Lincoln Derr

Sara & Tricia get Personal about Self-Care In this episode of Trying 2 Win, Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr, founders of the Charlotte-based minority and women-owned law firm, Lincoln Derr, talk self-care, in honor of Well-Being Week in Law. Post-pandemic, […]

Heidi Alexander: Leading the Charge in Well-Being in Law

 

Heidi Alexander is Massachusetts’ first Director of the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being. Before assuming that role, Heidi served as the Deputy Director of Massachusetts Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and led its Law Office Management Assistance Program, practiced law at a small firm in Boston, and clerked for a Justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court.

She is the author of Evernote as a Law Practice Tool, past co-chair of ABA TECHSHOW and founder of the ABA’s Women of Legal Technology initiative. Heidi is a native of Minnesota, a former collegiate goaltender for Amherst College Women’s Ice Hockey Team, and a graduate of Rutgers School of Law, where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Rutgers Law Review.  Heidi attends to her own well-being by coaching CrossFit and girls’ youth hockey, competing in powerlifting, and most importantly spending time with her three young kids. She can be reached via email at [email protected], Twitter @heidialexander, or LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/heidisarahalexander

Show Notes

In this episode of Trying 2 Win, Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr, founders of the Charlotte-based minority and women-owned law firm, Lincoln Derr, talk with Heidi Alexander, Massachusetts’ first director of the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being, in honor of Well-Being Week in Law.

In the 1970s, a group of Massachusetts attorneys started a community of pure support, where they could talk about issues related to substance abuse without fear of running into a client. The creation of this community was the beginning of the lawyer assistance movement in Massachusetts, that has now grown to be the Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being for the state.

As the first full-time hire of this 17-member committee, Heidi Alexander is leading the charge on systematic change across the industry. Stress points for lawyers can range widely, but Alexander focuses on organizational culture and financial stresses.

Her plan for change focuses on creating awareness and more consistent, direct communication across the board. Legal employers, bar associations, law schools, chief justices, individual courts and other related organizations must work to welcome diversity, redefine success and minimize the stigma associated with seeking help.

In this episode, we talk with Heidi about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, what a return to normal can and perhaps should look like, the steps that are currently being taken to improve well-being across the profession and more. Her recommendation for individual well-being is to remember that well-being is multi-dimensional, made up of occupational, intellectual, physical, emotional, spiritual and social buckets (as defined by the National Task Force of Lawyer Well-Being). While it’s impossible to keep all of these buckets 100% full, Alexander’s big three to stay well are to prioritize sleep (even when it seems impossible), practice mindfulness (simply meaning be present in the moment) and keep up with a social network to confide in.

Now, what’s your verdict?

Leave us a review, and let us know what you think — what you like, what you want more of, what we could do better. We’ll be releasing more episodes soon, so be sure to subscribe for more!

Contact us at [email protected]

Share your verdict on our Trying 2 Win Facebook page.

www.lincolnderr.com

704-496-4500

Behind the Bench

Our Music: “Diamonds on the Inside”

Composer/performer: Katy Cox

Love our theme song? We do, too. Here’s a little more about the Charlotte-based woman behind the music.

Former attorney and singer-songwriter Katy Cox transports her listeners with radi...

Gender Inequity in the Courtroom

In this episode of Trying 2 Win, Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr, founders of the Charlotte-based minority and women-owned law firm, Lincoln Derr, share their decades-long experiences of gender inequity in the courtroom, which include stories of confrontation and conflict, as well as champions and allies. Sara and Tricia discuss their most raw, eye-opening accounts during depositions and trials. Specifically, in this episode, they expose the harsh realities of how women lawyers are treated by opposing counsel and even judges — and how not much has changed over the course of just a few decades. Both women have turned that challenge into opportunity: “In our space we’re unique… wear it as a badge of honor.” At the same time, they encourage other women to speak out and tell their stories of discrimination in the courtroom. “The more women are willing to share these stories, that will give more power [to women] to move forward in their career… strength in numbers!” Tricia said.

