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What attracted you to do trial work?
Max Warren, Counsel: I was drawn to trial work because of the collaborative energy that comes from working as a team in a high-stakes environment. There’s a unique sense of purpose and camaraderie when a group is united around a common goal and operating under real pressure. Trials demand long hours, constant coordination, and unwavering commitment — and success depends on everyone stepping into their role, supporting each other, and pushing toward a shared vision. What makes this work so fulfilling is watching the team come together to distill years of complex facts into a story that is clear, persuasive, and true to the record. That process — collective, creative, and demanding — is what makes this rewarding.
Dhruti Patel, Associate: Trial work interested me from the get-go because of the jury-facing aspect of it. Thinking about ways to make complex factual scenarios or dense legal standards not only understandable and accessible, but persuasive, to a jury helps bring purpose to long, discovery-heavy cases. I am particularly captivated by how a jury will react to certain pieces of evidence and find it challenging, but rewarding, to brainstorm themes and approaches that are simple, memorable, and relatable. It is easy to get lost in cases that go on for years, and ensuring you are thinking about the outside perspective in how you frame things and in your case strategy throughout helps keep me grounded.
Alysha Bohanon, Associate: Trial is storytelling. I love the challenge of breaking down complex facts and issues to tell a simple, compelling narrative that will resonate with the jury. We start this process as soon as we come onto a case, and it is really rewarding to see months or years of hard work culminate in a clear, concise, and persuasive story at trial.
Who goes to trial?
Dhruti Patel, Associate: It takes so many people on their A game to make a trial happen. In addition to the partners, counsel, and associates, there is an amazing team of paralegals, legal assistants, technology support staff, graphics and print vendors, trial support staff, and many more that help bring everything together.
What does a typical day look like during trial?
Alysha Bohanon, Associate: I will give the classic lawyer answer: It depends. My day at trial will look very different if I’m in the courtroom while an expert is testifying, or back at the trial site helping a company witness prepare to take the stand, or dealing with any of the myriad curve-balls that can come up at trial. The unpredictability makes trial exciting, and staying flexible is key.
What surprised you the most about trial work?
Max Warren, Counsel: I was surprised by how much trial work depends on judgment and restraint, rather than just legal analysis. Knowing the law and how your case fits into the verdict form or jury instructions is essential, but it’s not what drives the most compelling narrative. Often, the harder — and smarter — choice is to let a point go, even if you have a rebuttal, so you can keep the jury focused on your core story. Trial is also inherently unpredictable. No matter how carefully you prepare, things will shift in real time, and your ability to adapt with confidence can make all the difference. I also didn’t fully appreciate just how collaborative trial work is. The best outcomes often come from close-knit teams thinking strategically and creatively under pressure — and that teamwork is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
Dhruti Patel, Associate: I was surprised by how much the little details matter. When you think of trial work, you think of the big presentations—the opening and closing, the direct testimony of a key witness, or a killer cross examination. And while those things are without a doubt critical, what really sets apart an adequate presentation from an excellent one is how smoothly the small details flow, which is entirely dependent on everyone on the team. It could be having the right documents on hand to show the witness and judge, to making sure your slides are error-free and consistent, to having a plan as to who goes where when you do witness transitions. Those are the small details that make your team look polished and prepared and what allow the big things to shine.
Alysha Bohanon, Associate: We spend months or even years preparing for the substance of a trial—which witnesses we’ll call, which exhibits we’ll admit, how we’ll argue our case in opening and closing, and so on. So I was surprised that the most important aspect of a trial is the one for which we can spend the least time preparing: jury selection. Picking a jury has an enormous impact on our trial presentation and the eventual verdict, and it largely happens on the fly.
How do you prepare for trial?
Max Warren, Counsel: There are many components to trial prep, but it starts with a non-negotiable: knowing the key documents inside and out — not just the ones that support our theory, but also how the other side might use them. From there, I think it is helpful to have a storyboard: What is the narrative we’re telling, and how does each witness help move that story forward? Every examination, exhibit, and argument has to reinforce that arc. But some of the most important preparation happens away from the desk — taking a walk, talking it through with a friend who knows nothing about the case, or refining the elevator pitch. If we can’t explain our case simply, we’re not ready. That broader perspective is critical. It forces clarity, sharpens strategy, and helps focus our efforts as we head into the high-pressure environment of trial.
Alysha Bohanon, Associate: I agree with everything Max said. Additionally, trial is extremely time-sensitive—when a witness is on the stand, you may only have a few seconds to find the key document or ruling you need before the moment passes and you’ve lost your chance. I like to prepare for trial by making sure I can find what I need as quickly as possible, such as by compiling a set of the key rulings the court has made, documents that are likely to come up with my witnesses, or any other work product that can save me time in a pinch.
What role do associates and summer associates play?
Dhruti Patel, Associate: The primary role associates and summer associates play at trial is supporting witness work, opening statements, and closing arguments. They often take the initial drafts of direct and cross outlines, scour the relevant documents to ensure the best ones are being used to tell the story, and prepare slide decks. And when the witnesses they are responsible for testify, associates will be in the courtroom listening, answering the team’s questions, and providing suggestions on how to shape our questioning live. But there are myriad other ways associates and summer associates help throughout trial. They might research an evidentiary issue that has come up, or cite check an opening or closing deck, or track what evidence has come in and how it relates to the elements and themes of the case. Really, a key role for associates and summer associates is that of a pinch hitter, jumping in wherever the team needs more support.
Best memory from trial.
Dhruti Patel, Associate: One of my favorite memories from trial was with a witness I had worked closely with in preparation of and during trial. Our prep sessions had sometimes led to some unexpected revelations, and we spent many sessions going through his direct testimony and practicing potential cross answers. When it was his time to testify, he did a phenomenal job and truly looked at ease on the stand, causing the jury to perk up and pay attention to him. After he was finished testifying, I met him outside the courtroom and he looked so excited as he asked me if he did a good job. It was such a rewarding moment—not only had our hard work paid off, but the witness felt accomplished too.
Alysha Bohanon, Associate: It's hard to pick a favorite, but one of the trial memories I am most proud of is getting to examine four witnesses at trial in the span of a month. One of the cross-examinations was particularly challenging—the night before the witness was set to take the stand, a regulatory agency made a decision that completely uprooted my planned cross. I had to pivot to a different strategy overnight, but fortunately, the new cross turned out even better than the original plan. It was a great example of the need to roll with the punches in trial work.
What do you wish you had known before you went to trial?
Max Warren, Counsel: Prior to going to trial, I never knew just how much of the work you do never actually sees the light of day yet has an influence on the final product. There are outlines for witnesses who aren’t called, arguments prepared for issues that never materialize, deep dives into documents that never come up. All of that work sharpens your thinking, refines your strategy, and gives you the agility to pivot when trial inevitably takes an unexpected turn. Even a cross-examination that never happens can help crystallize how you approach another witness or theme. Trials are unpredictable, and success often depends on your ability to respond in real time — which is only possible because of all the preparation no one ever sees. The final product is built on that invisible foundation.
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