Shows / Unscripted Direct

Unscripted Direct

Spencer Pahlke and Justin Bernstein · en · 167 episodes

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).

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Episodes

Unscripted Direct
Episode 161 - "A Blank Check to Feed My Family" (plus, TOC strategies revealed)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer returns from Anchorage with a heartwarming story about democracy. The Break (0:07:02). Results from Tournament of Champions…
Oct 29, 2026·1h 43m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 160 - The One-Person Protest Committee (TOC Preview)
Introduction (0:00:00). "Just Flash Trial that $#@%!" The Break (0:04:50). Results from four competitions. Tournament of Champions Preview (0:07:58). The TOC…
Oct 22, 2026·46m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 159 - Surprise
Intro (0:00:00). Helping students find jobs. The Break (0:07:22). Results from the second weekend of All Star Regionals. And some other fun news. Dominique…
Oct 15, 2026·1h 4m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 158 - How Much Do the Merits Matter in Mock Trial?
Introduction (0:00:00). A bar where it's always Christmas, and a birthday present for Spencer's mom. The Break (0:07:00). Results from All Star Regionals…
Oct 8, 2026·1h 12m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 157 - Corruption
Introduction (0:00:00). Scandal in the Feedspot podcast rankings! We have three (or four) simple solutions. The Break (0:06:13). Results from Drexel Kline’s…
Oct 1, 2026·1h 14m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 156 - "Was there more flashing than you expected?"
Introduction (0:00:00). Coffee shops that charge for wifi?! The Break (0:03:40). Results from Flash. Battle of the Experts Preview .... Without Phil (0:04:59)…
Sep 24, 2026·1h 20m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 155 - Mock Trial the Movie
Introduction (0:00:00). Trial prep, dinner, sabotage, mystery outfits, and a preview of the National Flash Trial Competition. The Break (0:09:00). Results from…
Sep 17, 2026·1h 19m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 154 - The Expert Who Got Caught
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin puts his foot in his mouth. Spencer fibs to a photographer. First Chair Preview (00:16:52). We discuss the expansion to three…
Sep 10, 2026·1h 16m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 153 - "It Has to be Fun" (Season Preview)
Season 11 starts now! Summer Recap (0:00:00). EATS, a bizarre tournament application, losing the license to kill, and being polite to robots: we remember the…
Sep 3, 2026·1h 32m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 152 - Celebrating Susan
For decades, Susan Poehls was a pillar of the trial advocacy education community. This episode celebrates her life and legacy. Created and produced by Spencer…
Jun 3, 2026·28m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 151 - Daddy Issues (and the Scripty Awards!)
Introduction (0:00:00). Loyola's Susan Poehls Celebration of Life. The Break (0:04:58). Results from Amicus Cup. Innovation Award (0:06:11). The Award’s…
Apr 30, 2026·1h 50m
Unscripted Direct
Ep. 6 - When "We the People" Hire a Plaintiffs' Firm
Here’s something people don’t often mention: As a plaintiffs’ attorney, you can work side by side with government litigators, taking on some of the most…
Apr 28, 2026·47m
Unscripted Direct
Ep. 5 - Three Law Students Walk into the Plaintiffs’ Bar
On today’s episode, Boston College 2L Marissa Lambert sits down with Angie Pati and Jonathan Koehler, law students at NYU and Rutgers. Angie and Jonathan…
Apr 21, 2026·42m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 150 - So Much Content, Part 2 (US News, TYLA Responds, and Chatting with the Champs!)
Introduction (0:00:00). On the flight home, Justin spots a celebrity. US News Rankings (0:12:58). We've got 10 takeaways about the new rankings. NTC Breakdown…
Apr 16, 2026·1h 52m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 149 - So Much Content, Part 1 (NTC Nationals Breakdown, Predictions Recap, America's Next Top Trial Lawyer)
Introduction (0:00:00). A week after Justin said he loves packing, he makes a harrowing packing mistake. The Break (0:07:46). Results from NTC Nationals and…
Apr 15, 2026·1h 26m
Unscripted Direct
Ep. 4 - What It’s Like to Be an Associate at a Plaintiffs’ Firm
So far, we’ve been speaking with veteran attorneys—litigators who’ve spent decades taking on corporate giants. But today, we wanted to bring on someone who’s a…
Apr 14, 2026·38m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 148 - "Birds Aren't Real" (NTC Nationals Predictions & Convo with Case Authors)
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin is in a great mood, and Spencer is still in India. Chatting with the Authors (0:08:59). Denver's Judge Madden, Stetson's Bobbie…
Apr 9, 2026·1h 36m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 147 - Phighting in Philly! (and: Coaches Reveal Their AAJ Strategies)