Show Notes

Men in the Mix

In one of the recollections discussed in this episode, Tricia talks about unsolicited advances and bullying in the profession — including one specific account in which an important client initiated an uncomfortable encounter, and her boss (a man) had her back. A powerful initiative by the American Bar Association offers insight into the ways men can help advance women and address the disparities they face in the legal profession. Men in the Mix is a toolkit of content including discussions, reports and statistics that promote gender equity and allyship. “The primary purpose of Men in the Mix is a) to better understand why some men hesitate to join or support “women’s groups” and b) to give women additional tools and best practices for encouraging men to join the conversation on advancing women in the legal professions,” according to the ABA.

Now, what’s your verdict?

Leave us a review, and let us know what you think — what you like, what you want more of, what we could do better. We’ll be releasing more episodes soon, so be sure to subscribe for more!

Contact us at [email protected]

Share your verdict on our Trying 2 Win Facebook page.

www.lincolnderr.com

704-496-4500

Watch This Episode

Behind the Bench

Our Music: “Diamonds on the Inside”

Composer/performer: Katy Cox

Love our theme song? We do, too. Here’s a little more about the Charlotte-based woman behind the music.

Former attorney and singer-songwriter Katy Cox transports her listeners with radiant vocals and thoughtful lyrics. Her songs draw you in and take you on an emotional journey that explores both the heartache and the joy of living. Influenced by artists such as Lori McKenna, Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin, Katy delivers engaging modern folk melodies, with a healthy dose of country and acoustic rock. Hear more of her music at her website: www.katycoxmusic.com.

Our Cover Art Background: “Brave Enough”

Artist: Sally Higgins

After many years of artistic pursuits of various kinds, Charlotte artist Sally Higgins turned to painting about 10 years ago. She works in oil, acrylic, encaustic and mixed media. Art provides Sally a welcome respite from her word-filled career as a trial lawyer.  See more of Sally’s art at sallyhigginsfineart.com and studioworksgallery.com. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr are the co-founders of Lincoln Derr and serve at the helm of the firm leading all practice groups through active counsel, litigation, and advising. They are seasoned litigators specializing in innovative multi-media communication, practical business-minded advice,

Creativity in the Courtroom

Show Notes:

Welcome to "The Brief," inspiring short bonus episodes of Trying 2 Win. In Episode 1 of "The Brief,"  Lincoln Derr founders and podcast hosts Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr share their greatest moments of creativity in the courtroom.

For Tricia, one example came in the form of her attire. Pouring over paperwork and interpreting a contract In a commercial real estate case that was seemingly boring and “not very sexy” left Tricia stumped with her approach. Then, when the time came for closing arguments, she built hers around the theme of, “what’s black and white is always right.” She never mentioned it, but it was no coincidence that, on that day, she came to court wearing a black and white dress.

Sara, on the other hand, pays tribute to the use of Powerpoint presentations and visual cues to spark the creativity necessary to win a medical malpractice case with conflicting and confusing components. To convey that complexity to the jury, she incorporated the image of a spider web in the background of her Powerpoint presentation. It was subtle, and the subliminal suggestion left the opposing lawyer frantic.

Our closing argument? Moments of creativity can have profound impact in the courtroom. The best lawyers will leverage them every chance they get.

Now, what's your verdict?

Leave us your thoughts and let us know what you think — do you find creativity to be an important factor in winning? For the listeners and lawyers out there, we want to hear your most creative approaches in winning a case in the courtroom.

We’ll be releasing more episodes soon, so be sure to subscribe for more!

Contact us at: [email protected]

Share your verdict on our Trying 2 Win Facebook page.

www.lincolnderr.com

704-496-4500

 

Watch This Episode

Behind the Bench

Our Music: “Diamonds on the Inside”

Composer/performer: Katy Cox

Love our theme song? We do, too. Here’s a little more about the Charlotte-based woman behind the music.

