BLOGS
Our advocates’ experiences, ideas, thoughts, observations, and opinions…on the record.
Cadence is Key
Introduction One of the first people I met in Law School was Colt Watkiss. Colt and I have talked at length about our undergraduate majors. We both felt that our majors would not serve us in our paths to becoming attorneys. Colt majored in theater, and I majored in...
Crafting an Argument with Strength in Numbers
The business of baseball is grounded in finding the best players to field teams and win championships. After those players complete their first three seasons of play, they are eligible to negotiate with clubs for a salary that is worth their performance, output, and...
A Moot Point-of-View: Setting the Parameters of the Conversation
You are in court face-to-face with a panel of judges. The judges care about the facts, the law, and the impact their decision will make. Your job is to tell the judge why they should rule in your favor and to convince them that this is the right decision to make. The...
The First Appearance: The 1L Moot Court Competition
Like many law students at Pace, I will never forget my experience with the 1L Moot Court Competition. In some ways, it was memorable for less savory reasons due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic but nonetheless – still a law school memory. While I didn’t excel in...
You’ve Been Selected for a Mock Trial Team! Now What?
Congratulations, you have been accepted to compete on a mock trial team at your law school! How exciting! Perhaps you’ve joined to become a champion, become better at the rules of evidence, or to meet new people. Either way, you should be ready for an experience that...
The Calm Before the Storm: Pre-Trial Proficiency
Between the nerves dawning the night before the big day or the resilience that comes with hours of digesting witness testimony in hopes of impeaching the witness on cross examination, there is a lot of excitement that goes into preparing for trial. While preparation...
Winning Your Trial On The First Day – Why Trial Preparation Must Begin At Intake
A drunk driver terrorizes a quiet neighborhood in the middle of the night, almost killing an eight-year-old boy and causing a head-on collision. Before the case was submitted to the criminal court for arraignment, less than 12 hours after the Defendant was arrested, I...
The Interplay Between Coach and Advocate: Requirements, Expectations and Outcomes
One of the most important relationships in a law school trial advocacy program is between a coach and an advocate. The relationship is like no other. It is a mutually beneficial, give and take relationship. And this mentor-mentee relationship can last far beyond law...
Building Your Courtroom Closet
When trying cases, the cardinal rule is: LOOK GOOD. Whether that be in front of a judge and jury, in person or on Zoom, it’s important to always dress to impress! Women’s Courtroom Attire and Rules Women’s fashion can be difficult in general. So, when you throw...
The Nuance of FRE 801(d)(2)(C) “Speaking Authority” v. 801(d)(2)(D) “Scope of Relationship”
During a trial I was handling in the Southern District of New York a few weeks ago, I sat at the defense side of the table during the direct examination of the plaintiff. As I listened, my adversary began to elicit out-of-court statements that were undoubtedly being...
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