Podcast - "I Was Just Playing a Role"
Just Press "Play"
Podcast - “I Lied Like a Dog!”
Podcast - "Ready for Trial?"
Podcast - Every Case Is a New World
The 3 Core Themes of Trial Law: Tell Your Story
Podcast - Getting Dressed for Court
Podcast - The Witness Outline
Cross-Examination: The Three C’s of Impeachment
Cross-Examination: How to Effectively Impeach with a Prior Inconsistent Statement
Podcast - Cross-Examination: Don't Argue - Elicit Facts
Podcast - Direct Examination: Getting Rid of Clutter
The Basics of Opening Statements
Exuding Credibility in the Courtroom
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 233: Listen and Learn -- Impeachment (Part 2)
The Strategic Advantages of Working with Jury Consultants – IMS Insights Podcast Episode 56
Witness Testimony Themes, Cross Examination, & Preparation Consultants – IMS Insights Podcast Episode 55
Witness Prep Goals, Credibility Factors, & Juror Comprehension – IMS Insights Podcast Episode 54
Podcast - Finding the Balance
Podcast - A Tortured Journey with the Lying Witness
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small explores the complicated dynamics of using informants in organized crime cases. Drawing from his prosecution of Sam Cammarata, Mr. Small explains...more
Most business disputes settle. But if you bank on settlement without preparing for trial, you put your company at a disadvantage. The best settlements come when the other side knows you are fully ready for court. That means...more
“So when is a question too complicated for the jury?” That is the question the Third Circuit sought to answer recently in Slatowski v. Sig Sauer, Inc., ___ F. 4th ___, 2025 WL 2178533 (3d Cir. 2025), reversing a district...more
This article was authored by Kim Beane (Litigation Consultant). In court, cases often come down to the “battle of the experts” and the credibility and character of experts can make or break a case. When you need an expert...more
Navigating the aftermath of a nighttime car accident presents unique challenges for New Jersey drivers. The darkness obscures crucial details, witnesses may be scarce, and evidence can be more challenging to identify and...more
Of all the challenges inherent in discovery, case strategizing, and trial preparation, a missing witness or other key person may pose the most frustration. Most individuals can be located easily at their place of residence or...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small highlights the critical role voice recordings can play in court. He details three primary ways to obtain recordings: wiretaps,...more
Testifying, whether in a deposition or in trial, can feel pretty threatening. Particularly if you’re a named defendant in a lawsuit, you know you’re going to be the target. But even when you’re on the other side, or you’re an...more
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small explores the critical issue of false testimony and its damaging effects on the justice system. Centered on the case of...more
New York’s Commercial Division has long prided itself on adopting practices and procedures similar to the federal courts. A recent amendment to its rules takes a further step in that direction by mandating initial disclosures...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court’s finding of noninfringement, concluding that the patent owner had improperly raised a claim construction issue for the first time on appeal – an...more
As a litigator, I routinely prepare clients for depositions. A deposition is a pre-trial procedure where a party or witness in a legal case provides sworn testimony outside of a courtroom. A lawyer asks questions of the...more
In Hall v. Baltimore Police Dept., 2025 WL 1548560 (D. Md. May 30, 2025)(Austin, J.), the Court considered whether materials created many years after the underlying incident were protected under the work-product doctrine. The...more
We know that successful trial outcomes are rarely the result of a single, game-changing moment. Instead, they are built on preparation, precision, and the cumulative impact of small, strategic decisions. In a recent IMS...more
When I first decided I wanted to become an attorney, I did not think about being in trial. Even in law school, I gave little thought about what it would mean to be in trial. Like a lot of people, my experience with being in...more
Litigation attorney Dan Small unexpectedly took the lead in prosecuting the high-profile case of the Farmers Export grain elevator explosion, a major incident in Galveston, Texas, that resulted in the deaths of 18 people in...more
U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals - Jones v. Ceinski - qualified immunity - Otto Candies v. Citigroup - RICO, fraud, conspiracy - Berrocal v. US Att’y Gen - standing, international treaty - Maglana v....more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small recounts his experience as a new prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division, where he was unexpectedly...more
Law firms are increasingly using technology to assist and optimize their litigation and trial processes, and this trend will almost certainly continue into the future. In particular, the use of external graphics technologies...more
Remote depositions took hold during COVID and continue to be common; one study conducted in 2021 found that while 87 percent of lawyers rarely or never participated in remote depositions before COVID, 83 percent expected to...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small emphasizes the vital role of storytelling in trials. Drawing from his experiences in the Hyattsville, Maryland, Magistrate's...more
Cross-examination is the stuff of drama in fictional courtroom depictions. The savvy lawyer taking on a hostile witness on the stand—these are the moments TV and movie audiences live for. However, the truth is real-life...more
Given how critical depositions are to the legal process, it stands to reason that fair deposition practices are paramount to a legal team’s success. However, several forms of unethical and unfair conduct can emerge during...more
The first action you should take after witnessing a crash is to call 911. Alerting emergency services is essential for getting help to the scene quickly. When you call, provide clear and precise information to the operator....more
It is common advice for witnesses in the courtroom or representatives at counsel table: keep a poker face. That advice — avoid scowls, grimaces, and other head-shaking reactions while you’re being observed by a jury — has...more