The Trial Lawyer's Handbook
The Trial Lawyer's Handbook is a Courtroom Preparation podcast series brought to you by Holland & Knight. This series is hosted by litigation attorney Dan Small and is based on a longstanding article series he co-authored with Judge Dennis Saylor for Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Listeners of this series will gain a fresh perspective on how attorneys can address various trial preparation issues and set themselves up for success in and out of the courtroom.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 7 minutes
- Episodes
- 109
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Finding Common Ground
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small recounts the challenges he faced during the Farmers Export grain elevator explosion trial. He emphasizes…
"Ready for Trial?"
Litigation attorney Dan Small unexpectedly took the lead in prosecuting the high-profile case of the Farmers Export grain elevator explosion, a major incident in Galveston, Texas, that resulted in th…
The Law as a Force for Change
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small examines the devastating Farmers Export grain elevator disaster, where 18 employees died in a grain …
Every Case Is a New World
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small recounts his experience as a new prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division, where…
The 3 Core Themes of Trial Law: Do the Right Thing
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small talks about his experience working in the Hyattsville, Maryland, Magistrate's Court and handling everyda…
The 3 Core Themes of Trial Law: Tell Your Story
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small emphasizes the vital role of storytelling in trials. Drawing from his experiences in the Hyattsville, Ma…
The 3 Core Themes of Trial Law: Know Your Court
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small explains how knowing the court where a trial lawyer is working can make the difference between winning o…
Real Justice for Real People
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small reflects on his early experiences in trial law as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Magistrate'…
There Is No Right Path
Everyone has their own unique career path. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small shares his personal journey, highlighting how he initially planned to become…
How Did We Get Here?
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small reflects on his journey of transforming compelling real-life trial experiences into valuable lessons for…
Parting Thoughts: Be a "Peddler of Common Sense"
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small reflects on essential principles for trial lawyers, emphasizing the importance of clarity and organi…
Expert Witnesses, Special Issues
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small discusses the challenges and strategies associated with using expert witnesses in trials. He advises aga…
Direct Examination of Expert Witnesses
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small reviews how the effectiveness of expert witness testimony can influence case outcomes. He outlines f…
Cutting Back on Complex Cases
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small emphasizes the need for lawyers to simplify complex cases when preparing for trial. He advises pract…
Part II - The Importance of Pro Bono for Both Clients and Lawyers
In the second part of this special guest episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small interviews Paul Kiernan, a partner at Holland & Knight and chair of…
Drowning in Complexity
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small discusses how complex trials often leave jurors feeling overwhelmed and disengaged. He emphasizes th…
Part I - Reading the Jury
In this special guest episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small interviews Paul Kiernan, a partner at Holland & Knight and chair of the firm's Public …
How to Use Humor and Anger Effectively in the Courtroom
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small discusses the dangers of using both humor and sarcasm in the courtroom, while also recognizing the need …
Connecting Separate Pieces of Evidence Clearly, Persuasively
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small explores the importance of rhetoric in courtroom communication. Although rhetoric has been less studied in recent times…
At Trial, Less Is More
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small goes in-depth about how courtroom presentations need to be direct in their approach and how to avoid bei…