Brandon Yosha

Hint: You don’t need to reinvent the wheel It starts with extremely hard work and relentless preparation. In a case you know is ripe for trial, you need to take dead aim on those cases and prepare far in advance of the actual trial date. I’m talking years in advance. How do you know when a case is ripe for trial? Apply the golden rule to yourself. Ask what full justice would look like if it were you—or someone you love—who was injured, maimed, or killed due to another’s negligence. If the defense is not willing to discuss settlement within that valuation range, it’s time to prepare for trial. I begin working on my opening statement more than a year before trial. The opening is the blueprint for the entire case. I use it to anticipate every defense argument, identify every bad fact, and place those facts in their proper context. Bad facts cannot be ignored. They must be owned—and when handled correctly, they often become strengths that enhance credibility and trust with jurors. This lecture is not about shortcuts. It is about understanding that eight-figure verdicts are attainable when cases are built with intention and discipline from day one. You must understand your client’s human story and develop a connection with them as soon as possible. In this one-hour session, we will break down the habits, mindset, and trial-focused strategies that young trial lawyers can adopt now to dramatically increase the ceiling on their cases. The focus will be on building cases the right way—long before voir dire—so that large verdicts feel earned, justified, and inevitable to a jury. Topics covered will include: Identifying the cases worth trying and learning when to stop treating a case like a settlement file and start treating it like a trial Early case framing: how themes, language, and storytelling choices made at intake and discovery drive verdict size Owning bad facts without apologizing for them—and using them to build credibility and trust with jurors Asking for help and cultivating mentorships. Much of my success is owed to mentors like Nick Rowley, Courtney Rowley, and Jakob Norman. Even the best trial lawyers of our generation are willing—eager, even—to help the next wave of advocates Preparing opening statements far in advance and using them as a roadmap for discovery, depositions, and witness preparation Trying the case before trial: focus group, practice, rehearse, and spend meaningful time with your client. Consistency of message from voir dire through closing, so jurors feel guided—not persuaded The mental shift young lawyers must make to stop asking “what’s reasonable” and start asking “what is full justice?” Real cases will be used to show how “ordinary” cases become extraordinary results when handled with intention and discipline. This lecture is designed for trial lawyers who are ready to stop waiting for the “perfect case” and start building cases capable of producing eight-figure outcomes

This workshop is a hands-on, working session focused on building and refining opening statements that leave the defense counsel with no room to score points against you. Participants will move beyond theory and into the mechanics of how an effective opening is structured, sequenced, and delivered to guide jurors from the first words spoken. Attendees are encouraged to bring a working draft of an opening statement for an upcoming trial. Each opening will be reviewed and critiqued, with direct feedback on structure, flow, theme development, and the strategic placement of key facts—including how and when to address bad facts. The workshop will break down the flow of a persuasive opening statement, including how to establish context, frame responsibility, humanize the client, and maintain a consistent message that carries through the rest of the case. Discussion and feedback will focus on techniques and approaches our firm has found to be effective in real trials, drawing from strategies that have produced strong results in past cases. This session is designed for trial lawyers who want practical, actionable feedback on their work and a clearer framework for building openings that set the tone for the entire trial. Participants will leave with a refined opening statement and a repeatable structure they can apply to future cases.