Women often back down from conflict. It’s in our nature, but is it in our best interest? Today’s episode offers insight on when to stand down and when to stand your ground when a co-worker gives you a work product that doesn’t meet your expectations, a partner promises you a significant trial opportunity and then gives it to someone else, and opposing counsel is less than cooperative. Tune in for some spicy tips that will help you pick your battles and preserve your reputation.

A reporter requests information on your case. Do you have an ethical responsibility to respond to their inquiry? Are there benefits to be gained from pre- or post-trial publicity? Or is “no comment” always the best response? This episode reviews ABA rules on comments to the media and explores on and off-the-record responses, providing information for background and how to weigh media requests while keeping your focus on serving your client's best interest.

File the motions. Schedule the depos. Read the records. Prep the exhibits. When should you write your open, directs, crosses, and close? Who is getting the hotel for the expert? And why should you write this all down? This episode outlines key items for your trial prep checklist starting at 60 days, 30 days, two weeks, and one week from the trial date. These scheduling tips will help you reduce stress, meet your deadlines and make time to build your strongest case.

Her house is bigger. He did an expert depo and you haven’t. She’s got four trials in the next two months and you only have one. Does it really matter? Will attaining that thing actually make you happy? And why do we compare ourselves to others and suck the joy out of our own accomplishments? Prepare to examine your own vulnerabilities as we discuss upward and downward comparisons, personal priorities, and strategies to keep unproductive comparisons from living rent-free in our brains.

Location, location, location. Strategic attorneys know where you file your lawsuit has a big impact. Today’s discussion covers important considerations such as damage caps, jury pool, and what to do if your case is removed from state to federal court. We also clarify some tricky details on multi-state filings, snap removals, and the pros and cons of hiring local counsel to assist.

Mediation poses unique challenges and isn’t always successful. In order to present your most persuasive case, what facts or documents should you prepare for the mediator? If you think the mediator is being biased, what can you do? And when the final offer is on the table and you’re not happy, should you stay or should you go? Get pro tips on preparing your client and your case for mediation in this encore episode of Heels in the Courtroom.

There are three key concepts to keep in mind during oral arguments. Do you know what they are? Should you hope for a hot bench or a cold bench? And what do you say if the judge asks a question you can’t answer? Find answers to these questions and more in part two of our instructive discussion on appeals and be more confident in front of the bench, whether it’s hot or cold. 

Are you thinking about appealing your case even before you go to court? You should. This episode explains how to preserve an error for the record, clarifies when a judgment is actually final, and outlines the major writs to remember. We’ll also review the basic rules of appeal because you can’t win if you don’t know the rules. And when it comes to appeals, rules rule.

It’s business, don’t take it personally.” How many times have you heard that, and how do you react? Is there a middle ground that allows tough skin and a tender heart? Today’s thought-provoking discussion examines how we can make business decisions with humanity in mind and draw boundaries that help us honestly evaluate harsh criticism or aggressive language from opposing counsel while protecting our self-esteem.

Opposing counsel's expert’s report raises doubts in your mind about scientific methodology or adherence to industry-standard practices….do you file a Daubert motion to seek to exclude the presentation of that expert’s testimony to the jury? You may not deal with Daubert motions every day, but they can play a key role in your case, so it’s worth a few minutes of your time to learn when to file a Daubert motion, what strategies can strengthen your motion, and why the savvy play may be to not file the motion at all.