Verdict Academy

The lawyer who prepares hardest is not always the lawyer the jury believes. Heather Rogers, the first public defender of Santa Cruz County, California, has spent more than 20 years learning that a trial is won by the story jurors repeat to each other in the deliberation room, not by the perfect binder. With host Kevin Morrison, Heather walks through her three trial tips: preparation is power, connection over perfection, and be yourself. She explains why the theory of the case works as a North St

Trial credibility often comes down to restraint: knowing when not to object, what to leave out, and how to keep a jury's attention on what matters. Craig M. Peters, a partner at Altair Law in San Francisco, joins host Kevin Morrison to share trial tips from his path from public defender to plaintiff's attorney. Craig holds back on objections whenever possible, arguing a heads-up to opposing counsel builds trust with the jury. He distills each witness to three key points, paired with simple hand-

Over his career as a federal district judge in six districts, he tried over 400 jury trials. When host Kevin Morrison asks retired Hon. Mark W. Bennett to explain that passion, the answer is simple: He believes in the Seventh Amendment. But while the amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial, it doesn’t guarantee a win. In this conversation, Judge Bennett recalls why lawyers won based on his view from the bench. Tune in for his insights about what makes his skin crawl at opening, why you wa

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 — keeping them nervous and off-balance — and how to think outside the box by reordering witnesses and

“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 three high-impact topics: leveraging mini openings and voir dire to get your damages number out early,

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 three tips for trial lawyers. Tune in to hear what they are. Learn More and Connect ☑️ Rahul Ravipud