We’re back with the Third Edition of the National Flash Trial Competition and its accompanying episode on the pod.  This year Berkeley Law’s annual tournament expanded to ten teams, meaning we got to introduce two more schools to our tradition of learning through flash trials.

Join our erstwhile UC Berkeley undergraduate hosts Lucy Cavalluzzi and Melinda Lu as they embed with teams from Houston and South Carolina to tell the story of this year’s National Flash Trial Competition.

In Part Two of our Season Finale:

The Champagne Mystery (0:00:00). Who's behind the anonymous alcohol?!
The 2025 NTC Case (0:03:02). For the first time in the National Trial Competition's 50-year history, the NTC case was written by law school coaches. A day before the case release, the authors -- Matt Woodham, Nick Cotter, Justin Bernstein -- talk about what's different this year.
Vexatious Litigants (0:21:53). Texas's Mike Golden and Nova's Joe Lester debate when coaches should receive results. Come for the debate, stay for the physics theory and personal insults.
The Scripties (0:46:33). We announce the Fall 2024 award winners in eight categories, including Best Case, Best Banquet, Best Team, and Favorite Competition. Plus, a few "bonus" categories like Worst Use of Email, Strangest Case Decision, Most Creative Leadership, and more...
Mailbag (1:01:41). Why have competition registration fees gotten so expensive? Are they worth it?

Part One of our Season Finale:

Introduction (0:00:00). Happy Tofurkey Day.
The Break (0:04:45). Results from the Daniel competition, and the most one-sided rivalry in sports.
Erwin Chemerinsky (0:05:50). Berkeley Law's Dean talks about the state of US News two years after the big controversy, why many prestigious law schools ignore trial advocacy, and when his CV will include appearances on this podcast.
US News (0:25:09). Spencer and Justin discuss this year's US News voting and identify one school that deserves to be ranked higher.
Doris Cheng (0:30:50). Justin interviews Walkup partner Doris Cheng about the strategy behind her $15M verdict and the hardest part about teaching trial advocacy.
Gavel Rankings (0:43:37). Hofstra's Jared Rosenblatt responds to the "Evil Jared" nickname, announces the "10 hardest competitions," and unveils the top-ranked schools from Fall 2024.
Mailbag (0:55:18). Why is witness prep called "woodshedding"?

Introduction (0:00:00). He's just a humble Nebraskan ... who flies to New York for foot massages.
The Break  (0:06:43). Results from five events. Advocate of the Week. Puerto Rico giving away "Finalist" trophies like Oprah gives away cars. And puppies!!
Remembering Arturo Alvarez (0:12:27). The community lost an outstanding and inspiring advocate, Nova Southeastern's Arturo Alvarez.
Counselor Counseller (0:14:11). Baylor's new dean Jeremy Counseller talks about his vision for the law school, what it means that Baylor hired a trial advocacy professor as dean, his sweet accommodations in Scotland, and when Robert Little can expect a raise.
Suggested Plagiarism: Kathleen Nastri (0:32:32). She's the former president of AAJ. She has a $58M verdict. And she has some suggestions about focusing on more on your own case and less on your opponents' case.
The Pace Guys  (0:50:54). Jared Hatcliffe and AJ Muller talk about making students do pushups, "Grandpa Lou" Fasulo, AJ's belly dancing, and the names that Pace students use to distinguish Jared Hatcliffe from Jared Rosenblatt.
Mailbag (1:18:23). When is a school's repeated misconduct enough that they should be banned from competitions?

Introduction (0:00:00). Justin has a beauty product problem.
The Break (0:04:20). The busiest weekend of the Fall -- results from six competitions!
Meet Sam DiGiuseppe (0:08:44). Drexel's new Assistant Trial Competitions Director talks about her new role, her white and brown noise machines, the shelves she can't reach at 4'11", tap dancing for her team. We also tried to ask her about [redacted].
Main Interview: John Bishop (0:20:19). Chapman's advocacy director talks about his career as a TV sports producer, the bizarre reason he chose law school, whether he's the best athlete in the trial ad community, and whether he's a spy.
Another Main Interview: Tony Ghiotto (0:51:44). Illinois's trial advocacy director talks about his sinful name, his military service, his Twitter attacks on a U.S. Senator, and how he's won so many teaching awards.
Scandal at the Premiere (1:16:45). When a team gets caught intentionally breaking the most important rule at the tournament, what should the host do? The four Premiere hosts -- Joe Lester, Phil Pasquarello, Mike Golden, and Justin -- discuss.

