Trial Lawyer Prep
Trial Lawyer Prep

Trial Lawyer Prep

Elizabeth Larrick | Trial Consultant

Overview
Episodes

Details

What if you could hang out with trial lawyers and jury consultants, ask them about connecting with clients and juries more effectively; then take strategies, tactics, and insights to increase your success? That's what we do each week on Trial Lawyer Prep. Hosted by Elizabeth Larrick - experienced trial lawyer, trial consultant, and founder of Larrick Law Firm PC in Austin, TX – every episode is an in-depth look at how to regain touch with the everyday world, understand the emotional burden of your clients and juries, and use focus groups in this process. The goal is to help you connect with juries and clients in order to improve your abilities in the courtroom.

Recent Episodes

Comparison: A Powerful and Simple Persuasion Tool for the Courtroom [Ep 154]
DEC 3, 2025
Comparison: A Powerful and Simple Persuasion Tool for the Courtroom [Ep 154]
In this week's episode, we're looking at a powerful and often overlooked tool for persuasion: side-by-side comparisons. Discover how this method can simplify complex information and sway jury decisions in your favor. I shares practical insights from my virtual focus groups, which offer strategic ways to leverage this tool throughout your case. Our brains respond intrinsically to visual comparisons, and I'll show you how to implement this tactic in opening statements, mediation packets, and beyond. Learn how side-by-side comparisons can become your secret weapon for a better case outcome. And book a free consultation for virtual focus groups using the link below. In this episode, you will learn:
  • How our brains always look for patterns, and how comparison is a powerful persuasion tool.
  • How our brains also crave easy decisions, and comparisons helps clarify positions.
  • How focus groups reveal jury preferences.
  • How to use comparison in your opening statements.
  • Why visual aids are crucial for understanding.

You can also watch this episode on my YouTube Channel: A Powerful and Simple Persuasion Tool for the Courtroom [Ep 154]

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Want to learn more about the virtual focus group Elizabeth does with lawyers? Schedule a free call:

Don't want to miss an episode? Join the Trial Lawyer Prep Newsletter for resources, tips and episodes by going here:

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11 MIN
No Voir Dire? Here's A Way to Create Your Own Secret Weapon [Ep 153]
NOV 19, 2025
No Voir Dire? Here's A Way to Create Your Own Secret Weapon [Ep 153]
Today, we're talking about the advantages of using virtual focus groups to enhance jury selection, especially in jurisdictions with limited voir dire. I share a real-life success story where a lawyer used virtual focus groups and a detailed jury research chart to navigate a challenging trial with confidence. We then look at the nuts and bolts of how to conduct virtual focus groups, create insightful jury profiles, and maximize the value of focus group feedback. By analyzing qualitative data from focus groups, lawyers can identify potential jurors who may not align with their case, thereby making informed decisions during jury selection. This episode is a great starting point for learning practical strategies to better understand jurors, identifying their emotional engagement, and improve your overall trial strategy. In this episode, you will learn:
  • Creating a jury research profile helps identify unfavorable jurors.
  • Demographics alone are insufficient; life experiences matter too.
  • Judges may make impulsive decisions during voir dire.
  • Multiple focus groups enhance confidence in jury selection.
  • Transcripts from focus groups are crucial for extracting insights.
  • There is no perfect method for jury selection, but strategies can improve outcomes.

You can also watch this episode on my YouTube Channel: No Voir Dire? Here's A Way to Create Your Own Secret Weapon [Ep 153]

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources From This Episode:

Case Study: How Virtual Focus Groups flipped Disputed Liability (blog) Jury Selection: What's Broken With Traditional Methods? with Sharif Gray [Ep 149]

Want to learn more about the virtual focus group Elizabeth does with lawyers? Schedule a free call:

Don't want to miss an episode? Join the Trial Lawyer Prep Newsletter for resources, tips and episodes by going here:

