Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla's guest appearances

Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla

May the Record Reflect

Marc Miller

Steve Wood

Jason Young

amy hanley

Nancy Gertner

Whitney Untiedt

Amy Hancock

Tim Henderson

Mike Beckwith

Dick Harpootlian

Mark Drummond

Stephanie Ledesma

Carol Sowers

Catharine DuBois

Shannon Bales

OwlTail

In Episode 19 of May the Record Reflect, Judge Nancy Vaidik of the Indiana Court of Appeals and international communications consultant Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla, are in the hot seat to share insights from their new book, Point Well Made, Persuasive Oral Advocacy. They reveal why oral advocacy still matters in a time when most cases settle before going to trial, how to better know your judge to give yourself a leg up, and what are the highs and lows of ruling from the Zoom bench.   Topics3:56    A learning-by-doing book for oral advocacy6:45    Writing process as co-authors writing remotely9:05    Why trial lawyers should care about oral advocacy11:16  Oral versus written advocacy13:17  Oral advocacy in persuasion16:02  What judges are looking forward to in a proceeding21:24  What to know about your judge23:45  Relationships you need to know about27:45  Appearing before a multi-judge panel30:03  Why rebuttal matters31:31  Judge Vaidik’s experience with remote advocacy35:32  “Soft” things lost in remote hearings40:06  Communication needs that have changed during the pandemic42:25  Signature signoff question Quotes“Oral advocacy is a lot different from written advocacy and our law schools are focusing on written advocacy and not on oral advocacy, and there are differences. In oral advocacy, as an advocate, you can actually listen to the judge’s concerns—or whoever you’re talking to, the listener’s concerns – and adapt your argument. You can’t do that in a written setting. In an oral setting, however, you need to keep attention, the attention of the listener. And in a written advocacy situation, that’s not so much the case because when the reader loses focus, they can go back and re-read the material. You can’t do that in oral advocacy situation.” (Judge Nancy Vaidik)“Judges are people too, and so they’re not immune to the digital age and the lower attention span and the need for people to get to the point and say it clearly, concisely, thematically. All those things are super important, and so old-style argument is not going to be as effective. You have to take into account the digital age and the judges who are going to be listening, especially as younger and younger judges get appointed to the courts. It’s so important to adapt the way we approach oral argument in front of one or multiple judges.” (Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla) Recommended ResourcesPoint Well Made: Persuasive Oral Advocacy (book)Hon. Nancy Vaidik (bio)Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla (bio)Foolproof: The Art of Communication for Lawyers and Professionals, Second Edition (book) Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla’s “Foolproof” Tips for Professional Communication (podcast)Delivering a (Last-Minute) Point Well Made (webcast) Read NITA’s statement on the important of in-person advocacy in courts, 

In Episode 19 of May the Record Reflect, Judge Nancy Vaidik of the Indiana Court of Appeals and international communications consultant Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla, are in the hot seat to share insights from their new book, Point Well Made, Persuasive Oral Advocacy. They reveal why oral advocacy still matters in a time when most cases settle before going to trial, how to better know your judge to give yourself a leg up, and what are the highs and lows of ruling from the Zoom bench.   Topics3:56    A learning-by-doing book for oral advocacy 6:45    Writing process as co-authors writing remotely 9:05    Why trial lawyers should care about oral advocacy 11:16  Oral versus written advocacy 13:17  Oral advocacy in persuasion 16:02  What judges are looking forward to in a proceeding 21:24  What to know about your judge 23:45  Relationships you need to know about 27:45  Appearing before a multi-judge panel 30:03  Why rebuttal matters 31:31  Judge Vaidik’s experience with remote advocacy 35:32  “Soft” things lost in remote hearings 40:06  Communication needs that have changed during the pandemic 42:25  Signature signoff question Quotes“Oral advocacy is a lot different from written advocacy and our law schools are focusing on written advocacy and not on oral advocacy, and there are differences. In oral advocacy, as an advocate, you can actually listen to the judge’s concerns—or whoever you’re talking to, the listener’s concerns – and adapt your argument. You can’t do that in a written setting. In an oral setting, however, you need to keep attention, the attention of the listener. And in a written advocacy situation, that’s not so much the case because when the reader loses focus, they can go back and re-read the material. You can’t do that in oral advocacy situation.” (Judge Nancy Vaidik) “Judges are people too, and so they’re not immune to the digital age and the lower attention span and the need for people to get to the point and say it clearly, concisely, thematically. All those things are super important, and so old-style argument is not going to be as effective. You have to take into account the digital age and the judges who are going to be listening, especially as younger and younger judges get appointed to the courts. It’s so important to adapt the way we approach oral argument in front of one or multiple judges.” (Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla) Recommended Resources<a href="https://www.wklegaledu.com/NITA-Vaidik-PointWellMade2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Point Well Made: Persuasive Oral Advocacy</a> (book)<a href="https://www.in.gov/courts/appeals/judges/nancy-vaidik/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hon. Nancy Vaidik</a> (bio)<a href="https://www.rebeccadiazbonilla.com/about" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla</a> (bio)<a href="https://www.nita.org/publications/books-dvds/Foolproof:-The-Art-of-Communication-for-Lawyers-and-Professionals-Second-Edition" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Foolproof: The Art of Communication for Lawyers and Professionals, Second Edition</a> (book) <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/441178/2870575" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla’s “Foolproof” Tips for Professional Communication</a> (podcast)<a href="https://www.nita.org/webcasts/s71LEC76" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Delivering a (Last-Minute) Point Well Made</a> (webcast) Read NITA’s statement on the important of in-person advocacy in courts,

