Unscripted Direct
Conversations with the law school trial advocacy community. Hosted by Spencer Pahlke (shareholder at Walkup Melodia and trial advocacy director at UC Berkeley School of Law) and Justin Bernstein (director of trial advocacy at UCLA School of Law).
Episodes
148 episodes
Episode 146 - These Rankings Are Dumb (plus AAJ Nationals Preview, Predictions, and (Suggested) Plagiarism)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin discuss the national trial advocacy rankings published this month. Will some law schools have to shut down?...
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Season 10
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Episode 9
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1:32:11
Ep. 2 - Fighting for Workers' Rights
It’s no secret that companies are stealing from their workers. Wage theft is rampant in America, but plaintiffs’ attorneys like Shannon Liss-Riordan are fighting back. Shannon is one of the country’s top lawyers bringing employment class action...
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Season 10
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48:55
Episode 145 - The Podcast Strikes Back
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin helps get a big verdict. (Here are links to the opening<...
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Season 10
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Episode 8
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51:58
Ep. 1 - Find a Job You Love. Make a Great Living. Change the World.
Welcome to Cause of Action! On today’s inaugural episode, Spencer is joined by veteran plaintiffs’ attorney and Stanford Law lecturer Shanin Specter. They’ll discuss how law students can land the dream job—one that makes them happy, ma...
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Season 10
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Episode 9
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49:05
Episode 144 - Request Denied
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer has a new podcast.Snowstorm and the $h!#-storm, Part 3 (0:06:20). TYLA rules on a request for relief.The Break (0:13:24). Results from all 10 AAJ STAC Regionals.STAC R...
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Season 10
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Episode 7
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44:18
Episode 143 - Heated Rivalry (AAJ STAC Preview)
Introduction (0:00:00). Follow-up from the Snowstorm and the $h!#-storm in NTC Region 2.The Break (0:04:12). Results from the largest spring invitational.AAJ STAC Preview (0:09:38). Spencer and Justin discuss ...
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Season 10
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Episode 6
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1:14:14
Episode 142 - The Snowstorm and the $h!#-storm (Plus, Robert Little sings!)
Introduction (0:00:00). Back to the grind.The Break (0:03:02). Results from seven NTC regionals and Nova's Shark Beach!Disaster Strikes New York (0:05:08). A winter storm -- and some administrative decisions -...
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Season 10
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Episode 5
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1:11:12
Episode 141 - Thirst Alert!
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer goes skiing. Justin coaches 6th graders.The Break (0:09:33). Results from Chester Bedell.Tournament Spotlight: Shark Beach (0:10:50). Nova Southeastern's Joe Lester explains how...
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Season 10
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Episode 4
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1:09:56
Episode 140 - The Nightmare Scenario (and Main Interview with Jason Goss)
Introduction (0:00:00). Pints, walkouts, and opening statements.The Break (0:06:07). Results from five NTC regionals.NTC Case Balance (0:07:06). Did the State get the right yutes this time?N...
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Season 10
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Episode 3
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1:27:57
Episode 139 - Are the Joneses Guilty?
Introduction (0:00:00). Rankings! The Break (0:04:08). Results from NTC Regionals and the National Trial League Finals.NTC Case Balance Data (0:05:14). What did we learn from the first 450 ballots? <...
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Season 10
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Episode 2
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52:09
Episode 138 - "I have a pretty good team this year”
Mailbag (0:00:00). When is the last day of the year when it's appropriate to say "Happy New Year"?Catching Up (0:03:25). A basketball roadtrip, lying at the poker table, and staying optimistic amid terrifying world ev...
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Season 10
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Episode 1
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1:06:48
Episode 137 - Naughty, Nice, and NTC
Naughty (Witnesses), Nice (Scripties), and NTC (Case Teasers):Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin go to Seattle. Why? Bad facts...America's Next Top Trial Lawyer (0:04:13). Cash for closings! Students can visi...
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Season 9
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Episode 15
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1:19:21
Episode 136 - It's That Time of Year (US News Analysis and Fall Gavel Rankings)
You can still vote for the Scripties!
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Season 9
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Episode 14
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48:47
Episode 135 - Campaigning for Scripties
Click here to vote in the Fall 2025 Scripty Awards!Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer likens himself to a rockstar. Justin is humbled by a trampoline.The Break...
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Season 9
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Episode 13
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1:23:10
Episode 134 - "Trial Lawyer Nation" (with star trial lawyer Michael Cowen)
Introduction (0:00:00). "Calm down, Donna Sue."The Break (0:12:24). Results from all five Premiere sites, Chicago Cup, Georgetown's White Collar, and Hofstra's Medical Legal. Which two schools are having historically good s...
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Season 9
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Episode 12
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1:23:13
Episode 133 - Halloween Costumes
Introduction (0:00:00). Halloween costumes, community service, and the return of the Online National Championship (click here t...
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Season 9
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Episode 11
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1:28:00
Episode 132 - Marian's Jules Epstein Impression
Introduction (0:00:00). Invincibility.The Break (0:03:49). Results from TOC, Davis MLK, and Buffalo-Niagara -- and special congrats to TSU's Tim Adams.Report from Tournament of Champions (0:07:20). Our corresp...
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Season 9
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Episode 10
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1:27:17
Episode 131 - "I Got Squeezed"
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer teaches with his siblings, and Justin brags about his sibling.The Break (0:05:40). Results from...
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Season 9
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Episode 9
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1:26:19
Episode 130 - Should NALAE start a trial competition?
We also considered an another episode title: "That's a lot of licking."Introduction (0:00:00). Justin shares a possible life change. The Break (0:08:05). Winners from All Star Weekend Two -- the nationals field ...
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Season 9
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Episode 8
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1:26:54
Episode 129 - An Open Ended Question on Cross (with star trial lawyer Sean Claggett)
Introduction (0:00:00). A murder trial without due process.The Break (0:04:46). Results from All Star Weekend One and Stetson's National Pretrial. Suggested Plagiarism with Sean Claggett (0:09:18). Nevada...
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Season 9
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Episode 7
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1:11:09
Episode 128 - Mock, Drugs, & Rock 'N Roll
Introduction (0:00:00). Jeff Brooks joins us to discuss the year's least controversial controversy.The Break (0:10:06). Results from Denver's Summit Cup.Interview: Kansas's Adam Sokoloff (0:11:45). Before he c...
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Season 9
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Episode 6
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1:29:01
Episode 127 - America's Next Top Trial Lawyer
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer keeps his job. Justin extols a new approach to scrimmaging.The Break (0:08:33). Results from four competitions -- and a wagering correction.America's Next Top Trial Lawyer (0:15...
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Season 9
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Episode 5
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1:10:09
Episode 126 - Job Interviews
Introduction (0:00:00). With Spencer abandoning his co-host, Justin interviews potential replacements.Suggested Plagiarism with Brett Schreiber (0:32:48). The lawyer who won a $243,000,000 verdict against Tesla reveals some...
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Season 9
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Episode 4
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1:18:02