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
136 episodes
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
Episode 125 - "He Cursed at a Child"
Introduction (0:00:00). Where is Spencer taking Justin for their 10th anniversary season?The Break (0:02:33). Results from the National Flash Trial Competition.Main Interview: Stephanie Sullivan (0:07:27). Sou...
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Season 9
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Episode 3
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1:14:29
Episode 124 - "I Blame My Wife"
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer prepares for his ten-year anniversary. Justin gets publicly insulted.The Break (0:07:45). Your first competition results from the new season.Main Interview: John Henry (0:08:57)...
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Season 9
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Episode 2
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1:26:30
Episode 123 - How Many Cats is Too Many?
Catching Up (0:00:00). Travel, verdicts, paying off wagers, two words that unreasonably bother Spencer, alumni events, Spanish accents, and one host trying to cause an IP lawsuit for the other.Summer Recap (0:15:13)....
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Season 9
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Episode 1
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1:29:59
Episode 122 - Summer Stories - Part 2
Introduction. (0:00:00). We're back (for a bit!) to interrupt your summer Mailbag. (0:1:21:21). Thanks to Robert L., other personally identifying information unavailable, for the excellent "question."Applying...
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Season 8
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Episode 16
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1:12:26
Episode 121 - Summer Stories - Part 1
Introduction (0:00:00). Where are we? What are we doing here? We answer existential questions, and podcast.Story Fundamentals. (0:05:28). We're joined by Gabe Rivin, former showrunner for the Wondery's American Scandal<...
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Season 8
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Episode 15
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1:19:06
Episode 120 - "Way to go, Winners!" (Scripty Awards, Silverback Gorillas, and more)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer cuts down a tree, and Justin gets sentimental (for three reasons).The Break (0:11:38). The EATS awards! And one errata.All Star is Back! (0:12:44). St. Mary's A.J. Bellido ...
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Season 8
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Episode 14
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1:17:27
Episode 119 - "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"
Introduction (00:00). Apply for competitions and vote in the Scripties!The Break (06:11). Serious results from Amicus, ridiculous results from Amicus, and a ne...
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Season 8
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Episode 13
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56:30
Episode 118 - "Ask Your Law Mom"
Introduction (00:00). Spencer and Justin are recovering."Ask Your Law Mom" (02:30). Buffalo Law's Jen Scharf and Lisa Bauer have their own podcast! They do serious work -- offering advice about legal careers -- but we do ou...
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Season 8
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Episode 12
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58:52
Episode 117 - Chatting with the Champs
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer goes to Disney World ... and he tries to change the world.US News Rankings -- for real this time! (0:09:48). What schools made a big jump? The Break (0:13:28). Resul...
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Season 8
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Episode 11
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1:26:22
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...
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Season 8
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Episode 10
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1:13:14
Episode 115 - What Percentage of Real Lawyers Would Make Your Mock Trial Team?
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin apologizes, and atones, for a Cardinal sin.The Break (0:02:15). Results from Queens DA and Cap City. Plus, a new job opening!Vexatious Litigants (0:03:35). Colleague fight! Stets...
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Season 8
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Episode 9
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1:12:50
Episode 114 - "How to Ask a Question" (Interview with Shanin Specter)
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin gets practical: when do you start planning for next year? Spencer gets philosophical: how do you find the right balance between teaching and other professional obligations? The Break (0:1...
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Season 8
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Episode 8
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1:10:35
Episode 113 - "Dragging Hostages" - Star Trial Lawyer Chris Arledge on How He Cross-Examines
Introduction (0:00:00). Who's at fault for Microphone-Gate?"How I Teach" (0:04:07). Justin is organizing a new EATS presentation -- and he wants your advice. Who would you like to see teach? And on what topics? (
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Season 8
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Episode 7
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1:21:03