EPISODES

In this 'Brief' episode, we have selected highlights from previous interviews. Sarah Clarke KC gives suggestions for what you can do to improve your advocacy. This brief is taken from episode 4. Click here to listen to the full interview with Sarah Clarke KC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 'Brief' episode, we have selected highlights from a previous episode. Roger Dodd gives 3 pieces of sage advice on cross-examination. This brief is taken from episode 2. Click here to listen to the full interview with Roger Dodd. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 'Brief' episode, we have selected highlights from a previous episode. James Rapley KC advises on how to manage nerves and remain calm during appellate advocacy. This brief is taken from episode 12. Click here to listen to the full interview with James Rapley KC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 'Brief' episode, we have selected highlights from a previous episode. Anesta Weekes KC suggests how to deal with challenging facts and issues in your case. This brief is taken from episode 9. Click here to listen to the full interview with Anesta Weekes KC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first of these 'Brief' episodes, we select the highlights from previous interviews. Carl Heaton KC shares his thoughts on closing addresses. This brief is taken from episode 5. Click here to listen to the full interview with Carl Heaton KC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Pereira KC takes host Bibi Badejo through his journey as a barrister, King's Counsel and a certified coach and discusses how the skills he has learned have made him a better advocate. James was called to the bar in 1996 and took silk in 2014. Practising from Francis Taylor Buildings in London, James specialises in planning, environmental, local government and administrative law, compulsory purchase and compensation. He is the co-author of leading text books in compulsory purchase, compensa...

Legal writing heavyweight Ross Guberman joins host Bibi Badejo and shares his recommendations for upgrading writing skills. A renowned author on legal writing and his books Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation’s Top Advocates and Point Taken: How to Write Like the World’s Greatest Judges have been praised as a “tour de force” and “a must for the library of veteran litigators” and the best book by far about judicial writing. Ross is a former attorney, and president of Legal Writing Pro, an ad...

Voice coach Lucy Cornell joins host Bibi Badejo to discuss how trial lawyers can use their voice for influence and impact in the court room. Lucy is the CEO and founder of Cornell Voice Advisory, coaching professionals to develop the use of their voice for influence and impact. Her clients include CEOs and senior executives of blue chip companies such as McKinsey, IBM, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, as well as lawyers and politicians. Lucy leads an international voice and performance coaching team fo...

Professor Jo Delahunty KC joins host Bibi Badejo to talk about how she approaches and wins her cases, many of which appear unwinnable. Jo was called to the Bar in 1986, took silk in 2006, and became a Recorder in 2009. She was part of the legal team that acted for 77 families in the Hillsborough Inquests; and successfully established that the flawed medical response led to avoidable loss of life. Jo was appointed as Gresham College Professor of Law from 2016- 2020, and made Emeritus Gresham Prof...

In part 2 of this two-part interview, Jerry Blackwell and Steve Schleicher continue their discussion with host Bibi Badejo and reflect on the techniques they used to successfully prosecute in State of Minnesota v Derek Michael Chauvin. Jerry is the founding partner, CEO and chair of Blackwell Burke and is an award winning corporate defence lawyer. He is also the founder of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. Steve has also won several awards. He is a partner of Maslon LLP and his work fo...

In the first episode of Season 2, Jerry Blackwell and Steve Schleicher discuss the prosecution of Derek Chauvin with host Bibi Badejo. In the first of this two-part interview they discuss their careers as advocates and break down their strategies for preparing the case. Jerry is the founding partner, CEO and chair of Blackwell Burke and is an award-winning corporate defence lawyer. He is also the founder of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. Steve has also won several awards. He is a pa...

In the final episode of Season 1, James Rapley KC joins host Bibi Badejo to discuss written submissions and appellate advocacy. James Rapley KC practices from Bridgeside Chambers in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed a King's Counsel in 2018, and specialises in criminal defence litigation, across serious fraud, drug, murder, and sexual crimes, together with regulatory prosecution work. Together with Judge Tony Willy, James co-authored a central text in New Zealand’s legal literature ent...

Bibi Badejo is joined by Allison Summers KC who shares how we can close our cases boldly and persuasively. Allison specialises in criminal defence work and takes on cases involving serious violence and sexual cases, including domestic killings, parricide, infanticide and somnambulism (sleep walking). She is the go-to King’s Counsel when there are difficult or unusual features in a case and she draws on her experience as an Assistant Coroner in cases involving complex medical issues. Please subsc...

