Being a master strategist requires a command of your practice area.  In criminal defense, understanding Brady and while it can't be fixed with a claim of "harmless error" is critical to how you plan your case -- from investigation to post-conviction.  

Here, we have a brief summary of what happened in the Baldwin/Rust trial, with cameo appearances by members of my menagerie. 

If you prefer video -- here's a YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/hy7FOkjc9Jc

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My former legal assistant and right-hand-man, Jeff Seward, was called for jury duty in a Washington State criminal case.  

(And -- gentle warning -- there's a short deviation to discuss jury selection in the Trump criminal trial.   And a couple of swear words littered within that discussion. . .)

Biggest take away -- LISTEN to the answers your jurors give you!  Ignore them at your own risk!

And -- for the lawyers -- juror research is the standard of practice.  And so, so few lawyers do it.  If you'd like help on how to do that research respectfully and ethically, email me and we can set up a consult:  [email protected].

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Hey, Friends!  

We're back and getting down to the nitty gritty -- trials!   

The best firsthand juror experience most trial lawyers will get is *maybe* sitting on a venire panel before being struck.  

Often, trial lawyers do not have the ability to talk in-depth with jurors at the end of their trials, because jurors just want to go home or because court rules prohibit lawyers from contacting jurors about the trial.  

Imagine my delight when my friends and family were called to jury duty!  

Enjoy this interview, with my sister-in-law, Kate, who was quite generous with her take-aways from a recent criminal Cook County jury trial.  

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Hello!  

We're back!  

This episode talks about the three big lessons learned for Athenas after a year of . . . well. . . a lot:

How brutal this industry can be. 

The new,  developing medicine to treat brain injuries.  

How the Athena Shield quadrants worked in real life this past year.  

As my dear friend, Charlotte Benson, says, "Onward and Upward!"

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Athena in the Well is back!   

We return with this Facebook Live event last year, during the Chauvin trial.  

Which Athena Shield quadrant does witness preparation fall?   Creative Goddess.  Yep.  You read that correctly. 

The Creative Goddess quadrant includes preparation, discipline, and practice.  

Imagine the jury instructions, the rules of procedure, and the rules of evidence  are the framework of your trial.  The evidence is the threads you use to make your tapestry.    The more you prepare, the more powerful you are in using those threads of evidence at trial.  

Enjoy this discussion and ask yourself how you can develop your advocacy skills to  

Take Your Space.  
Find Your Voice.
Command the Courtroom. 

xoxo --

Joy

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Faith Kohler is a fiercely independent, multi-faceted powerhouse.

Attorney, former federal agent, Fortune 500 company alum, visual artist, and documentary film maker, Faith embodies the term “renaissance woman.”  

With confidence, humility and grace, Faith tells her story (and those of others) – strategically, convincingly, and with the gift of hindsight about making purposeful, courageous choices.  

Find Faith and her multi-faceted strength online at www.faithkohler.us, www.faithkohlerartist.com and in Instagram at #trueglue.

PS.  Still trying to get your Ethics CLE requirements for 2020?  The deadline is fast approaching.  Join us for our fun, and interactive Trial-Ready Client CLE where you will earn 1.5 hours of Ethics CLE all while learning 3 jury-tested strategies to develop a better narrative in less time with fewer client meetings.  Click here to LEARN MORE.  

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How can the practice of yoga help us in the practice of law?  Andrea Griego, yoga studio owner and body work specialist shares her perspective.  First, the confidence and the humility gained by getting really good at something really hard cannot be overstated.  Next, 80% of all doctor visits are stress-related.  Your body trying to tell you something.  But most of all?  We are students of our clients and of the law at exactly the same time: the most dangerous student is the one who has stopped listening. Yoga makes you strong – it also makes you listen.  To that voice that may start as a whisper, to that pain that won’t go away, and to that stress that seems to always be there. Yoga helps you find our own response to that voice – the one that is best for you and only you.  

Listen in on a conversation with Andrea Griego, a down-to-earth yoga instructor and licensed massage therapist who has dedicated her practice to helping you listen to your body and your mind, while gently encouraging you to find your own inner guru.  

Learn more about Andrea and how to reach her at https://www.andreahealingarts.com or speak with her directly at 602.625.1948.  She is currently seeing clients for private yoga instruction and massage/body work.  

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Fat is not a feeling.  

You cannot run from your fork.

Embrace the suck.

Hello, friends.  These are just a few words to live by from our guest, Trish Fleischer, an Arizona-based fitness trainer specializing in transforming the bodies and health of professional women. 

So here is the ironic thing:  we are all working from home, in various states of quarantine, to keep ourselves healthy.  At the same time, we are doing whatever it takes to earn our own version of the “Covid-15.”  Many of us are achieving a new level of mastery in stress, anxiety, depression, comfort-eating, and over-drinking during this time of compromised routine.

Trish is here to tell us how to reboot.  A tough love, honest-with-yourself, no-nonsense fitness trainer who believes in eating and showing you how to get started (and figuring out what is holding you back.)  No shakes, no juicing, and no messing around.  

Together we will get this done.

Let’s get our Athena back—

Joy Bertrand

PS.  You can connect with Trish by email at [email protected] for a chat, a zoom workout, or a brainstorm about nutrition and fitness.  She is looking forward to hearing from you.  

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“Warrior” – a description that has become almost cartoon-ish.  

And hyper-masculine.  

The women warriors we see in popular entertainment often are also fetishized for their sexiness, at the cost of their intelligence and true strength.  

Lawyers are no different.  And we all know a lawyer (or two or three or a dozen), who go to battle for the sake of the argument: for bloodlust.  

That was Aries – Athena’s brother.  Mindless.  Jumping into any fight, with no respect for the risk of harm and the potential cost to others. 

Athenas are warriors, let’s be clear.  But Athenas fight with purpose and smarts – not for the sake of the fight.  And here is how we do it, whether we are aware of it or not: with discernment, with adaptability, and with physicality.  

Today’s podcast examines Athena’s Warrior traits, so you can focus on your strengths and areas for growth as you go to battle each day.

It will help you immeasurably to be able to follow along with the visual for the first few moments.  You can find it here – and while you are at it, join our tribe. 

I want to hear from you!  Like our Facebook page and join your fellow Athenas.  

We offer an understanding ear, no nonsense advice, and a soft place to land.  I hope you to see you soon.  

Sincerely,

Joy Bertrand

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Hello Friends,

So, here is the truth.

I have been extremely motivated since the shut down to use the gift of time that was bestowed on me – on us – on the world, to do work that was important and meaningful to me.  Namely, the Athena Project.  

And then….

Sometime around Mother’s Day, I got a little sideways.  And I struggled to make myself sit down and write.  I just could not make myself do the work I had longed to find time for under normal deadlines.  

And it made no sense to me.

This struggle – and what to do about it is the topic of our podcast.

It is Episode 3 of a 4-part series on Athena in the Courtroom.  There is a visual to help you follow along here.

As always, I am grateful for your attention and I want to connect with you.  Please like us on Facebook so that I can keep in touch with you and share all the tools and strategies that will help you evolve as a fellow Athena in the Well.

All my best,

Joy Bertrand

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