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
116 episodes
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
Episode 112 - STAC is Back (In Person)
Introduction (0:00:00). What do we expect for the first in-person STAC regionals this decade?The Break (0:07:02). Results from BLSA regionals. Winners of the Online National Championship. An insult from Jared...
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Season 8
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Episode 6
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1:31:11
Episode 111 - Predictions Have Consequences
Introduction (00:00). What makes this episode different from all other episodes? An evening recording, some adult beverages, and a plea
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Season 8
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Episode 5
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56:34
Episode 110 - The One Where Robert Little Sings
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer skis.The Break (03:14). This week's winner: aesthetic improvements.Suggested Plagiarism: Joel Souza (05:59). The di...
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Season 8
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Episode 4
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1:00:38
Episode 109 - Liz v. Jules (and Hollywood Legal Legend Patty Glaser)
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin's mom gets yelled at by another team's coach during a Zoom trial, and Justin doesn't appreciate it.The Break (0:05:55). Results from 8 NTC regions, and updated case balance data from Woode...
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Season 8
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Episode 3
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1:33:04
Episode 108 - Is Saban Trucking Liable?
Introduction (00:00). An email masquerading as "congratulations."The Break (04:03). The winners of the first two NTC regions, results from Chester Bedell, and case balance data from Wooden v. Saban.Interv...
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Season 8
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Episode 2
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55:59
Episode 107 - NTC Predictions (Little v. Pasquarello: The Rubber Match)
We ring in the new semester with:Introduction (00:00). Hiding from relatives, a cross-country roadtrip, and some trials.The Break (11:10). Results from the National Trial League, fantasy football, and the AI S...
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Season 8
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Episode 1
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47:55
Episode 106 - Advocacy in a Flash!
We’re back with the Third Edition of the National Flash Trial Competition and its accompanying episode on the pod. This year Berkeley Law’s annual tournament expanded to ten teams, meaning we got to introduce two more schools to our tradi...
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Season 7
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Episode 15
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48:55
Episode 105 - The 2025 NTC Case (plus, the Scripty Awards!)
In Part Two of our Season Finale:The Champagne Mystery (0:00:00). Who's behind the anonymous alcohol?!The 2025 NTC Case (0:03:02). For the first time in the National Trial Competition's 50-year history, the NTC case wa...
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Season 7
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Episode 14
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1:06:16
Episode 104 - Gavel Rankings & US News Rankings (with Erwin Chemerinsky)
Part One of our Season Finale:Introduction (0:00:00). Happy Tofurkey Day.The Break (0:04:45). Results from the Daniel competition, and the most one-sided rivalry in sports.Erwin Chemerinsky (0:05:50). Berkel...
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Season 7
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Episode 13
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58:12
Episode 103 - When is Enough Enough?
Introduction (0:00:00). He's just a humble Nebraskan ... who flies to New York for foot massages.The Break (0:06:43). Results from five events. Advocate of the Week. Puerto Rico giving away "Finalist" trophies like Oprah...
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Season 7
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Episode 12
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1:30:49
Episode 102 - Best Athlete in the Community?
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin has a beauty product problem.The Break (0:04:20). The busiest weekend of the Fall -- results from six competitions!Meet Sam DiGiuseppe (0:08:44). Drexel's new Assistant Trial Co...
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Season 7
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Episode 11
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1:38:12
Episode 101 - "May it please the court. May I blow my nose?"
Introduction (0:00:00). When Spencer knocks on doors, does anyone recognize him from the podcast?The Break (0:04:11). Results from Quinnipiac, Premiere Austin, and Premiere Fort Lauderdale. Who were the best teams ... and who ...
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Season 7
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Episode 10
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1:25:33
Episode 100 - The Roast!
Introduction (0:00:00). Sounds like this episode has a lot of hosts...The Break (0:02:33). Results from Tournament of Champions, Michigan, St. John's, Syracuse, Gold Cup, and Davis MLK.The Moms (0:06:53). Spen...
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Season 7
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Episode 9
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1:07:17
Episode 99 - From the Courtroom to Campaign Trail
It's election season! This episode features two trial lawyers -- and mock trial veterans -- who used their courtroom skills to get elected as district attorneys. TOC Preview (0:00:00). Who are the new teams? What's the new rule...
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Season 7
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Episode 8
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1:00:36
Episode 98 - Murder in Waco
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin gets mocked. The Break (0:03:15). Results from Summit, National Pretrial, and Buffalo. Ravioli as Fiction and Truth (0:05:38). Baylor's Jerry Powell talks about
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Season 7
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Episode 7
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1:08:27
Episode 97 - Nothing Off Limits (Main Interview with Dave Schott)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer has two family members in trial. Did they consult him for advice? The Short List (0:03:25). Stetson's Kate Donoghue talks about Hurricane Helene, shares the good news of her promotion, and evalu...
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Season 7
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Episode 6
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1:24:35
Episode 96 - Theory of Negativity (with 3 guests and 5 cameos!)
Introduction (0:00:00). Knock-knocks and birthdays.Win, Lose, or Drawl (0:03:23). In a reaction to last week's episode, four Lone Star listeners teach Justin how to talk like a Texan.The Break (0:08:52). Results fro...
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Season 7
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Episode 5
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1:04:20
Episode 95 - Filmed Before A Live Studio Audience
Introduction (0:00:00).The Break (00:01:41). Results from First Chair New York, First Chair San Diego, and Tex-ABOTA's Voir Dire Competition.Vexatious Litigants (0:03:42). Mercer's Katie Powers argues that teams sho...
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Season 7
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Episode 4
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1:08:48
Episode 94 - Stetson Legend Bobbi Flowers (and a spicy new debate segment!)
Introduction (0:00:00). One tournament ends, another begins, and a third is resurrected. The Break (0:14:34). Results from Berkeley's FlashTrials.Vexatious Litigants (0:15:46). In the first installment of our new de...
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Season 7
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Episode 3
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1:35:45
Episode 93 - "If It Happens to One..."
Introduction (0:00:00). Speaking slowly, competing quickly... "...It Happens to All of Us" (0:04:14) Northwestern's Josh Jones and DePaul's Theo Thomas discuss how to more effectively coach Black students and how to build a mo...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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1:09:52
Episode 92 - Homecoming (Dan Tilly returns to Baylor)
It's Season 7!Season Preview (0:00:00). Justin and Spencer preview the six major storylines for the upcoming year, including some big news: Which three coaches will be writing the NTC regionals case? Which three coaches will be writi...
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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1:12:17