Introduction (0:00:00). Why is Spencer in India? The Break (0:06:34). Results from STAC Nationals and Cap City. AAJ Report Card (0:07:42). What went well? What…
Apr 2, 2026·1h 44m
Unscripted Direct
Ep. 3 - The Defense Attorney Who Exposed the Truth About Forever Chemicals
You often hear that summer jobs in law school can lay the foundation for your career. Which is kind of terrifying. It creates the impression that your…
Mar 31, 2026·54m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 146 - These Rankings Are Dumb (plus AAJ Nationals Preview, Predictions, and (Suggested) Plagiarism)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin discuss the national trial advocacy rankings published this month. Will some law schools have to shut down? The…
Mar 26, 2026·1h 32m
Unscripted Direct
Ep. 2 - Fighting for Workers' Rights
It’s no secret that companies are stealing from their workers. Wage theft is rampant in America, but plaintiffs’ attorneys like Shannon Liss-Riordan are…
Mar 24, 2026·48m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 145 - The Podcast Strikes Back
Introduction (0:00:00). Justin helps get a big verdict. (Here are links to the opening and closing.) The Break (0:04:43 ). Results from four invitationals!…
Mar 19, 2026·51m
Unscripted Direct
Ep. 1 - Find a Job You Love. Make a Great Living. Change the World.
Welcome to Cause of Action! On today’s inaugural episode, Spencer is joined by veteran plaintiffs’ attorney and Stanford Law lecturer Shanin Specter. They’ll…
Mar 17, 2026·49m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 144 - Request Denied
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer has a new podcast. Snowstorm and the $h!#-storm, Part 3 (0:06:20). TYLA rules on a request for relief. The Break (0:13:24)…
Mar 12, 2026·44m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 143 - Heated Rivalry (AAJ STAC Preview)
Introduction (0:00:00). Follow-up from the Snowstorm and the $h!#-storm in NTC Region 2. The Break (0:04:12). Results from the largest spring invitational. AAJ…
Mar 5, 2026·1h 14m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 142 - The Snowstorm and the $h!#-storm (Plus, Robert Little sings!)
Introduction (0:00:00). Back to the grind. The Break (0:03:02). Results from seven NTC regionals and Nova's Shark Beach! Disaster Strikes New York (0:05:08). A…
Feb 26, 2026·1h 11m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 141 - Thirst Alert!
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer goes skiing. Justin coaches 6th graders. The Break (0:09:33). Results from Chester Bedell. Tournament Spotlight: Shark Beach…
Feb 19, 2026·1h 9m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 140 - The Nightmare Scenario (and Main Interview with Jason Goss)
Introduction (0:00:00). Pints, walkouts, and opening statements. The Break (0:06:07). Results from five NTC regionals. NTC Case Balance (0:07:06). Did the…
Feb 12, 2026·1h 27m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 139 - Are the Joneses Guilty?
Introduction (0:00:00). Rankings! The Break (0:04:08). Results from NTC Regionals and the National Trial League Finals. NTC Case Balance Data (0:05:14). What…
Feb 5, 2026·52m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 138 - "I have a pretty good team this year”
Mailbag (0:00:00). When is the last day of the year when it's appropriate to say "Happy New Year"? Catching Up (0:03:25). A basketball roadtrip, lying at the…
Jan 29, 2026·1h 6m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 137 - Naughty, Nice, and NTC
Naughty (Witnesses), Nice (Scripties), and NTC (Case Teasers): Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin go to Seattle. Why? Bad facts... America's Next Top…
Dec 11, 2025·1h 19m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 136 - It's That Time of Year (US News Analysis and Fall Gavel Rankings)
You can still vote for the Scripties! Click here to vote by December 7. Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer is not on a boondoggle. Justin thinks Thanksgiving food…
Dec 4, 2025·48m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 135 - Campaigning for Scripties
Click here to vote in the Fall 2025 Scripty Awards! Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer likens himself to a rockstar. Justin is humbled by a trampoline. The Break…
Nov 20, 2025·1h 23m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 134 - "Trial Lawyer Nation" (with star trial lawyer Michael Cowen)
Introduction (0:00:00). "Calm down, Donna Sue." The Break (0:12:24). Results from all five Premiere sites, Chicago Cup, Georgetown's White Collar, and…
Nov 13, 2025·1h 23m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 133 - Halloween Costumes
Introduction (0:00:00). Halloween costumes, community service, and the return of the Online National Championship (click here to apply). National Criminal…
Nov 6, 2025·1h 28m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 132 - Marian's Jules Epstein Impression
Introduction (0:00:00). Invincibility. The Break (0:03:49). Results from TOC, Davis MLK, and Buffalo-Niagara -- and special congrats to TSU's Tim Adams. Report…
