Shows / Unscripted Direct
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
- Unscripted Direct
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…
- Unscripted Direct
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…
- Unscripted Direct
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
- Unscripted Direct
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…
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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…
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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)…
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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…
- Unscripted Direct
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Episode 91 - Summer Heat (Interview with TYLA & ACTL Leadership)
The podcast was supposed to be on vacation ... but we interrupt this summer break for an important update! On May 1 (Episode 89), we covered the witness…
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Episode 90 - "I Want to Mostly Thank Myself"
Introduction. We follow up on last week's NTC critiques and unveil some new competitions. Gavel Rankings (0:10:23). Jared announces the top 10 schools from the…
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Episode 89 - The Bernstein Bear (Main Interview with Justin Bernstein)
Introduction. Spencer hosts solo! The Break (0:02:07). Results from UCLA's Amicus Cup and GW's Estrella -- as well as Stetson's 2024 EATS awards. Anger…
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Episode 88 - Thomas R. Kline
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer knocks on doors. Justin holds tryouts. Main Interview: Thomas R. Kline (0:07:37). The Jim Beasley Story. The Pizza Kelly Story…
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Episode 87 - Hijacked
Introduction (00:00). Spencer visits New York. Justin revisits a past mistake. The Break (06:23). Results from STAC Nationals, NTC Nationals, and the San…
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Episode 86 - Nationals Preview!
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin answer questions from listeners. Nationals Predictions (0:08:14). Brett Bayne and A.J. Bellido de Luna predict the…
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Episode 85 - The Uber Driver Who Knew A Lot About Mock Trial (Interview with Katie Powers)
Introduction. (00:00:01) Spencer's newest project: The Bay Area Trial League. Justin's newest project: the burger he ate afterwards. The Break. (00:10:54)…
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Episode 84 - How to Lose Like a Champion
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin discuss how they conduct tryouts, and it leads to a broader conversation about how they structure their respective…
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Episode 83 - Meet the Parents (An Incredible Interview with Megan Chaney)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer talks about bunk beds. The Break (0:03:51). Results from Queens DA and AAJ Regionals. Predictions Contest (0:06:03). Katie…
- Unscripted Direct
Episode 82 - "You're A Pain In My Ass!" (plus: AAJ Preview and Predictions!)
The Break (0:00:00). Results from South Carolina's Trials and Tribulations and LSU's Bayou Challenge -- including a heartwarming tale of congeniality. AAJ…
- Unscripted Direct
Episode 81 - Shark Attack
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer returns home. Does he still qualify as a California resident? The Break (0:02:28). Results from the Shark Beach Showdown and…
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Episode 80 - One Trial, Five Protests
Introduction (0:00:00). Mailbag questions. The Break (0:07:05). Results from the last weekend of NTC regionals, the final stats from Robert v. Phil, and the…
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Episode 79 - Changes Coming to NTC (plus the final Pasquarello-Little contest)
Introduction (0:00:00): Spencer returns from his jaunt. The Break (0:05:34): Results from Chester Bedell and Weekend Two of the National Trial Competition, and…
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Episode 78 - Is Justice Jackson Guilty?
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer makes an absurd itinerary. We discuss the first Berkeley-UCLA scrimmage. And Justin narrates as Spencer's lights keep going out…
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Episode 77 - "Call me Defending Champion" (Little v. Pasquarello NTC Predictions Contest)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and Justin get ready for their teams to scrimmage. NTC Survey Results (0:02:44). What did coaches say about the case? The case…
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Episode 76 - The Dorkiest Closing (Tribute to Nancy Schultz & Interview with Rick Levin)
Season six is underway! Introduction (0:00:00). Justin shares some big news. Spencer attempts a bribe. Tribute to Nancy Schultz (0:09:24). Stetson's Liz Boals…
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Episode 75 - Back in a Flash! (Flash Trials 2023)
Hi Everyone! Hope your holiday season has been relaxing and rejuvenating! Just when you thought Season Five was over, we thought we'd interrupt your break with…
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Episode 74 - "I think about what I want tomorrow to be" (A.J. Bellido de Luna)
Our final episode of Season Five! Introduction (0:00:00). TYLA announces a good rule, and the ABA contemplates a bad rule. (To send a comment to the ABA, email…
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Episode 73 - How Do You Handle the Fame?
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer and his brother Jackson explain their recent multi-million dollar verdict -- and what it was like trying a case together. The…
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Episode 72 - Friends and Family (with Superstar Trial Lawyer Rick Friedman)
Introduction (00:00). Spencer goes to trial (with his brother!), and Justin goes to a wedding. The Break (04:13). Results from five competitions. Scripties…
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Episode 71 - The Next James Bond?