Introduction (0:00:00). When Spencer knocks on doors, does anyone recognize him from the podcast?
The Break (0:04:11). Results from Quinnipiac, Premiere Austin, and Premiere Fort Lauderdale. Who were the best teams ... and who were the Best Coach-Judges?
Adrian Mebane (0:07:00). Loyola Chicago's newly-promoted advocacy director describes her new job duties, her goals, and her unusual gardening style.
Main Interview: Jeremy Dailey (0:22:45). Georgia's coach talks about how mock trial changed his career trajectory, his relationship with his mentor Kellie Casey, how gay advocates are treated differently in mock and real courtrooms, cooking 500(!) New York Times recipes, his $15 principle when it comes to wine, and the new FRE rule that creates a privilege for his "hot takes."
Vexatious Litigants (0:53:41). Should teams disclose their motions before trial? Judge Erickson says yes, and A.J. Bellido de Luna says no. We also hear about Judge losing football bets, A.J traveling to an "undisclosed location," and the immortal words, "May it please the court. May I blow my nose?"
Mailbag Question (1:20:21). At tournaments that allow some schools to bring two teams, should we do anything for schools with one team to level the playing field?

Introduction (0:00:00). Sounds like this episode has a lot of hosts...
The Break (0:02:33).  Results from Tournament of Champions, Michigan, St. John's, Syracuse, Gold Cup, and Davis MLK.
The Moms (0:06:53). Spencer's mom Penny and Justin's mom Anita make their first appearance together. We find out that Penny has now listened to the show ... and Anita asked if one of our guests was single(!). We then play a game to see who knows their son better.
The Roast (0:28:01). We invited 11 frequent guests -- Brett Bayne, AJ Bellido de Luna, Liz Fraley, Mike Golden, Liz Lippy, Robert Little, Phil Pasquarello, Katie Powers, Judge Roberts, Jared Rosenblatt, and Adam Shlahet -- to submit 60-second clips making fun of us. We didn't tell them we'd be ranking their roasts. 
Mailbag Question (0:59:13). A retrospective. 

It's election season! This episode features two trial lawyers -- and mock trial veterans -- who used their courtroom skills to get elected as district attorneys. 
TOC Preview (0:00:00). Who are the new teams? What's the new rule? What do we think of this year's case? And what is Spencer's bold prediction?
Main Interview: McGeorge's Thien Ho and Jason Schaff (0:12:41). Thien talks about prosecuting the serial murderer known as the Golden State Killer and winning the seat as Sacramento's District Attorney. Jason talks about defending railroads, tells a truly disgusting courtroom story, explains his love of Southwest Airlines, and explains how he beat Spencer when they were both in law school. Both of them give backhanded compliments to McGeorge's new director, Reza Rezvani.
"Chris Three Names" (0:41:05). Justin talks to his college mock trial co-counsel, Chris de Barrena Sarobe, who was elected District Attorney of Pennsylvania's Chester County. Chris talks about his time on Temple's trial team, how mock trial helped him in real trial, and why he'd love to hire your students.
Mailbag Question (0:56:21). What advice would you give a new director who's trying to raise their program's profile?

Introduction (0:00:00). Justin gets mocked.
The Break (0:03:15). Results from Summit, National Pretrial, and Buffalo. Ravioli as Fiction and Truth (0:05:38). Baylor's Jerry Powell talks about his first novel, featuring a murder mystery in 1800s Waco and Catfish Calloway, the aging trial lawyer who represents the accused. He then gets philosophical about the decline of truth in America — and the increased importance of jury trials.
Main Interview: OSU’s Elizabeth Cooke (0:40:33). The Ohio State trial advocacy director discusses her Supreme Court brief, how her program has excelled despite attending relatively few competitions, the pleasures of Ohio ice cream, some Ohio State trivia, and her knack for spotting wildlife.
Mailbag Question (1:01:21). What should you say to a work colleague who doesn’t appreciate the value of hiring grads with trial team experience? Spencer gets angry.

Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer has two family members in trial. Did they consult him for advice?
The Short List (0:03:25). Stetson's Kate Donoghue talks about Hurricane Helene, shares the good news of her promotion, and evaluates Justin's hypothetical "candidates" to fill her old position.
Main Interview: Dave Schott (0:18:52). Denver's director talks about starting his own law firm, creating a board game, his worst public speaking experience (it's quite disturbing), serving as in-house counsel for a toymaker, and why a TV station named him an "Everyday Hero." He also opens up about his pending lawsuit -- why he sued Denver Law, how this has affected him, and where things stand now.
Mailbag Question (1:14:49). What do you do with the student no one wants to work with?
Musical Guest (1:20:08). We finish the episode with a musical performance from Professor Schott.