Shows
Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe "Unite the Right" Aftermath and the Balance of Public Prosecution | Joe Platania (Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney)"The community at the time was just furious with me for charging any of the counter-protestors with anything. And I was very sympathetic to the ideology of the counter-protestors, and was mortified by some of the viewpoints of the alt-right individuals. But I said, 'I have to prosecute conduct, not content,' and if you start picking sides, that's a scary thing."Joe Platania, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Charlottesville, joined us for a candid conversation about what it truly means to serve as a prosecutor. From starting as a public defender to lea...
2025-10-1044 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe Power of Cooperation Amongst Trial Lawyers | Tarun Rana (Personal Injury Lawyer)"The number one takeaway is trust yourself. Because we know our stuff. We are better than them. They are inundated with so much work, and they're doing the same old stuff. We're going to conferences and learning cutting edge technology. So believe in yourself."Tarun Rana of Rana Law Group in St. Louis, MO joined us for a conversation about learning, improving, and working alongside other trial lawyers. Tarun shared his approach to trial preparation, his insight on building a successful practice, and his experience in utilizing big data and focus groups. Tarun a...
2025-10-0154 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersJustice Beyond Borders - Druze Voice for Change in Suwayda, Syria | Firas Alchoufi (International Arbitrator and Humanitarian)"So in listening to this, whomever wants Syria to be unified, maybe the solution is to listen to this petition, to consider it, and to work really, genuinely, on reaching a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis." - Firas AlchoufiIn this special episode, international lawyer, arbitrator and humanitarian Firas Alchoufi joins us to bring awareness to the humanitarian crisis that is impacting his home province of Suwayda, in the southern part of Syria. The recent regime change in that country has brought about a targeted campaign that aims to irradicate the Druze...
2025-09-241h 09Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersWhat Are We Asking of the Justice System? | Dr. Brad Lehmann (Criminal Justice Professor)"This concept called the ethic of care: we've all heard this term 'care' before. And most of us who have had any type of training, a lot of times we are taught ethics from a formal or practical standpoint. But it doesn't always uplift the care side of things. So how do you do that? How do you adhere to the rules, the order, the law, and also balance that with the needs of all the people that we are talking about here?"Dr. Brad Lehman from Virginia Commonwealth University joins...
2025-09-2251 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersMaximize Your Clients' Settlements | Jenny Sciadini (Settlement Consultant)"Whether it's a $50,000 case or a $50 million case, it's ultimately helping people preserve their settlement funds, make sure that they are being smart financially, and protecting the financial security of their settlement."Jenny Sciadini is a Settlement Consultant who partners with attorneys and their clients to maximize the value of settlements while safeguarding government benefits and long-term financial stability. Driven by a passion for helping people, she ensures clients not only protect what they’ve recovered but also build confidence in their financial future.In this episode, we explore the nuances of settlement pl...
2025-09-1339 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersA Progressive Approach to Criminal Justice | Ramin Fatehi (Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney)"I tell my prosecutors that being a public defender was one of the most important things for my career as a prosecutor, even though I only did it briefly. And it's a reason why I have a strong preference for hiring former public defenders and defense lawyers in my office."We sat down with Ramin Fatehi, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Norfolk, Virginia. From growing up in Iran to serving as a public defender in Richmond, Ramin now leads one of Virginia’s largest prosecutor’s offices. In our conversation, we talk about:How soc...
2025-09-011h 06Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersFrom Military Justice to Trial Law | Broughton Injury Law (Personal Injury Law Firm)"You often think, if someone's going through a hard time, what is the way that you can help them? And here was something I had to offer. I felt like this is something I can do. This is something I can give to them." - Gray BroughtonIn this special episode, Nael interviews the team at Broughton Injury Law Firm, including founder Gray Broughton, attorney Zac Grubaugh, and our own Sharif Gray. We explore their career paths, the firm's origin and mission, and the importance of stepping out of comfort zones to grow a...
