Podcast - Trials Are About Connections
Podcast - There's More Than One Way to Win
Podcast - Reflections in the Courtroom: State v. Faulkner
Podcast - Not a Level Playing Field
Podcast – "Nature Abhors a Vacuum." So Does the Media
Podcast - Cases Come in Many Ways
Podcast - Victories and "Losses" in the Courtroom
Podcast - Keeping Your Vessel Stable During Cross-Examination
Podcast - The Stability in Simplicity
Podcast - Reading the Room
Podcast - Respect in the Courtroom
Podcast - Understanding the Media
Podcast - Allergic to Courtrooms
Show and Tell
Podcast - Telling the Whole Story
Podcast - The Benefits of Using an Interpreter
Podcast - Miss Lillian "Testifies": The Importance of Witness Preparation
Podcast - Part I: Going from Young Associate to Veteran Lawyer
Juror No. 6 and the Unexpected Misunderstanding
For trial lawyers, developing core themes is essential to building a persuasive case. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small recounts his pro bono work in Uzbekistan, where he helped...more
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Villarreal v. Texas takes up a familiar but often uncomfortable moment for trial lawyers: your client is on the stand, the day ends, and you have hours, sometimes overnight, to talk to...more
In trial work, courage often means pressing forward even when the outcome is uncertain. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small continues his discussion of the mock case State v....more
Major AI models from Anthropic and OpenAI were released in February 2026. Matt Schumer, a prominent voice in the AI world, called the moment a turning point and wrote that "Something Big Is Happening." Craig Ball, one of the...more
What happens when an American trial lawyer carries the principles of justice halfway around the world? Litigation attorney Dan Small recounts his pro bono journey to Uzbekistan, where he worked with lawyers and judges seeking...more
Even the strongest legal arguments can falter if jurors question the messenger delivering them. In these moments, credibility becomes more than a professional virtue; it becomes the foundation of persuasion....more
Trials are human and thus imperfect, and sometimes those inherent imperfections can tilt the playing field before the jury ever hears the full story. Continuing his behind-the-scenes account of defending former Louisiana Gov....more
In a high-profile case, if you do not fill the silence, someone else will. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small continues discussing his representation of former Louisiana Gov. Edwin...more
Sometimes, cases arrive when you least expect them. For litigation attorney Dan Small, one such moment involved stepping into an already high-profile federal matter. In the latest episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook"...more
They say lawyers never get picked for juries. I believed that—right up until I served 10 days as a juror in a civil trial involving aggravated sexual assault allegations and defamation counterclaims....more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small continues the story of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) civil case against internet game company SG Limited,...more
When the stakes are high, credibility is everything. Trial teams must balance tenacity with restraint, ensure testimony is delivered authentically, and speak to jurors in a way that builds trust rather than erodes it....more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast, litigation attorney Dan Small delves deeper into the naval architect negligence case introduced in the previous episode. During the trial, the two experts disagreed,...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small introduces a new case that illustrates a new strategy for trial. Naval architect Jack Gilbert was accused of selling a boat with...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small continues the discussion of U.S. v. Rendle and explains why reading the room matters in court. Mr. Small shows how judges, juries and the pace of...more
With the recent expansion of the scope of the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals of Virginia to ensure a right of appeal in most civil and criminal cases, many litigators well versed in trial work may find themselves...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small uses the white collar corruption case of U.S. v. Rendle and his experience before the famously pro-defense Judge Joseph Tauro to...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small underscores the importance of understanding the media as a trial attorney. He recounts lessons learned from a high-profile...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small looks back on his experience prosecuting the notorious New England mob boss Raymond Patriarca — or lack thereof. As a 73-year-old man who had...more
Trial lawyers often talk about preservation as if it were the entire universe of appellate risk. Preservation is essential, of course, but it is only the floor. In practice, many technically preserved issues still fail on...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small makes the case for "show and tell" in the courtroom. As he contends, jurors do not learn best by listening alone, so powerful...more
What if you could see your opponent's strongest arguments before they present them? Or generate a comprehensive trial strategy with full citation support in hours instead of weeks? Or prepare a compelling closing argument...more
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small emphasizes the importance of providing the jury with all relevant facts to help them discern the truth. At times, however,...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small delves into the debate on using interpreters for witnesses in the courtroom. In some instances there is no choice: A witness who...more