May the Record Reflect
If you’re a litigator or trial lawyer, your life is full—in and out of the courtroom. May the Record Reflect is the podcast of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, and we know that if something related to lawyering is interesting to us, chances are it’s interesting to you, too. Trial skills, office life, personal development, and more—it’s all fair game on May the Record Reflect.
- Update frequency
- every 29 days
- Average duration
- 49 minutes
- Episodes
- 69
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
49. Justice at Trial, with James Brosnahan
Many a young idealist register for law school with visions of Atticus Finch dancing in their heads, but only the rarest few have those dreams come true. NITA Trustee Emeritus and national treasure Ja…
48. That's Appealing, with Judge Randall Warner
Every trial advocate enters the courtroom hoping for a “one and done” decision that favors their client. But appeals do happen, and if you’re waiting until the verdict is read before you start thinki…
47. Beginning the Effective Deposition, with Carl Chamberlin
At a time when more cases settle than go to trial, the deposition has become of utmost significance. Our guest Carl Chamberlin draws upon his experience taking and defending depositions in private pr…
46. The Secrets of Opening Statements, with Brooke Latta
Content Warning: A brief, non-graphic mention of a sex crime case occurring from 29:34 to 30:49.
Everyone likes to start off on the right foot, and your opening statement is a crucial place to do it. …
45. Courtroom Demeanor, with Shareema Abel
Without a doubt, knowing your client’s case up one side and down the other and understanding and applying the law are critical to your chances of prevailing at trial. But if your demeanor and present…
44. Unscripted Redirect, with Justin Bernstein and Spencer Pahlke
NITA Education Director Rhani Lott Choi returns to May the Record Reflect, this time as guest host, to interview trial competition coaches Justin Bernstein and Spencer Pahlke. You may know Justin and…
43. Can I Get a Witness?, with Hon. Chris Whitten
You may see depositions as your golden opportunity to preserve testimony, elicit admissions, and test theories—but for your witness, depositions are a veritable stewpot of jangled nerves and apprehen…
42. Direct Neglect Where Is the Love, with Hon. Amy Hanley and Dennericka Brooks
How many of us cue up the “sad trombone” every time we think of doing direct examination? Direct is renowned for being a boring slog through facts and faces as we make on our way to the fireworks of …
41. Slipstreams and Wormholes, with Rhani Lott Choi
The profession of trial lawyering has a steep, intense learning curve requiring years of practice (and “practice”) before you begin to feel like you’ve got a grip on it. What if you could shave years…
40. The Resilient Lawyer, with Henry Su
Being a trial lawyer is a challenging job even apart from the actual, technical work of lawyering in the courtroom. Legal advocacy often places emotional burdens upon trial attorneys that can be a lo…
39: Off Broadway and Into Court, with Kevin Newbury and Kate Douglas
Theatre wunderkinds and storytelling specialists Kevin Newbury and Kate Douglas join the podcast to tell stories about telling stories. Kevin and Kate discuss how universal themes, conflicts, and arc…
38. Trial Practice Resolutions for the New Year, with Steve Wood
If you’re looking for some resolutions for improving as a trial lawyer, let veteran prosecutor Steve Wood be your guide. In this episode (originally aired in 2021), Steve shares the top ten trial tip…
37. Explicit Bias and the Jury Box, with Raam Wong
Something that concerns trial lawyers more than ever is seating a juror with intractable explicit biases or who believes in conspiracy theories. King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Raam Wo…
36. I’ll Be the Judge of That: Best Advice from NITA’s Judges
This month’s episode features advice and observations from some of NITA’s top judges, who serve as faculty, presenters, and board members. They share their reflections on what they’ve seen from their…
35. The Great Pretender, with Judge Ruth Rocker McMullin
Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon among lawyers, often starting in law school, where self-doubt about your spot among so many wunderkinds can shake your sense of achievement and belonging. Gwi…
34. Upon Further Examination, with Rhani Lott Choi and Kate Sandlin
The spontaneity of cross-examination and impeachment often intimidates lawyers early in their trial career. NITA Education Director Rhani Lott Choi and Denver trial lawyer Kate Sandlin have been ther…
33. The Secrets of Persuasive Legal Storytelling
Legal communications specialist David Mann joins the podcast to encourage listeners become masters of persuasion through storytelling. In this episode, David explains that legal case storytelling is …
32. The Tense Trio, with Judge Amy Hanley and Cheryl Brown Wattley
Kansas District Court Judge Amy Hanley is joined by UNT Dallas College of Law Professor Cheryl Brown Wattley for a lively discussion of “the tense trio”: objections, cross-examination, and impeachmen…
31. Goliath Hits Back, with Judge Nancy Gertner and Reuben Guttman
Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner and class action lawyer Reuben Guttman discuss the impact of Twombly and Iqbal, two SCOTUS decisions that precipitated critical changes in pleading, class certific…
30. Your Courtroom Comeback, with Carol Sowers
As social distancing and K95s finally become visible in the rearview mirror, communications expert Carol Sowers returns to the podcast to coach listeners through the yips of post-lockdown performance…