19: Upleveling Your Oral Advocacy Skills, with Hon. Nancy Vaidik and Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla

In Episode 5 of the podcast, we are joined by international communications expert Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla. Rebecca got her start as a theatre major in college, but it was as a law student that she first became aware of how nerves and unpolished communication skills tripped up even the most brilliant intellectual arguments of her fellow classmates—an observation that continued well into her law practice. This gap led Rebecca to blend her background in theater and the law, to teach professionals about overriding their nerves so they could excel at public speaking. Rebecca’s consulting work takes her around the world as she coaches lawyers, executives, and politicians how to communicate with power and effect. Rebecca is a longtime faculty member and author for NITA. Topics 3:04 From theater to law 5:30 “Acting” and emotional self-control 7:17 What makes a trial lawyer unlikeable 8:35 “Other-centeredness” and self-awareness 11:50 Confidence, credibility, clarity, likeability 15:00 Phone and video conferencing basics 21.08 Importance of motion practice 22:30 Types of courtroom communications 25:17 Developing extemporaneous speaking skills 28:38 Gender differences in communication styles 32:12 Diagnosing your adrenaline surge 38:03 Improv training for lawyers 40:10 New media and oral communication skills 42:17 Communicating across the generation gap 45:58 Elocution to admire 48:01 Signature “softball” Quote “Becoming self-aware for a trial lawyer is so important so that you’re able to stay attuned to what are each and every one of those jurors thinking, what’s the judge thinking, how are they feeling, how is that witness dealing with being up on that stand and being asked questions? And the second you act pompous and disrespectful you lose the case for your client.” Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla Recommended Resources Rebecca Diaz-BonillaFoolproof: The Art of Communication for Lawyers and ProfessionalPoint Well Made: Oral Advocacy in Motion PracticeChildren Interrupt BBC News interview – BBC NewsFix Your Totally Miserable Conference CallsA Video Conference Call in Real LifeSeven Business Lessons for Lawyers from Improv ComedyKobe Bryant’s Last Great InterviewKobe Bryant on Shaq Drama &amp; Raising Four DaughtersKobe Bryant – The Interview with Ahmad Rashad

In Episode 5 of the podcast, we are joined by international communications expert Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla. Rebecca got her start as a theatre major in college, but it was as a law student that she first became aware of how nerves and unpolished communication skills tripped up even the most brilliant intellectual arguments of her fellow classmates—an observation that continued well into her law practice. This gap led Rebecca to blend her background in theater and the law, to teach professionals about overriding their nerves so they could excel at public speaking. Rebecca’s consulting work takes her around the world as she coaches lawyers, executives, and politicians how to communicate with power and effect. Rebecca is a longtime faculty member and author for NITA. Topics 3:04 From theater to law  5:30 “Acting” and emotional self-control  7:17 What makes a trial lawyer unlikeable  8:35 “Other-centeredness” and self-awareness  11:50 Confidence, credibility, clarity, likeability  15:00 Phone and video conferencing basics  21.08 Importance of motion practice  22:30 Types of courtroom communications  25:17 Developing extemporaneous speaking skills  28:38 Gender differences in communication styles  32:12 Diagnosing your adrenaline surge  38:03 Improv training for lawyers  40:10 New media and oral communication skills  42:17 Communicating across the generation gap  45:58 Elocution to admire  48:01 Signature “softball” Quote “Becoming self-aware for a trial lawyer is so important so that you’re able to stay attuned to what are each and every one of those jurors thinking, what’s the judge thinking, how are they feeling, how is that witness dealing with being up on that stand and being asked questions? And the second you act pompous and disrespectful you lose the case for your client.” Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla  Recommended Resources <a href="https://www.rebeccadiazbonilla.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla</a><a href="https://www.wklegaledu.com/NITA-DiazBonilla-Foolproof2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Foolproof: The Art of Communication for Lawyers and Professional</a><a href="https://www.wklegaledu.com/NITA-Vaidik-OralAdvocacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Point Well Made: Oral Advocacy in Motion Practice</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=29&amp;v=Mh4f9AYRCZY&amp;feature=emb_title" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Children Interrupt BBC News interview – BBC News</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQpNqDwGVe8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fix Your Totally Miserable Conference Calls</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMOOG7rWTPg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Video Conference Call in Real Life</a><a href="https://www.attorneyatwork.com/seven-business-lessons-lawyers-improv-comedy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seven Business Lessons for Lawyers from Improv Comedy</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9GvDekiJ9c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kobe Bryant’s Last Great Interview</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8eoIKiDTw8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kobe Bryant on Shaq Drama &amp; Raising Four Daughters</a><a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hgzhe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kobe Bryant – The Interview with Ahmad Rashad</a>

5. Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla’s “Foolproof” Tips for Professional Communication