Former attorney and singer-songwriter Katy Cox transports her listeners with radiant vocals and thoughtful lyrics. Her songs draw you in and take you on an emotional journey that explores both the heartache and the joy of living. Influenced by artists such as Lori McKenna, Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin, Katy delivers engaging modern folk melodies, with a healthy dose of country and acoustic rock. Hear more of her music at her website: www.katycoxmusic.com.

Our Cover Art Background: “Brave Enough”

Artist: Sally Higgins

After many years of artistic pursuits of various kinds, Charlotte artist Sally Higgins turned to painting about 10 years ago. She works in oil, acrylic, encaustic and mixed media. Art provides Sally a welcome respite from her word-filled career as a trial lawyer.  See more of Sally’s art at sallyhigginsfineart.com and studioworksgallery.com. 

 

Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr are the co-founders of Lincoln Derr and serve at the helm of the firm leading all practice groups through active counsel, litigation, and advising. They are seasoned litigators specializing in innovative multi-media communication, practical business-minded advice, and speaking to audiences in a “real”, non-technical way.

How to Win a Street Fight: Our Toughest Jury Trials

In this episode of Trying 2 Win, hosts Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr, founders of the women-led law firm, Lincoln Derr, break down their toughest cases.

Both Sara and Tricia were trained as “street fighters” who “learned the hard way” how to try a case and win. They come to every case prepared. And still, there have been those cases that have challenged them, forcing them to think critically and creatively when the stakes are high.

For Sara, it was a medical malpractice case that pitted her against an intimidating expert witness (she won, by the way, after poring over thousands of pages of documents to find one critical, overlooked detail). Tricia’s case put her up against an attorney who was willing to push the envelope ethically and factually before members of the jury. In both experiences (and many others), Tricia and Sara argue credibility was a key factor in fighting and winning, and both women recount emotional situations as opportunities to “make us better [lawyers].” The main takeaways? You can’t avoid the tough cases, nor should you. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn valuable lessons about how to fight and win, no matter what you’re up against.

Show Notes

Conflict of interest

In this blog post, Sara recounts her endoscopy case in greater detail. At issue was the tool used in a biopsy of the sphenoid sinus: The patient claimed an endoscope should have been used in the procedure, while the doctor had opted for surgical loupes. To make the case that the endoscope was the better option, opposing counsel brought in an expert from Chicago who had written extensively on the benefits of doing sinus surgery using endoscopes. “He was a hard witness. He was mean and cranky, and when I took his deposition, I thought: How am I going to get this guy?” Sara recalled. Read more about how she did.

The emotional intelligence secret weapon

To win a tough case, you’ve got to make a compelling argument to your jury. Sara and Tricia talk through several strategies they’ve implemented over the years, but it all comes down to emotional intelligence. According to this article from the American Bar Association, lawyers typically score high in intelligence but below average in emotional intelligence, which has four components: emotional perception, emotional empathy, emotional understanding and emotional regulation. “The emotionally intelligent have an accurate awareness of emotions in themselves and others, can tap into how those emotions feel and are able to understand and manage emotions so as to produce the desired results.”

Now, what’s your verdict?

Leave us a review, and let us know what you think — what you like, what you want more of, what we could do better. We’ll be releasing more episodes soon, so be sure to subscribe for more!

Contact us at [email protected]

Share your verdict on our Trying 2 Win Facebook page.

www.lincolnderr.com

704-496-4500

Watch This Episode

Behind the Bench

Our Music: “Diamonds on the Inside”

Composer/performer: Katy Cox

Love our theme song? We do, too. Here’s a little more about the Charlotte-based woman behind the music.

Former attorney and singer-songwriter Katy Cox transports her listeners with radiant vocals and thoughtful lyrics. Her songs draw you in and take you on an emotional journey that explores both the heartache and the joy of living. Influenced by artists such as Lori McKenna, Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin, Katy delivers engaging modern folk melodies, with a healthy dose of country and acoustic rock. Hear more of her music at her website: www.katycoxmusic.com.

