The “Currency” of the Courtroom with Render Freeman

Render C. Freeman—2015 TLC graduate and faculty member since 2018—reflects on his fourth “Courage to Ask” program, where a psychodrama exercise helped participants uncover how personal biases and family history influence the dollar values they assign to cases. He explains why “emotion is the currency of the courtroom” and how psychodramatic tools heighten lawyers’ emotional competence—from depositions and mediations to cross-examination and closing arguments. Render also previews the upcoming three-week flagship course at Camp Dawson, WV (Oct 4–27; apply by May 6), where attendees immerse themselves in psychodrama, “discovering the story,” jury selection, and all core trial skills.