2025-08-2049 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersTurn Your Bad Facts Into Arrows | Dillon Hobbs (Personal Injury Lawyer)"I just owned the bad facts. I talked about them, I mentioned them to the jury. I'm making eye contact with the jury, they're making eye contact with me. And I just had this feeling like, 'I think we've got a good shot here.' It was like this osmosis going on."Personal Injury Lawyer Dillon Hobbs of Birmingham, Alabama joined us to discuss his trial experience, the nuances of truly understanding and communicating with clients, and how putting yourself in their shoes is in fact a skill to be developed.We explore...
2025-08-0846 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersPractice vs. Performance: Understanding the Difference as Trial Lawyers | Dan Ambrose (Trial Conference Host)"Practice means you're doing intentional movements. Practicing typically indicates you have a coach giving you feedback, or somebody's giving you feedback. If you haven't been trained, how do you know what's appropriate?"Dan Ambrose, founder of Trial Lawyers University (TLU), joins us to share the story behind one of the most influential training series for trial lawyers in the country. In just five years, TLU has become a must-attend training for trial lawyers serious about improving in and out of the courtroom.We talk about the importance of training and practice in trial...
2025-07-2736 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersMastering Witness Preparation Method and Focus Groups | Elizabeth Larrick (Trial Consultant)"Having done so many focus groups, you get a good, fine-tuned ear for what is clear testimony and what is not. The goal of this method is for people to be as comfortable as they can, but then have confident, clear testimony that is very credible."Trial Consultant Elizabeth Larrick joins us today to discuss the importance and methodology of both witness preparation and focus groups. Elizabeth shares her journey from being a plaintiff's trial lawyer to running her own consulting firm. We cover the witness prep method she learned under the guidance o...
2025-07-1548 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersBehind the Curtain with Two Former Defense Lawyers | John Merrick and Les Brock (Personal Injury Lawyers)"The middle of a trial is the only place I've ever been where the thought came over me, 'This is where you belong. Right here. In this chaos.' Having some control over a situation that most people feel is totally out of control. You're in the eye of the storm, and it's calm there." -John MerrickPersonal Injury Lawyers John Merrick and Les Brock spent a combined 25 years defending insurance companies and other large corporations, before moving to defend individuals and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases, a...
2025-07-031h 06Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersFighting for Survivors. Holding Predators Accountable | Guy D'Andrea (Sexual Abuse Lawyer)"What is going to drive damages has little to do with what the client is going to say about their therapy records, and instead is going to have everything to do about the conduct of an organization and/or perpetrator. That's what drives the value."Guy D'Andrea is a passionate defender of victims of abuse, and has pursued justice against many notable religious institutions, boarding schools, massage therapists, healthcare providers and more. Today he shares what brought him to this work, how his team works up sexual assault cases and, when there unfortunately remain so...
2025-06-2145 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe Business Side of a Personal Injury Law Firm | Beau Correll (Personal Injury Lawyer)"We have the mindset that each case we're going to file suit on, we're intending to take it to trial. Absent a material difference or client ambivalence that arises later, we're taking them all to trial. But sometimes the insurance companies start to be more reasonable at the end when they know something big might hit them."Beau Correll leads a busy plaintiffs personal injury law firm, anchored in Virginia's Northern Shenandoah Valley, and today we talk about how he and his team balance a steady workload of cases and clients across three locations.
2025-06-0953 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers"Vulnerability is Strength" | Andrew Caple-Shaw (Trial Consultant)"Just because the jury can't use words, doesn't mean they can't talk to you, it doesn't mean they can't communicate with you. So really listen and really talk." Andrew Caple-Shaw joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast. Andrew is the managing partner at Act of Communication and a professional actor with nearly four decades of experience. He brings the art of performance and a deep understanding of human behavior to the courtroom and to witness preparation—training lawyers to communicate with clarity and confidence and helping witnesses testify effectively.Andrew sha...