Our Cover Art Background: “Brave Enough”

Artist: Sally Higgins

Our First Jury Trials: Scared to Death

In the debut episode of Trying 2 Win, a podcast about real-life legal battles in and outside the courtroom, we introduce you to Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr, founders of Lincoln Derr, a minority and women-owned law firm based in Charlotte, N.C. Over the course of their careers, both women have distinguished themselves as powerhouse litigators, with decades of experience fighting on behalf of their clients in court. In this episode, though, we go back in time to when they were both new lawyers trying their very first cases. It wasn’t always pretty, but the hits and misses of those early courtroom experiences taught them a lot about what it takes to win. Their advice for all the law students and young lawyers out there? “Get your rear end into the courtroom and do it soon because there’s no better way to learn than through experience.”

Show Notes

Study examines decline in civil and criminal jury trials and how to bring them back

In the podcast, Sara and Tricia discuss the exponential decline in jury trials. This article digs into a recent study examining why jury trials are disappearing — and makes a case for why we should bring them back. “The right to a jury trial in criminal and civil cases is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, but jury trials have been vanishing for decades,” ABA President Patricia Lee Refo said in a Dec. 18 news release. “This new study again confirms what other ABA studies have long shown—that our laws and customs need a fresh look to ensure that jury trials, a cornerstone of the American justice system, do not disappear altogether.”

Get in the courtroom — even when you can’t get in the courtroom

The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted in-person court proceedings, and courtrooms across the country have responded by making trials accessible online.

Argument Audio

The U.S. Supreme Court makes the audio recordings of all oral arguments heard by the Court available to the public at the end of each argument week. Online, those recordings go all the way back to 2010. View the full archive here. 

Now, what's your verdict?

So, what’s your verdict on our first episode? Leave us a review, and let us know what you think — what you like, what you want more of, what we could do better. We’ll be releasing more episodes soon, so be sure to subscribe for more!

Contact us at [email protected]

www.lincolnderr.com

Share your verdict on our Trying 2 Win Facebook page.

704-496-4500

Watch Trying 2 Win

Behind the Bench

Our Music: “Diamonds on the Inside”

Composer/performer: Katy Cox

Love our theme song? We do, too. Here’s a little more about the Charlotte-based woman behind the music.

Former attorney and singer-songwriter Katy Cox transports her listeners with radiant vocals and thoughtful lyrics. Her songs draw you in and take you on an emotional journey that explores both the heartache and the joy of living. Influenced by artists such as Lori McKenna, Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin, Katy delivers engaging modern folk melodies, with a healthy dose of country and acoustic rock. Hear more of her music at her website: www.katycoxmusic.com.

Our Cover Art Background: “Brave Enough”

Artist: Sally Higgins

After many years of artistic pursuits of various kinds, Charlotte artist Sally Higgins turned to painting about 10 years ago. She works in oil, acrylic, encaustic and mixed media. Art provides Sally a welcome respite from her word-filled career as a trial lawyer.  See more of Sally’s art at sallyhigginsfineart.com and studioworksgallery.com. 

 

Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr are the co-founders of Lincoln Derr and serve at the helm of the firm leading all practice groups through active counsel,

Rarely do you find a legal podcast as raw, candid and powerful as Trying 2 Win, a show about real-life legal battles inside and outside the courtroom. Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr, co-founders of Lincoln Derr, have practiced law for more than 25 years. In building an enviable track record of success, they’ve also collected incredible stories. In Trying 2 Win, they share those stories, covering everything from early successes and failures to diversity in the courtroom to challenging witness interrogations and more. They also host special guests who share their unique experiences, whether that’s building a case behind the scenes or fighting it out in court. Whether you’re new to your law career or a seasoned veteran, this is the legal podcast you’ve been waiting for. It’s everything you wish they taught you in law school and so much more.