In this episode, Natanya Brooks shares how creativity, authenticity, and bold experimentation transformed her trial practice and helped her connect more deeply with juries. From a life-changing experience to developing unconventional courtroom strategies, she explains how trusting your instincts and embracing vulnerability can lead to powerful results.
You’ll learn practical ways to break courtroom monotony, use engaging visuals and storytelling, and deliver arguments that truly resonate. If you’re ready to think differently and stand out, this episode will inspire you to push boundaries and elevate your approach.
-
157 – Przemek Lubecki – Focus on Process and Human Connection for Trial Success
Many people hate losing. Trial lawyers are no different. But can ignoring the thought of winning or losing a trial actually increase your chances of victory?
In this episode of Trial Lawyer Nation, Michael Cowen hosts attorney Przemek Lubecki of New Orleans law firm Morris Bart. Michael and Przemek cover many topics, from embracing the performative aspect of trial, making connections with jurors, and how focusing on the process instead of the outcome can lead to wins at trial. Przemek also shares a story about one of his proudest verdicts, the CEVA case.
Don’t miss out! Big Rig Bootcamp takes place on July 12, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. Register at bigrigbootcamp.com.
Featured Guest
Name: Przemek Lubecki
About: Przemek Lubecki was born in Poland and practiced law in Chicago before landing in New Orleans. Przemek has tried over 100 cases to verdict, and his practice focuses mainly on personal injury lawsuits. He received his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University, and was a Golden Gloves boxer in Chicago after earning his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2005.
Company: Morris Bart
Connect: LinkedIn
Episode Highlights
[01:39] Get to Know Przemek: Przemek is a Polish political refugee who came to New Orleans via Chicago. He worked hard for a law degree, passed the par, then sat first chair at trial the day after being sworn in as an attorney. Hear why being a trial lawyer is Przemek’s American Dream.
[08:23] From Defense to Plaintiff: After cutting his teeth with an insurance defense firm in Chicago, Przemek moved to New Orleans and began doing plaintiff’s work. Being a plaintiff’s lawyer “is a lot harder then I even had anticipated,” he admits, but is also profoundly rewarding.
[11:36] From the Ring to the Courtroom: Applying philosophies from sports psychology and the experience of being an amateur boxer to being a trial lawyer has helped Przemek shift his mindset in a way that sets him and his clients up for victory.
[13:45] The People Connection: Being able to connect with jurors on a human level will give any lawyer a competitive edge. Valuing those connections has allowed Przemek to get comfortable being uncomfortable so he can adjust and adapt to adversity during trial.
[20:55] Helping Others Develop Skills: Working with colleagues to develop important trial skills together is a great way to both hone your own skills and share your knowledge with others. Just learning a little bit every week can be helpful. “I’ve got guys that have made tremendous progress and they’re going to be killers when they get into the courtroom just by putting in a little bit of work every week,” says Przemek.
[23:31] Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome: Focusing on the outcome during trial will increase your anxiety. Instead, focus on the process and on making human connections and the victories will follow.
[30:51] The CEVA Case: When asked to share one of his proudest verdicts, Przemek focused on a case against trucking company CEVA. He describes the reprehensible behavior by the defense, how he made exemplary damages palatable to the jury, and how he was ultimately able to secure an eight-figure verdict for his client.
Connect with Trial Lawyer Nation
☑️ Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn.
☑️ Subscribe to Trial Lawyer Nation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.
In this popular and award-winning podcast for trial lawyers, noteworthy author, sought-after speaker, and renowned trial lawyer, Michael Cowen explores critical topics distinctive to the legal profession with some of the biggest names in the industry – specifically focused on developing extremely efficient law practices, securing a competitive edge in the industry, and wildly excelling in the courtroom.
Produced and Sponsored by LawPods.
-
156 – Sonia Rodriguez – Incredible Settlements Come From Being Ready for Trial
Like crashes, luck is predictable. If you want to get “lucky” and get multimillion-dollar settlements regularly, then you have to put in the time and do the work. And it also helps to have the right mindset and strategy for your case.