2025-05-281h 13Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe Power of a Healthy Mindset | Michael Cowen (Personal Injury Lawyer)"All you can do is guide and arm your good jurors to go in there and fight for you."Michael Cowen is one of the most respected voices in the personal injury practice area. Over nearly 30 years, he has tried more than 100 cases and built a reputation for being both a skilled trial lawyer and a generous teacher.Michael started his career in corporate law in New York but chose to return home to Texas and fight for injured people—and he’s never looked back. His work gives him purpose, and he’s driv...
2025-05-1644 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersConduct Your Focus Groups Correctly | Jessica Brylo (Trial Consultant)"Focus groups give you a lot of time to practice things that you don't get to practice in court. Getting your feet wet where you can do it without spending a bunch of money is really the only way you can do it these days."Jessica Brylo is a trial consultant specializing in jury selection, case framing, focus groups, and trial strategy. She has more trial experience than most practicing lawyers, so she knows what works and what doesn't.Jessica joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers and helped us better understand the role...
2025-05-0447 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersTrying Cases the Right Way | Chris Finney (Personal Injury Lawyer)"It's really important when you meet your client to develop that authentic connection. Because if I have an authentic connection with my client, we always have a better connection than the defense."Chris Finney joined us for this episode of RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss how he built his law practice, his commitment to doing trial work the right way, and the importance of building genuine relationships both in and out of the courtroom.Chris is the founder of Finney Injury Law in St. Louis, Missouri, a personal injury law trial practice. Chris...
2025-04-2452 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers"Your Client is Exhibit A, and There is No Exhibit B" | Rand Robins (Personal Injury Lawyer)"The toughness and resilience of clients of mine, to see those people pick themselves up off the mat and carry on with life as best they can, is inspiring."Rand Robins joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. Rand initially studied journalism but found the investigative skills lent themselves well to gathering evidence. He steadily compiled a notebook of contacts and networks, through phone calls, lunch meetings and quick chats over coffee, that led him to the medical malpractice field, where he has gained extensive jury trial experience.In today's episode, we reference a...
2025-04-1458 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers"Your Client is Exhibit A, and There is No Exhibit B" | Rand Robins (Plaintiff Personal Injury Lawyer)"The toughness and resilience of clients of mine, to see those people pick themselves up off the mat and carry on with life as best they can, is inspiring."Rand Robins joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. Rand initially studied journalism but found the investigative skills lent themselves well to gathering evidence. He steadily compiled a notebook of contacts and networks, through phone calls, lunch meetings and quick chats over coffee, that led him to the medical malpractice field, where he has gained extensive jury trial experience.In today's episode, we reference a well-known video...
2025-04-1459 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe Rewards of Personal Injury Law | Maureen Farrell (Personal Injury Lawyer)"I think it's wonderful work. I'm grateful every day that I get to do, for money, something that I find incredibly interesting. I think personal injury is the best kept secret—the brightest young attorneys should want to do this kind of work."Maureen Farrell joined us this week on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss her work as a personal injury trial lawyer, her willingness to take on challenging disputed liability cases, and how she loves helping her clients through incredibly difficult and stressful times in their lives. Maureen has more than 15 years of...
2025-04-0443 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersChoosing a Winning Jury | Harry Plotkin (Trial Consultant)"All the best verdicts that I've had, in the opening statement, the jurors' eyes are bugging out and their jaws are hitting the floor. And they tell you afterwards, 'I didn't realize this case was so strong, and I'm sorry that I questioned it in voir dire. But then I heard your case in opening.' So that's where you want them. You don't want to oversell it before you actually panel the jury."Harry Plotkin joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his work as a trial consultant, how to approach jury selection...