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12 MIN
The Art of Teamwork: Winning a $27+ million dollar verdict, with John Heenan [Ep 152]
NOV 5, 2025
The Art of Teamwork: Winning a $27+ million dollar verdict, with John Heenan [Ep 152]
In our last episode, we heard from Tim Bechtold, whose perseverance ultimately led to a verdict in Montana of over $27 million for his client. Today, we're joined by Tim's partner in the case, John Heenan, for his perspective on the process and the role he played in achieving the result, particularly as someone who joined late in the day to help push it over the finish line. We talk about how to approach the trial, the importance of adding someone new to a team for crucial fresh perspectives, and advice for working with conservative mentalities on juries and trial presentation. John emphasizes the importance of empowering jurors and leveraging collaboration to achieve results in the courtroom, while also reminding us of how we can measure success, keeping an honest assessment of our role in the outcome. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: The Art of Teamwork: Winning a $27+ million dollar verdict, with John Heenan [Ep 152] Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Guest John Heenan of Heenan & Cooke Trial Lawyers, Montana.

www.lawmontana.com

Contact John directly at [email protected]

Books recommended by John:

Do you have an upcoming trial and want help writing your opening statement? Book a free call with Elizabeth to see how she can help.

Don't want to miss an episode? Join the Trial Lawyer Prep Newsletter for resources, tips and episodes by going here: www.larricklawfirm.com/connect

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33 MIN
Winning a $27 Million Verdict After YEARS of Fighting, with Tim Bechtold [Ep 151]
OCT 22, 2025
Winning a $27 Million Verdict After YEARS of Fighting, with Tim Bechtold [Ep 151]
Tim Bechtold spent years fighting a a civil rights case involving a prisoner from the Montana State Prison System. In today's conversation, we look at the intricacies of the case, detailing the client's wrongful conviction, subsequent assault in a private prison, and the challenges faced due to procedural delays and missed deadlines. However, the perseverance of Tim and his team ultimately culminated in a favorable verdict and a reward of just over $27 million. Tim explains the importance of a focus group in shaping their trial strategy and reflects on the quick-paced nature of their trial, as well as the broader implications of justice and advocacy for marginalized communities. Tim Bechtold is a Montana-based trial lawyer known for his work in civil rights and environmental law. In this episode, you will learn about:
  • How the case of Nate Lake highlights systemic issues in the justice system.
  • How the verdict of over $27 million underscores the importance of accountability.
  • Why justice for marginalized communities often requires persistence and dedication.
  • The role of storytelling in trials that is crucial for juror engagement.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: Winning a $27 Million Verdict After YEARS of Fighting, with Tim Bechtold [Ep 151]

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Guest Tim Bechtold of Bechtold Law Firm, Montana.

Contact Tim directly at [email protected]

$27.75 million dollar verdict (KRTV news)

Northern Cheyenne v. BIA verdict (Daily Montanan)

Tim's Environmental Work: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5416766

2025 Leonard Weinglass in Defense of Civil Liberties Award - AAJ: https://www.justice.org/membership/awards

2025 Montana Trial Lawyer of the Year Award: https://www.monttla.com/?pg=historical

Do you have an upcoming trial and want help writing your opening statement? Book a free call with Elizabeth to see how she can help.

Don't want to miss an episode? Join the Trial Lawyer Prep Newsletter for resources, tips and episodes by going here: www.larricklawfirm.com/connect

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26 MIN
Three Case-Saving Focus Groups to do in Discovery [Ep 150]
OCT 8, 2025
Three Case-Saving Focus Groups to do in Discovery [Ep 150]
Our episode this week demonstrates why even small focus groups can go a long way towards saving your case. Running focus groups in discovery can accomplish a lot in even just 50 minutes, giving you data and analysis that you simply wouldn't have otherwise. I outline three specific types of focus groups that can save cases: neutral narratives, timelines, and deposition preparation. Each type serves a unique purpose in helping lawyers understand their cases better, identify weaknesses, and prepare their clients for testimony. We want our clients to do the best job possible, so why not give them a leg up and do a focus group test run, to help figure out where jurors will land on the testimony. In this episode, you will learn:
  • How focus groups can save your case during discovery.
  • Understanding jury perception is crucial for case strategy.
  • How fresh perspectives can break stuck thinking in cases.
  • Identifying assumptions early can guide case direction.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

You can watch this episode on my YouTube Channel: @ElizabethLarrick

Want to learn more about the virtual focus group Elizabeth does with lawyers? Schedule a free call:

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15 MIN