Sloppy jury instructions can lead to appeal due to instructional error or confusion in deliberations, and nobody wants that. In this episode, you’ll learn about verdict directors, clean and dirty instructions, roving commissions, potential pitfalls, and resources to help you draft more concise instructions that help the jury come to a decision in your favor.

Directed verdicts are no longer just for the defense. Creative plaintiff attorneys are considering this approach in complex injury cases too. Tune in to hear about Megan’s recent case which resulted in two directed verdicts and learn how to use the record to reinforce your evidence and protect yourself from vulnerability on appeal.

In many med mal and trucking cases, it’s not always clear if an employer is liable for the actions of their employee. The issue of Agency is vital for knowing whom you can sue and what you can potentially recover for your client. Today’s podcast clarifies general issues of Agency and points out how recent changes in Missouri law severely limit the damages you and your client can recover from medical malpractice. An insightful episode for lawyers and laypeople because negligence can happen to anyone.

Ever said something in a meeting that is ignored when you say it, but suddenly becomes a great idea when repeated moments later by a male in the room? Are you passed over when solutions are being discussed, but at the top of the list when the work is dished out? If you often feel invisible, you are not alone. This episode covers subtle ways to be heard and acknowledged in your next meeting. Try our tips. And if all else fails, you can always wear a unicorn head...

As the new year approaches, you may be re-evaluating your priorities and searching for a better balance. This popular archive episode offers a few ideas that can help you restructure your day, reduce your stress and keep your batteries charged. Resolve to tune in and take charge of your day in a better way.

The phrase “Work-Life Balance” is considered inadmissible by the female trial attorneys at The Simon Law Firm. In an encore presentation of this popular episode, you’ll find out why Amy, Erica, Liz, and Mary refuse to accept this stressful mindset and offer tips that can help you release a little guilt and truly enjoy the holidaze.

The end of the year means parties, presents and perhaps a little bit of stress. Get back in the spirit of the season with this episode’s timely tips on trickle-down office gift-giving, professional party behavior, and a much-needed nudge to take time for a purposeful analysis of your goals and excuses for this year and next. And don’t forget your accountabilibuddy! Happy holidays from all of us at Heels in the Courtroom.

It’s a complicated trucking case involving the tragic death of a child. In the face of intimidation tactics and late nights at trial, you must set those issues aside and get it done for your client. Plaintiff attorney Erica Slater managed the complex dynamics of a spouse suing a spouse, last-minute revelations in discovery, and phantom vehicles, and received a significant verdict for her client too. Hear the whole story and some interesting legal insights in this episode of Heels in the Courtroom.

Do you do a statutory interpretation of board game rules at every family gathering? Does a trip to the grocery store involve observations about slip and fall potential? And how many liability lawsuits would you have filed over the Jurassic Park debacle? Laugh along with this spirited discussion about trying to turn off your lawyer brain…..and get solid advice on what to do if you can’t.

Don’t fall into the TV trap of coming in hot on every witness. You could burn your own case if the jury remembers you were mean to a witness and forgets the key points of their testimony. But you don’t want to be a pushover either, so how do you temper your approach? Amy, Liz, Megan, Mary, and Elizabeth share trial-tested tactics on when to pivot your attitude, how non-verbals can telegraph your frustration, and what you should always keep in mind when you have to cross-examine a nice person.