In this episode, Justin Kahn discusses how to use visual tools to prepare your case and to communicate complex ideas in simple, impactful ways. He recommends useful apps and technology that can be utilised and explains how neuroscience and magic have combined to influence his approach to effective persuasion. Justin is based in South Carolina and specialises in catastrophic personal injury matters and various kinds of complex litigation. Justin is AV rated and is board certified in medical malpr...

Anesta Weekes KC joins host Bibi Badejo to discuss the importance of preparation and having a sound case theory. Anesta Weekes KC was called to the Bar in 1981, and in 1999, was appointed both Queen’s Counsel and Recorder (part-time judge). Anesta is recognised for her work prosecuting and defending, acting for professionals in disciplinary tribunals, in a number of major national inquiries, including the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. She also specialises in Privy Council work, dealing with both ci...

In this episode, Rex Parris joins host Bibi Badejo to discuss the neurology of the courtroom and tools of persuasion that he has used in his own trials. Rex is a specialist in personal injury litigation and is based in Lancaster, California, where he has also served as Mayor since 2008. In 2009, Rex was the lead attorney in a defamation action that resulted in an historic jury verdict in Los Angeles for $370,000,000. He has a reputation as a highly innovative trial lawyer and uses cognitive scie...

In this episode, Ian Robertson SC shares his approach to expert reports and witnesses with host Bibi Badejo. Ian is a trial and appellate Commercial barrister with a special interest in intellectual property, both litigious and non-litigious. His practice is diverse, stopping only at matters of personal criminal law. He was President of the South Australian Bar Association (SABA), the Chair of the Australian Bar Association’s Advocacy Training Council, and a director of the Australian Advocacy I...

Jo Sidhu KC joins host Bibi Badejo to discuss a topic which is less commonly the focus of advocacy training, but no less important – the soft skills of advocacy. Jo explores aspects such as breathing, projection, and controlling the mind to eliminate distractions and extraneous material. Jo is a leading specialist in criminal law with expertise in terrorism cases, homicides, and conspiracies involving frauds, robberies and drugs trafficking. Among many high-profile cases, Jo has acted in three o...

Carl Heaton KC joins host Bibi Badejo and advises on how to make examination-in-chief (direct examination) engaging, how to bring your witnesses to life, and how to make your closing arguments as compelling as possible. Carl was appointed as the Director of Public Prosecutions of Queensland, Australia, in June 2020, having been called to the bar in 1990 and taken silk in 2010. He has great experience and expertise in matters across the full spectrum of the criminal justice system as a result of ...

Sarah Clarke KC joins host Bibi Badejo to discuss how to improve court room skills, including some alternative yet familiar resources. Sarah is a renowned expert in insider dealing, investment fraud and market abuse law. Sarah also practises in police disciplinary actions and represents medical professionals and Hospital Trusts at Inquests. She was appointed as a Recorder (part-time Circuit Judge) of the Crown Court in 2012 and was authorised to sit in cases involving Serious Sexual Offences in ...

In this episode, the Hon Ann Ainslie-Wallace shares her wisdom on persuading judges with host Bibi Badejo. Ann was appointed to the Appeals Division of the Family Court of Australia in 2010, having served on the bench of the District Court of New South Wales, Australia, since 1997, presiding over both civil and criminal trials. Ann has contributed extensively to advocacy training in Australia and internationally. She is the Chair of the Australian Advocacy Institute’s Board of Directors and a fa...

Highly regarded trial attorney Roger Dodd takes host Bibi Badejo through his top 10 tips on cross-examination. Roger is best known, in the words of judges and legal analysts, as the “foremost expert in cross-examination in the world”, having authored and co-authored essential legal texts in the area, including Cross-Examination: The Science and Techniques . He also teaches cross-examination at the specialist Roger Dodd Trial Clinic. A Board Certified Specialist in both criminal and civil litigat...

Professor Leslie Thomas KC joins host Bibi Badejo to discuss how he prepares his cases and develops his case theory and strategies. He also explains the importance of finding and using your own voice to be as effective in court as possible. Leslie is a renowned specialist in civil liberties, human rights, police, and inquest law. He has represented families in a string of high-profile inquests including Mark Duggan, Sean Rigg, Hillsborough families and is currently representing families of victi...

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