The Trial Lawyer's Handbook

Be a Role Model

Real reform begins when lawyers model the values they want the justice system to protect. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small

Finding the Truth

Cross-examination is a key part of the U.S. adversarial system, giving defense counsel one of their most important tools to find the truth and challenge the government. B

Candor Saves Credibility in Courtrooms

The fastest way to destroy a witness' credibility is to let the jury think something is being hidden. Litigation attorney Dan Small draws on the mock trial case State v.

The "Referee" of the Judicial System

Order in the courtroom determines whether justice can move forward. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small examines the essential

The Jury Is the Audience

In the United States, a trial by jury is a familiar cornerstone of the justice process. In Uzbekistan, however, trials unfold in a different way. In this episode of "The

Trials Are About Connections

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 reco

There's More Than One Way to Win

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 co

Reflections in the Courtroom: State v. Faulkner

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 Uzbe

All Eyes on the Client

Trials can be stressful for attorneys, but the experience can be even more overwhelming for clients. In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney

Not a Level Playing Field

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 behin

"Nature Abhors a Vacuum." So Does the Media

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 discu

Cases Come in Many Ways

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 t

Victories and "Losses" in the Courtroom

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)

Finding Humor in Law

What happens when the government treats online "play money" like real securities? In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small recount

Keeping Your Vessel Stable During Cross-Examination

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

The Stability in Simplicity

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 arch

Reading the Room

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 co

Respect in the Courtroom

In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small uses the white-collar corruption case of United States v. Rendle and his ex

Understanding the Media

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.

Jurisdiction Is in the Eye of the Beholder

In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small recounts attempting to prosecute a New England mob boss and the challenge of filing a comp