In this episode of Trial Lawyer Nation, host Michael Cowen is joined by his partner Sonia Rodriguez. Tune in as Sonia explains the shift in mindset that led to her getting three multimillion-dollar settlements in the past six months on tractor trailer cases. Sonia and Michael also discuss the three things you need to get a big result on a big case, why you need to understand the sunk cost fallacy and Pareto Principle, and how (and why) Sonia gets ready for trial from the first deposition.
Don’t miss out! Big Rig Bootcamp takes place on July 12, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. Register at bigrigbootcamp.com.
Featured Guest
Name: Sonia Rodriguez
About: Sonia Rodriguez, a native of San Antonio, Texas, is a partner at Cowen Rodriguez Peacock. Sonia has represented only plaintiffs for nearly 20 years, and she practices in the areas of personal injury trial and appellate law. Beyond the practice of law, Sonia has provided unwavering support to a number of important civic and community causes, including the Young Women’s Leadership Academy and the SAISD Foundation.
Company: Cowen Rodriguez Peacock
Connect: LinkedIn
Episode Highlights
[01:48] Terrific Results for Clients: In the last six months, Sonia has gotten a $5M settlement, a $5.89M partial settlement, and a $7M settlement. Sonia credits her recent success to a “philosophical shift” in how she approaches her cases.
[04:27] The Right Mindset: To get multimillion-dollar settlements in tractor trailer cases on a regular basis, “you have to absolutely believe that these trucking companies, if they are not training their drivers and they’re not properly vetting them, it is absolutely reckless,” says Sonia.
[08:46] Big Results on Big Cases: Michael and Sonia talk about the three things you need to get a big result on a big case: creativity, commitment, and courage. Michael emphasizes how creativity and commitment go hand in hand because “everyone can dream about it, but actually doing the work to put it into reality is a whole different story”.
[12:10] It’s Not Just Luck: With the settlements that Sonia has gotten recently, some remark that she’s “lucky”, but Sonia is quick to share that it’s not luck, but rather a lot of hard work and time commitment.
[20:19] You Have to Take Some Cases to Trial: “If you always take the last offer, the word gets around,” says Michael. Insurance companies keep databases. They know: What were the offers? What did you settle for? When did you settle? Michael’s been told that some of the excess insurance companies won’t even fully engage you until two weeks before trial.
[22:00] Don’t Blink: “You can’t go say: I’m trying the case because I want them to raise their offer. You have to say: They’re not offering fair money. So I’m going to go try this case. And I trust the jury to give me fair money. And then when you do that, sometimes they come around and offer fair money,” says Michael.
[24:43] Ready for Trial = Big Settlements: Sonia is getting ready for trial from the first deposition, from creating compelling visuals to thinking about vocabulary which will be used with the jury. In the event a case doesn’t settle, she’s ready for trial. But the mere fact that she’s ready for trial has led to incredible settlements.
Connect with Trial Lawyer Nation
☑️ Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn.
☑️ Subscribe to Trial Lawyer Nation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.
In this popular and award-winning podcast for trial lawyers, noteworthy author, sought-after speaker, and renowned trial lawyer, Michael Cowen explores critical topics distinctive to the legal profession with some of the biggest names in the industry – specifically focused on developing extremely efficient law practices, securing a competitive edge in the industry, and wildly excelling in the courtroom.
Produced and Sponsored by LawPods.
-
135 – Amy Hall – The “Formula” for Effective Visual Trial Strategy
Lawyers know their cases backwards and forwards. However, jurors may need help honing in on the most important elements of a case. Visual trial strategy helps create a series of clear, tailored exhibits to present to a jury at trial.
On this episode of Trial Lawyer Nation, Michael Cowen talks to visual trial strategist, Amy Hall. Amy discusses her tried-and-true three-exhibit formula–the anchor, the link, and the payoff–which she uses to distill everything in a complex case into these three themes. Additionally, Amy explains that because jurors learn better by combining both visual and auditory means, she always recommends using physical exhibits while presenting your case instead of fumbling over technology. Tune in to learn how to employ visual trial strategy to guide juries through trials.
Featured Guest
Name: Amy Hall
About: Amy Hall’s background in cognitive science, journalism, the gambling industry, advertising, and graphic design, has given her a unique and highly relevant skill set for litigation strategy. She combines exceptional design, editing, and writing with real-world insights on decision-making and emotion to distill case themes into an effective visual strategy. She helps identify the difficult truths in a case, and then helps resolve them, providing tangible, ready-to-use tools that address the toughest case issues.