Introduction (0:00:00). Sam puts on a wedding ring, Spencer puts on a costume, and Justin puts on a tournament. A new national competition (0:06:20). Find out…
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Episode 70 - Sad Lunch
Introduction (00:00). Spencer celebrates a birthday. Justin shares some big career news. The Break (07:16). Results from four competitions! Main Interview with…
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Episode 69 - Hear Her Roar (Literally)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer looks for his name in the footnotes. We preview the Tournament of Champions. The Break (0:10:10). Results from Syracuse! Main…
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Episode 68 - Just Because It's Freezing Doesn't Mean It's Cold
The Break (0:03:29). Results from Stetson Pretrial, Davis MLK, and Buffalo. Plus, Spencer shows some geographical ignorance... TYLA Responds, Part II…
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Episode 67 - TYLA Responds (and Cross Expert Larry Pozner)
Listener Mailbag (0:00:00). Spencer is wrong about the law. Jeff Brooks wants credit for a bad idea. Justin's mother goes rogue. The Break (0:12:40). Results…
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Episode 66 - Rise of the Projectors
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer thinks he's the victim of a robbery. Justin prepares for the Verdict. Projector-Gate (0:06:31). Adam Shlahet joins the show to…
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Episode 65 - The Rule of Three (with star trial lawyer Ashok Ramani)
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer returns to the classroom. Justin takes tournament meals to a new level. And we preview the innovative new Summit Cup rules. The…
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Episode 64 - Who Hates My Cousin Vinny?!?
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer introduces a new map, Justin publishes a new book, and they discuss the "new" Fordham Rankings. Main Interview with Phil…
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Episode 63 - The (Former) Bachelor
Introduction (0:00:00). Spencer is in London. Justin is in America. The Break (0:06:31). Results from Berkeley's Flash Trial Competition, and a gaffe from one…
- Unscripted Direct
Episode 62 - Fall Competition Predictions
(0:00:00) Introduction. On the eve of Berkeley's National Flash Trial Competition, Spencer bemoans how exhausted he is from all that work done by others…
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Episode 61 - Wildly Inadmissible
We're back! On the kickoff to this new season, Spencer and Justin: (00:00) Catch up on their summers. (05:17) Devise a horrible plan for improving the show's…
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Episode 60 - Real Journalism (with Erwin Chemerinsky)
We thought Season 4 was over, but then ... Breaking news! The 2024 US News Rankings are out. And we've got instant analysis, hot off the presses. (0:00:00)…
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Episode 59 - Heavy is the Head
(0:00:00) Spencer plays golf and Justin announces a new competition. (00:07:07) Where Art Thou, US News? We discuss the delayed, further delayed, and now…
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Episode 58 - How to Get Away With Hearsay
(0:00:00) Spencer and Justin talk about how their programs are wrapping up this season — and what they’ll be hosting next season. (0:07:30) The Break: Results…
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Episode 57 - An Expensive Revenge
(0:00:00) We say goodbye to Judge Roberts, but he doesn't want to leave. (0:11:23) The Break. Results from the Bayou, New Orleans, and San Antonio. Plus, some…
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Episode 56 - Spencer and Judge's Excellent Adventure - Part 2
Spencer is joined by Judge Jim Roberts (Cumberland Law), as they travel to both national competitions in one weekend! In Part 2, they head to New Orleans for…
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Episode 55 - Spencer and Judge's Excellent Adventure - Part 1
Spencer is joined by Judge Jim Roberts (Cumberland Law), as they travel to both national competitions in one weekend! In this episode — Part 1 — they start in…
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Episode 54 - Don't call it "word pictures" (Suggested Plagiarism with Jerry Powell)
(0:00:01) Spencer enjoyed the ambience of a New York restaurant, but is rudely selective in his invite list. Justin is busy in Westwood, and planning a hectic…
- Unscripted Direct
Episode 53 - The Art of Explaining Science (with go-to trial lawyer Alexandra Walsh)
(0:00:01) Spencer goes skiing, Justin and his students publish an unusual mock trial case, and we discuss the best sports upset of the week. (0:09:38) Two…
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Episode 52 - The Billion Dollar File Cabinet (Analogies with superstar trial lawyer Bob Van Nest)
(0:00:01) Spencer and Justin are relieved to learn that, despite the listserv eulogy, Rob McFarland is still alive. (0:11:18) The Break: Results from Trials…
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Episode 51 - How to Run a Classroom (NITA's National Education Director Dr. Rhani Lott Choi)
(0:00:00) Spencer returns to the show. We somehow discuss whether public defenders should ever hire former prosecutors. (0:05:21) Mailbag! We answer listener…
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Episode 50 - A Top One Pahlke (Main Interview with Spencer Pahlke)
To celebrate the 50th episode, we decided to mix it up. Spencer switches seats from co-host to interview guest, and Justin hosts solo. (0:00:00) Introduction…
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Episode 49 - The Big Bad Wolf (storytelling with Grant Rost)
(0:00:00) Spencer enjoys a new closet. Justin enjoys a new family member. (0:04:31) The Break: Results from Costello, Chester Bedell, and the last weekend of…
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Episode 48 - Bad Facts (with superstar trial lawyer Ben Rubinowitz)
(0:00:00) Spencer reflects on his return to coaching and talks about a new NALAE survey. (0:13:15) The Break: Who won the seven regions this past weekend? Who…