2025-03-2547 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe Grind that Creates the Magic | Kenny Berger (Personal Injury Lawyer)"The magic that happens in a case at trial is a lot of times built on the seemingly mundane efforts to get discovery, to take depositions, to request more discovery based on those depositions, to request more depositions based on that discovery, this kind of osmotic relationship between written discovery and depositions, kind of doing the doing and the more evidence you can develop, the more work you put in, the more magical it becomes."Kenny Berger joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his work as a personal injury trial lawyer, the recent $26...
2025-03-1551 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersRepresenting the Catastrophically Injured | Stephanie Grana (Personal Injury Lawyer)"It sucks when we lose, but when we win and hopefully you win more than you lose on our side, it's life changing. I can't get that from any other job. And to know 10 years down the line, and now I've been in practice long enough, 15 years down the line, somebody sends me a card out of the blue and they just say, I was thinking about you. Or in a death case, they reach out and say this was the anniversary of his death and I think of you and I thank you for what you did...
2025-03-0158 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers"You Can't Handle The Truth" | Donald Marcari (Personal Injury Lawyer)"Find out how this accident affected them. Talk to their spouse, talk to their cousins, their best friends. No matter how big or small, it has affected that person in some way. Maybe they had a good car that was paid for and now they have a car payment. Maybe they had to miss work and can't pay their bills. Maybe they missed their kid's graduation. There's always something about a case that if you delve into it, you'll find some nugget that you can use."Donald Marcari joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We...
2025-02-151h 00Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe Essential Traits of Great Trial Lawyers | Hon. Mark Bennett (Federal District Court Judge)"You have to have the desire and passion to be the best that you can be. And that takes an incredible amount of hard work. You have to find role models. It's good to read about it, but you have to watch and, you have to second chair really good trial lawyers. And then you have to be fearless. Not every trial is going to go like you thought it was going to go. Things are going to go south and you have to pick yourself up and learn from that and not be discouraged by it. You...
2025-02-011h 08Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe Human Side of Trial Lawyering | Joe Fried (Personal Injury Lawyer)"At the end of the day, what's behind dunking a basketball and what's behind being a badass cha-cha dancer is the same feeling. It's human, it's innate, and it's very real and powerful. And that's where decisions are made, like we talked about earlier. The biggest fallacy in what we do is the idea that people make decisions based on logic. They don't. And even the idea that they do is not true."Joe Fried joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his work as a personal injury trial lawyer; the importance of authenticity...
2025-01-151h 11Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersDefending Police Officers and Mentoring the Next Generation of Trial Lawyers | David Corrigan (Civil Defense Lawyer)"In almost every instance, the police officer doesn't go to work that day saying, I hope I get in a fight or shoot somebody today. I've never had that case. And so the human element is exactly what we're talking about. Who among us has a job when you go to work where you might end up in a fight, getting shot at, or having to shoot someone. These are people who are on the frontline dealing with every time they walk up to a car, something could happen."David Corrigan joined us on RVA...
2025-01-0149 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersBuilding a Thriving Practice | Ben and Brian Glass (Personal Injury and Disability Lawyers)"You are the power in the courtroom. You are the authority, even above the judge. And I know everybody will say, no, the jury will look to the judge. I think there's a space for the trial lawyer to be the authority in the courtroom by everything that you do there. And the cool thing that I want lawyers who are listening to know, especially young lawyers, is that there's a space for you. You have your own unique set of gifts, talents and interests, your own story."Ben and Brian Glass joined us on...
2024-11-2240 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersThe Pursuit of Justice | Mike Gill (Federal Criminal Prosecutor)"Number one, do justice. Do the right thing. No matter what, at the end of the day, that's what we get to do. We're fortunate to get to do it. You are entrusted by this office to do justice and make sure you hold that close and don't ever deviate from that. Never compromise. Always do the right thing."Mike Gill joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his career as a federal prosecutor, some of his more significant cases (e.g., the Michael Vick prosecution), and his commitment to serving his country and...
