
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).
Unscripted Direct
Episode 116 - "Otto is a Sentient Citrus" (Nationals Predictions with Judge Roberts and Brett Bayne)
Introduction (0:00:00). Discussion of the embargoed 2025-26 US News Rankings.
The Break (0:02:34). Results from Ethics, South Texas, Chapman, and two military competitions.
Nationals Predictions Contest (0:03:57). South Carolina's Brett Bayne and Cumberland's Judge Roberts -- and an unexpected guest -- predict results from AAJ Nationals and TYLA Nationals. You'll hear about mascots, Waffle House, worm taming, camel spitting, and many, many Southern idioms.
Suggested Plagiarism: Bill Barton (0:37:21). After 500 trials -- and induction into the Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame -- Bill Barton offers advice on cross examination: don't "sublimate the jury's anger."
Mailbag Question (01:07:31). Are there too many mock trial tournaments? And should mock trial cases be more like the ones young lawyers would actually get to try?