Reflect, we’re joined by legendary American trial lawyer Dick Harpootlian. He takes a moment out from representing Alex Murdaugh to describe the roundabout way he entered law and became one of the nation’s top trial lawyers, discuss what it was like to work death penalty cases and prosecute an infamous mass murderer, and reveal advocacy tips that have always brought him luck.

Topics
3:28 The accidental lawyer
7:14 Winning . . . and losing
8:48 Introducing Pee Wee Gaskins
16:02 The life philosophy of a mass murderer
20:28 Dick’s tips on jury selection
25:18 Owning the courtroom and “the confidence to lose”
26:56 Bushido in the courtroom
28:36 High-profile cases and managing the media
32:39 Traditional media versus social media
33:42 The secret to deposing experts
35:33 Nerves and emotions
36:38 Pleasure reading and favorite shows
38:11 Murdaugh case on Netflix?
40:05 Volunteering for cases for trial experience

Quote
“Check your fly before you get up, gentlemen.” Dick Harpootlian

Next Episode

26. Direct Hit, with Mike Beckwith

26. Direct Hit, with Mike Beckwith

In Episode 26 of May the Record Reflect, we’re joined by trial veteran Mike Beckwith to talk about one of the foundations of trial practice: the direct examination. As a Chief Assistant United States Attorney with the Department of Justice, Mike has litigated hundreds of cases before trial courts in multiple federal districts and the Ninth Circuit. Tune in to find out why he thinks direct examination is crucial to your case, the best way to deal with bad facts and unlikeable witnesses, and how to comport yourself on your feet and in the moment.

Topics
5:35 Where your case is won
6:55 Why direct is harder than it seems
10:44 How to keep direct interesting
13:40 Humanizing a despicable witness
18:50 Objections from opposing counsel
21:08 Visual aids
24:23 Body language
27:17 If you’ve stunk up your direct
30:17 Introducing bad facts
34:43 Redirect
36:09 Signature sign-off questions

Quote

“With a good witness, you feel like Clarence Darrow. With a bad witness, you feel like a first-year law student. But there are good and bad out there, and so you’ve got to listen, because the good witness will give you something you want to follow up on that you didn’t have in your notes, and the bad witness you really need to be careful with because there’s a reason why they’re doing what they’re doing and a lot of times you can shift to something that’s going to explain that or you can shift them off a topic that’s irrelevant or is just going to go down a rabbit hole that is going to confuse the jury.” Mike Beckwith