About Advocacy in Court: Preparation and Performance
Court and Tribunal advocacy requires practical skills. Rather than learn bad habits by watching lawyers in court repeat the same mistakes that they picked up years ago, or unnecessarily spend money to get 'same old, same old', immerse yourself in these free podcasts to learn both why and how.
The episodes in this Podcast explain and illustrate the skills that advocates need in any adversarial system.
Episodes are up to 15 minutes ( but #21 is almost twice that) so easily fitted into your busy day. Although the episodes follow a logical order each one is 'stand alone', because every advocate has different needs.
With 17,000 hits ( August 2026) this series is helping those who want to be better advocates.
After you have some in court/tribunal experience come back and relisten, so that you can improve on what you just did from the advocate's table.
Episode 21 was added almost four years after the original production. It's purpose is to alert all listeners to the daily challenges faced by anyone seeking good advocacy that serves clients, the courts and our communities.
Please tell other 'wanna to be better' advocates to listen to this podcast series.
Do yourself AND your witnesses a big favour. Get them to listen to the free WITNESS ESSENTIALS podcast, just four episodes ( a fifth one for expert witnesses). This series saves you time and prepares your witnesses for the task of giving evidence well. Listen yourself and see how much time you can save, while better preparing your client and your witnesses.
An inexpensive, companion book with the same title ADVOCACY IN COURT: PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE is on Amazon Kindle.
For questions and comments email hughmselby@gmail.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Episode 21 -Was that good advocacy or not? (why the basics always matter)
Recorded shortly after the FIFA 2026 World Cup when we could watch brilliant football and hear skilled commentary. How different that is to the reporting of cause celebre court cases where - except for those few cases that are available of a live feed- we must rely on media reporting done by people who have no idea how to evaluate advocacy: they do not inform, they do not educate, they just embarrass. Check out your own insights with this episode.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
9 Jul 2022
Episode 20 - How we Open and how we Close - the critical role of atmospherics
We look at the importance of the prevailing atmospherics at both the case preparation and performance stages.
Examples are given of 'atmospherics'.
The use that you can make of such atmospherics as an advocacy tool is explained.
Opening statements and Closing addresses are discussed with 'atmospherics' in mind.
Please note:
if you have any useful suggestions/ feedback please email the author on hughmselby@gmail.com ; and,
There is a short, practical, but easily affordable book written by Hugh Selby and available on Amazon Kindle that accompanies this podcast series. It too is called, 'Advocacy in Court; preparation and performance'
Also available on Kindle by Hugh Selby, with examples of Chief/Direct and Cross in fictional settings: Liar Games; and, The Bone Cancer.
Another podcast series, just 7 short episodes, appealing to anyone with an interest in our justice system is ' The Man who wasn't There' ( available around 28 August 22 on many podcast sites).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
28 May 2022
Episode 19 - Bad Things Happen - How you need to be prepared for bad acts by police, lawyers, judges.
Although we have expectations of competence and integrity from the other 'actors' in litigation there are those who are 'bad actors'. They are drawn from police, other lawyers, media and the judicial/tribunal officers before whom we run cases.
Experience brings some ability to respond to such improper conduct; however, at any time in one's career it is important to have one or more mentors from whom good and timely advice can be sought.
This episode describes some of the bad acts that you are likely to encounter. It also provides some hints as to how you can respond.
Always try to keep in mind that bad acts by others are not a reason for you to do the same. Your clients, your colleagues, and our community depend upon our willingness to stand up to bad acts by clear, timely, appropriate 'calling it out'. That is much easier said than done but, as with everything in advocacy, preparation helps our performance.
Please note:
if you have any useful suggestions/ feedback please email the author on hughmselby@gmail.com ; and,
There is a short, practical, but easily affordable book written by Hugh Selby and available on Amazon Kindle that accompanies this podcast series. It too is called, 'Advocacy in Court; preparation and performance'
Also available on Kindle by Hugh Selby, with examples of Chief/Direct and Cross in fictional settings: Liar Games; and, The Bone Cancer.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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