14 12, 2013

CROSS-EXAMINATION VIDEOS

By |December 14th, 2013|Casey Anthony case, Concession-Seeking Cross, Don'ts for Cross-Examination, Movies, Seattle University Law School, Teacher Materials, Tips on Cross|2 Comments

Ann Murphy’s Gift of Cross-Examination VideosProfessor Ann Murphy (pictured here) has compiled a collection of videos and photographs that can be used to enliven any class presentation on evidence or cross-examination. This collection is valuable not only for evidence and trial advocacy professors but also for attorneys and law students who want to watch how [...]

24 09, 2011

CHANNELING IN CLOSING ARGUMENT

By |September 24th, 2011|Books, closing argument, Movies, The Staircase|2 Comments

North Carolina ChannelingJOHN EDWARDS CHANNELSGerry Spence is credited with introducing the concept of channeling into closing argument – speaking in the first person as though the lawyer is the injured or deceased person. In his book Four Trials, John Edwards describes how when he was not more than a North Carolina trial lawyer he channeled [...]

1 06, 2011

THE STAIRCASE MOVIE TEACHES PRETRIAL AND TRIAL ADVOCACY

By |June 1st, 2011|Movies, Seattle University Law School, teaching techniques, The Staircase, Trial Demonstation Movie|0 Comments

The Staircase Illustrates Advocacy TechniquesThe Staircase is an excellent tool for teaching pretrial and trial advocacy. French director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade made this film after he won an Oscar for Murder on a Sunday Morning, a documentary about a murder in Florida. Murder on a Sunday Morning is about achieving justice and tells a compelling [...]

31 03, 2011

LINCOLN LAWYER’S CROSS-EXAMINATION TRAP

By |March 31st, 2011|Don'ts for Cross-Examination, Lincoln Lawyer, Movies, Teacher Materials, Tips on Cross|1 Comment

If It’s Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is.Nothing makes a point stick like a good illustration, particularly a good movie clip. The Lincoln Lawyer, now in theaters, is a good thriller, and it has a courtroom scene that can teach law students and inexperienced trial lawyers and remind veterans to be wary of [...]

24 03, 2011

4-STAR PRETRIAL AND TRIAL ADVOCACY MOVIE FAVORITES

By |March 24th, 2011|Movies, teaching techniques|4 Comments

Two Dozen Advocacy Movies This is a list of two-dozen of my favorite 4-star trial advocacy movies. The movie descriptions include some background – most of the movies are based on actual cases. Movie clips can enliven a trial advocacy lecture, and, included in parentheses are what the film clips from the movies can be [...]

24 01, 2011

CO-AUTHOR’S “OUT OF THE ASHES” FILM

By |January 24th, 2011|Movies, Sept. 11th, Settlement, Victim Compensation Fund|1 Comment

Marilyn Berger’s Exploration of the Controversial 9/11 Victim Compensation FundMy advocacy books' co-author, Marilyn Berger, was the executive producer, writer and co-director of a forceful new documentary that explores the controversial September 11th Victim Compensation Fund created to reimburse those who were injured or lost family members in the terrorist attacks. The film is currently [...]

27 02, 2009

TRIAL ADVOCACY GOES TO THE MOVIES

By |February 27th, 2009|closing argument, Movies, persuasion, teaching techniques|5 Comments

The Staircase Movie is Most InstructiveTrial work is theater work, and, movies can provide accurate illustrations of the best and worst trial techniques and strategies. Also, movie making and trial practice are very much about storytelling. Besides that, a good movie clip can enliven any lecture or discussion of trial practice. That’s why movies are [...]

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