2024-06-241h 01Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersLife as a Criminal Defense Lawyer | Jeff Everhart (Criminal Defense Lawyer)"The fun thing about our business is, we get to try cases with good lawyers. Trying cases is fun. Trying juries is fun. Losing juries ain't fun, but trying them is fun."Jeff Everhart joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his 42 years as a criminal defense lawyer, some of his more significant cases (e.g., The Southside Strangler and Ricky Gray), and his love for trial work and helping people. It was a privilege having Jeff join us.Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on S...
2024-03-081h 07Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersFocus Groups and Challenging the Status Quo | Irv and Joseph Cantor (Personal Injury Lawyers)"I'm able to help people with the most important thing in their life. I'm able to fight for them in court, which is just a blast. On top of that, it's the most intellectually stimulating job I can imagine because I have to learn about science, medicine, products liability, you name it. So I've never been bored and even with all the anxiety and sleepless nights, it's been a fantastic career." Irv and Joseph Cantor joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss their work as personal injury trial lawyers, their use of focus groups...
2024-01-2747 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersProsecution to Criminal Defense | John Rockecharlie and Russ Stone (Criminal Defense Lawyers)"One piece of advice I would give people is you really have to be yourself because insincerity is sensed by juries. It's sensed by judges. If you're trying to be something you're not, it's not going to work."John Rockecharlie and Russ Stone joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss their many years working as prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers, the lessons learned from their hundreds of jury trials, and their love for advocating on behalf of good people in courtrooms.It was a privilege having John and Russ join us.
2023-12-021h 03Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersMaking a Difference for the Community from the Bench | Hon. Catherine Hammond (Virginia Circuit Court Judge)"To me, if you say what is justice? I remember during the summer of George Floyd when people said no peace, no justice. I started wondering all summer long what people think is justice. I think having those seven or twelve people participate, that's justice."Hon. Catherine Hammond joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss her career as a lawyer and as a judge as well as her role in starting one of the area's most successful drug courts. It was a privilege having Judge Hammond join us.Courtroom S...
2023-11-1354 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersMaking the City of Richmond Safer as a Prosecutor | Learned Barry (State Criminal Prosecutor)"If you really do your job as a prosecutor, you can help people."Learned Barry joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his 47 years as a prosecutor in the City of Richmond, his more than 700 murder cases, and his commitment to trying cases well. It was a privilege having Learned join us.Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases t...
2023-09-0231 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersMedical Malpractice Trial Work | Brewster Rawls (Medical Malpractice Lawyer)"You have to have that spark of curiosity of creativity, but it has to be coupled with an utter fearlessness."Brewster Rawls joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his career as a trial lawyer, his work as a medical malpractice attorney, and his love for trying cases. It was a privilege having Brewster join us.Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for la...
2023-07-0448 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersDefending the Defenseless | Russell Bowles (Criminal Defense Lawyer)"You're not gonna be another number coming through the system. You're gonna be a human being with everything that is good about you. Maybe some things that perhaps are not so good. But the key is to humanize you."Russell Bowles joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his many years trying cases as a criminal defense attorney, the importance of humanizing your clients, and his commitment to being the "washer" between the "nut" and the "bolt." It was a privilege having Russell join us.Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA T...
2023-06-1045 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial LawyersCivil Justice for the Injured | John Shea (Personal Injury Lawyer)“Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell, and advertise.”John Shea joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his career, his record-setting verdict against Norfolk Southern, and his work in the courtroom. It was a privilege having John join us.Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope...
2023-03-0135 minCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers"If Not You, Who?" and the Washington, D.C. Sniper Case | Craig Cooley (Criminal Defense Lawyer)"If not you, who?"Craig Cooley joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his long career as a criminal defense lawyer, his representation of DC Sniper Lee Boyd Malvo, and his work in the courtroom. It was a privilege having Craig join us. "To dream the impossible dreamTo fight the unbeatable foeTo bear with unbearable sorrowTo run where the brave dare not goTo right the unrightable wrongTo love pure and chaste from afarTo try when your arms...
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