Oct 30, 2025·1h 27m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 131 - "I Got Squeezed"
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer teaches with his siblings, and Justin brags about his sibling. The Break (0:05:40). Results from Gold Cup, Syracuse, and St…
Oct 23, 2025·1h 26m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 130 - Should NALAE start a trial competition?
We also considered an another episode title: "That's a lot of licking." Introduction (0:00:00). Justin shares a possible life change. The Break (0:08:05)…
Oct 16, 2025·1h 26m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 129 - An Open Ended Question on Cross (with star trial lawyer Sean Claggett)
Introduction (0:00:00). A murder trial without due process. The Break (0:04:46). Results from All Star Weekend One and Stetson's National Pretrial. Suggested…
Oct 9, 2025·1h 11m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 128 - Mock, Drugs, & Rock 'N Roll
Introduction (0:00:00). Jeff Brooks joins us to discuss the year's least controversial controversy. The Break (0:10:06). Results from Denver's Summit Cup…
Oct 2, 2025·1h 29m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 127 - America's Next Top Trial Lawyer
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer keeps his job. Justin extols a new approach to scrimmaging. The Break (0:08:33). Results from four competitions -- and a…
Sep 25, 2025·1h 10m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 126 - Job Interviews
Introduction (0:00:00). With Spencer abandoning his co-host, Justin interviews potential replacements. Suggested Plagiarism with Brett Schreiber (0:32:48). The…
Sep 18, 2025·1h 18m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 125 - "He Cursed at a Child"
Introduction (0:00:00). Where is Spencer taking Justin for their 10th anniversary season? The Break (0:02:33). Results from the National Flash Trial…
Sep 11, 2025·1h 14m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 124 - "I Blame My Wife"
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer prepares for his ten-year anniversary. Justin gets publicly insulted. The Break (0:07:45). Your first competition results from…
Sep 4, 2025·1h 26m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 123 - How Many Cats is Too Many?
Catching Up (0:00:00). Travel, verdicts, paying off wagers, two words that unreasonably bother Spencer, alumni events, Spanish accents, and one host trying to…
Aug 28, 2025·1h 29m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 122 - Summer Stories - Part 2
Introduction. (0:00:00). We're back (for a bit!) to interrupt your summer Mailbag. (0:1:21:21). Thanks to Robert L., other personally identifying information…
Aug 7, 2025·1h 12m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 121 - Summer Stories - Part 1
Introduction (0:00:00). Where are we? What are we doing here? We answer existential questions, and podcast. Story Fundamentals. (0:05:28). We're joined by Gabe…
Jul 24, 2025·1h 19m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 120 - "Way to go, Winners!" (Scripty Awards, Silverback Gorillas, and more)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer cuts down a tree, and Justin gets sentimental (for three reasons). The Break (0:11:38). The EATS awards! And one errata. All…
May 8, 2025·1h 17m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 119 - "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"
Introduction (00:00). Apply for competitions and vote in the Scripties! The Break (06:11). Serious results from Amicus, ridiculous results from Amicus, and a…
Apr 24, 2025·56m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 118 - "Ask Your Law Mom"
Introduction (00:00). Spencer and Justin are recovering. "Ask Your Law Mom" (02:30). Buffalo Law's Jen Scharf and Lisa Bauer have their own podcast! They do…
Apr 17, 2025·58m
Unscripted Direct
Episode 117 - Chatting with the Champs
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer goes to Disney World ... and he tries to change the world. US News Rankings -- for real this time! (0:09:48). What schools made…
Apr 10, 2025·1h 26m
Unscripted Direct
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…
Apr 1, 2025·1h 13m
Unscripted Direct
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!…
Mar 27, 2025·1h 12m
Unscripted Direct
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…
Mar 20, 2025·1h 10m
Unscripted Direct
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…
Mar 13, 2025·1h 21m
Unscripted Direct
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…
Mar 6, 2025·1h 31m
Unscripted Direct
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 to judge AAJ. The Break…
Feb 27, 2025·56m
Unscripted Direct
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 director and…
Feb 20, 2025·1h
Unscripted Direct
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…
Feb 13, 2025·1h 33m
Unscripted Direct
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…
Feb 6, 2025·55m