Company: Amy Hall’s Visual Trial Strategy
Connect: LinkedIn | Trial Strategy Academy CLE
Episode Highlights
[2:10] What is Visual Trial Strategy?: Visual trial strategy involves demonstrative exhibits that are interrelated, interdependent, and strategically sequenced to support every meaningful point in your case. It’s a process that starts early in case development.
[8:38] Learning From the Best: Amy’s first introduction into the world of litigation strategy came from famed strategist Ronald Jew, who taught her how to analyze cases and teach them visually and persuasively to juries.
[10:36] Developing a Visual Trial Strategy: Start by writing a neutral statement of the case that distills the case down to two pages. Then identify any landmines that might kill your case so that you know how to attack them.
[13:22] Single Point of Failure: After you’ve laid the foundation for your trial strategy, you must then find the “single point of failure” in your case–why this happened and why it should have been prevented. For example, Amy will look for systemic failures that caused the harm, not just a single bad actor.
[16:36] Visual Trial Strategy Timeline: Amy will work on only one case at a time, including unpacking the case, putting it back together and creating demonstrative exhibits. However, this iterative process is not just about images to show the jury, but also should focus on the words used.
[19:51] Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Amy prefers working with all members of the team, so long as it doesn’t exceed five people. With more than five people, there tends to be too many cooks in the kitchen.
[21:06] “No One is as Smart as Everyone”: Paralegals and legal assistants are not afflicted with the “curse of knowledge,” so they are invaluable in preparing for a trial. Their view of the case will be closer to a juror’s than the attorney who is deeply entrenched in the case, so be sure to thank your support staff!
[22:38] The Formula for Exhibits: Amy and her team will create a three-exhibit set–the anchor (preexisting conditions), the link (bad acts of the defendant), and the payoff (damages). Every fact in the case will fall into one of these three categories.
[25:36] Anchor-Link-Payoff Example: In a trucking case, for example, the first exhibit would be the safety measures and regulations in place for trucking companies. The second exhibit would be the trucking company putting an unsafe driver behind the wheel, and the third would be the harm to the plaintiff.
[29:04] Teaching the Formula Visually: Using a document deconstruction, Amy will simplify authorities and sources and provide the jury with a takeaway in a “chatty yellow box.” Michael now insists that his expert witnesses use this format in their testimony.
[32:01] Cases Should Feel Simple: When you’re using the three-exhibit set correctly, the case should be easy for jurors to understand, which allows you to earn their trust. From there, you can teach complex topics because they all ultimately boil down to your basic formula.
[34:34] The Benefits of Physical Exhibits: Based on her experience in over 400 cases, Amy has learned that jurors learn best from physical boards, even if it requires more preparation. Fumbling with technology will hurt your credibility, but don’t forget to practice with the physical boards too.
[40:38] Visually Depicting a Client’s Harm: Instead of relying on impersonal medical illustrations, focus on loss of function, including what they liked to do before the harm occurred. To demonstrate this, you can use the same three-exhibit set to present medical damages.
[43:22] Starting Early: Michael begins asking about the client’s life before the accident in their very first meeting. Ask your clients and their families early and often for pictures that you can begin using at mediation to signal to the defendant that you’re ready for trial.
[48:27] Cognitive Rationale for Visuals: Vision is key to how people learn, remember and care about things, but language is also vital. Visual trial strategy merges both to most effectively help jurors understand the material, even as they tune in and out.
[52:16] Repetition is Valuable: Jurors love when you show them your most important benchmark or keystone exhibits more than once. These help them link all the information together, which is another reason physical boards are preferable.
Connect with Trial Lawyer Nation
☑️ Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn.
☑️ Subscribe to Trial Lawyer Nation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.
In this popular and award-winning podcast for trial lawyers, noteworthy author, sought-after speaker, and renowned trial lawyer, Michael Cowen explores critical topics distinctive to the legal profession with some of the biggest names in the industry – specifically focused on developing extremely efficient law practices, securing a competitive edge in the industry, and wildly excelling in the courtroom.
Produced and Sponsored by LawPods.
