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COLE Litigators PowerHour Chapter 5 – Direct “Conversation”

COLE Litigators PowerHour Chapter 5 – Direct “Conversation”

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Another great episode in the can … don’t want to say they get better and better, as they are all excellent, but you be the judge.  This week it was Direct Examination, really direct “conversation.” It is not about crafting a questions-and-answers script that counsel and the witness practice over again in anticipation of a perfect presentation at trial. Unsurprisingly, that perfect plan never materializes. Direct “conversation” is about your role in guiding the witness through their testimony, a journey that may not be, and need not be, a straight line. Direct “conversation” emphasizes your role in the presentation, embrace it.  As always click over to The Book page to read the chapter (Chapter 5 in this case) and find the embedded Spotify link for the episode.  Next time (28 January) going to have some fun with objections.  Stay tuned.

COLE Litigators PowerHour Chapter 4 – Opening Statements

COLE Litigators PowerHour Chapter 4 – Opening Statements

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Closed out 2020 with a solid hour on the importance of Opening Statements to setting your case up for success … and doing so in a way that enhances your credibility with the trier of fact. Thanks much to those icons in the world of military criminal litigation who sent in some questions that guided the discussion.  Particularly for the less experienced members of a trial team, opening statements is your best chance to get on your feet, be the center of attention, and persuade (hopefully in an entertaining, tell-and-show, way).  As always, you can find the episode on Spotify (COLE PowerHour), on the Book page, and I’ll embed below.

Next up, Direct Examination … or Direct Conversation as I like to call it.  Shooting for 7 Jan 2021, same time/same place.

Audio Player

 

COLE Time Video — Jones

COLE Time Video — Jones

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COLE Time videos are chats with litigators of all type to share their love of litigation, their experiences, and advice for their colleagues and the next generation of trial advocates.

Today’s guest is Maj Brent Jones, the former Regional Chief Senior Trial Counsel — West … or King of the West (recorded in 2017).  A long time litigator and close friend of PrimeCOLE, Maj Jones talks about what makes him an effective litigator, what it means to be a litigator, how to be a good one, and then screws up the softest of softball questions!  Many thanks to Jonesy for giving us the time and the benefit of his experience.

THE COLE LITIGATORS POWERHOUR 01 — A Litigator’s Philosophy

THE COLE LITIGATORS POWERHOUR 01 — A Litigator’s Philosophy

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Mark (Rosenow), Adam “Mathew” (McConnaughy, and I (PrimeCOLE) have launched our COLE Litigators PowerHour Podcasts.  That was fun.  If you missed it, fear not. We recorded the first and will record the rest and have launched the first out onto various podcast platforms — hosted on Podbean, but available on all the others (click below or search “COLE PowerHour” on your favorite platform). This first week was all about getting into the right mindset to be a great litigator, an introduction to our philosophies, and The COLE mantras … Every Lawyer A Litigator and Litigate:  Any Case, Any Place, Any Time. We’ll link the podcasts to each Chapter of the Compendium (“The Book” tab above).

SPOTIFY

PODBEAN

The Book:  Ch 1 Litigator’s Philosophy

 

COLE Time Video – Childress

COLE Time Video – Childress

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COLE Time videos are chats with litigators of all type to share their love of litigation, their experiences, and advice for their colleagues and the next generation of trial advocates.

Today’s guest is Captain Marcus Childress, the Chief of Military Justice at Robins Air Force Base Georgia.  An up-and-coming litigator, Capt Childress worked closely with two senior litigators (Majors Neil and Jones) on a recent capitol murder case and talks about what he learned from that experience.  Many thanks to Marcus for giving us the time and the benefit of his experience.

Why We Mentor

Why We Mentor

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As a litigator journeys towards the end of his or her in-court career, when more time is spent reminiscing about glorious courtroom battles than engaging in the same, developing the next generation of courtroom litigators is of paramount importance.  Yes, the “youngs” need to learn their lessons the same way we did–in glorious battle, suffering the scars of defeat and occasional humiliation, while winning their prestige on the backs of their triumphs.  But rather than let them repeat our simple mistakes, let us set at least some of them–the chosen few–on the path to outdo the “olds.”

Let us give them the secrets to early success as a litigator.  We have all seen young trial counsel make the same simple mistakes over and over again, just like we did.  And we have likely given the same advice in feedback sessions over and over again on every aspect of trial litigation.  Yours may be different, but in the Mentoring Post is my “script” repeated over and over to countless bright-eyed youngs

COLE Time Video – Neil

COLE Time Video – Neil

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COLE Time videos are chats with litigators of all type to share their love of litigation, their experiences, and advice for their colleagues and the next generation of trial advocates.

Today’s guest is Maj Matt Neil, the Regional Chief Senior Trial Counsel — Central.  A long time litigator, Maj Neil talks about how his appellate experience has improved his litigation skills, what young litigators can do to improve their litigation skill set, memories of his most impactful case … and some personal information.  Many thanks to Matt for giving us the time and the benefit of his experience.

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