Amy Bradley will be the first to tell you that good storytelling is an art.

Now a Principal at Blankenship & Keith in Fairfax, Virginia, Amy's education and career in fact started in journalism. Following leads, doing the interviews, compiling research and then editing it all together to tell a compelling story for the nightly news.

And as more and more of her stories featured legal cases and watching trial lawyers, she realized that a new calling was beckoning, one where she could apply her distinct skills towards shaping and presenting an argument.

Amy joins us today to talk about that process, how one goes about creating a good story, and the difference between written stories and oral stories.

As you've heard before on the podcast, nothing compares to getting real trial experience, and this includes developing and practicing your storytelling skills. But Amy also makes a crucial point: we are always telling stories, and always have a chance to practice the craft. Observe how you interact with others around you, and how you can perhaps frame something mundane into a gripping cliffhanger.

Because juries have a need for compelling narratives, and a good story can literally make or break your case. What looks like just one random activity to an outsider could mean so much more to the victim in question. 

There is a powerful story in there.

"It's never too early to start talking about theming.  Every case has a few nuggets that you can build a theme from." Amy Bradley

In this episode, we discuss:

◼️ How storytelling is a crucial skill in both journalism and law.
◼️ Why the skill sets for trial lawyers are distinct from law school education.
◼️ Focus groups are invaluable for helping you develop a powerful narrative, and correct blind spots.
◼️ How valuing a case involves more than just medical bills; it includes emotional and identity aspects.
◼️ Testing out your stories and storytelling skills on those around you, whether at the office or at home.

Chapters

00:00 Starting Out in Journalism
07:03 The Spark: Discovering Passion for Law
14:52 Diverse Cases in Personal Injury Law
23:56 The Important Skill Sets in Trial Law
29:15 Crafting Compelling Narratives in Court
34:30 The Role of Focus Groups in Case Preparation
39:14 Valuing Cases Beyond Medical Bills
43:31 Overcoming Fear as a New Lawyer

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com 

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

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Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki