Eric Herman’s Post

Remember this classic line from 'My Cousin Vinny'? Vinny Gambini: 'Uh. Everything that guy just said is bullshit. Thank you.' DA Jim Trotter: 'Objection. Counsel’s entire opening statement is argumentative.' Judge Chamberlain Haller: 'Sustained. Counselor’s entire opening statement, with the exception of ‘thank you,’ will be stricken from the record.' It's a humorous reminder that in the courtroom, how you say something is just as important as what you say. Effective communication is key. It's important to deliver clear, concise, and compelling arguments for our clients. At Moss Law, we'll save the movie-style theatrics for Hollywood and focus on real, impactful advocacy for your business. #CourtroomEtiquette #EffectiveCommunication #MyCousinVinny

[New Legal CPD Course] Are your words truly making an impact? Our new course, “The Neuroscience Case for Choosing Your Words Carefully,” will help you leverage the power of language to improve communication, advocacy, and persuasion skills. 👉Authored by Clarissa Rayward , this new course offers a practical guide to: ✅ Understand the neuroscience of words ✅ Recognise the power of language choices ✅ Learn to enhance your ability to communicate, advocate, and persuade. #LegalCommunication #LanguageInLaw #LegalExpertise

DIVERSITY I Jacquie Alley GAICD, as part of her commitment to ending ageism in our industry via The Experience Advocacy Taskforce, wrote this opinion piece for B&T about the true power of an intergenerational team: increased productivity, stronger tenures, more resilience, and a greater likelihood of being innovators and exceeding financial targets. Fostering an age-diverse team just makes good business sense. "Here at TMS, we’ve always embraced a multigenerational team, providing equitable access to learning, flexibility, reward and recognition, D&I training, DISC profiling and two-way coaching opportunities. In my 27 years, we have nurtured countless graduates, I can recall five retirement parties where people saw out their lengthy and fulfilling careers with us and we’ve always had above-industry staff and client tenures. Currently, our team ranges from 22 to 66 years of age with 26 per cent of our team 50 years or older vs the global agency average of five per cent. Yet unlike other agencies who either skew younger or only focus on experience, we equally value people of all ages who bring different perspectives, experiences, ambitions and media consumption habits that mirror many of our client’s customers." Any clients out there that are after a healthy, outcome-driven intergenerational agency team, get in touch! Stephen Leeds Sam Cousins Nicholas Hayes #intergenerationalteam #agediversity #mediareimagined

SMB attorneys Rebecca Charles and Kennedy Harris, Esq. recently participated in the Kimball R. and Karen Gatsis Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism Fall Symposium on November 8.   This Symposium titled “What It Takes to Be a Trial Lawyer if You’re Not a Man” brought together trial lawyers of varying experience levels and generations, members of the judiciary, and academics to explore the unique challenges faced by female trial lawyers. The focus was on enhancing judicial leadership, mentorship, allyship, training, and increasing opportunities for female advocates.   Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eA2r9jvU #triallawyer #womeninlaw #femaleadvocates #femaletriallawyer

Discover the essential takeaways from our latest webinar on public policy and Black business empowerment. In this enlightening session, we delve deep into the heart of community engagement and the pivotal role of legislative advocacy within the Black business community. Our special guest, Diana Harris from Southern Capital Strategies, provides an insightful recap of the Georgia state legislative session, spotlighting key legislation, budget allocations, and the critical importance of voting in upcoming elections. The discussion further explores the significant impact of not participating in the electoral process and how such actions directly influence community development and business opportunities. Moreover, Montina shares her inspiring journey to securing a contract with Henry County, offering valuable advice on navigating government bidding processes. This webinar is a clarion call to action for community members interested in running for elected office. It emphasizes the need for fresh leadership and robust representation. Join us as we outline practical steps for advancing the interests of Black businesses and ensuring our voices are heard in the corridors of power. Whether you're a business owner seeking to expand your horizons or a community member eager to make a difference, this session offers essential insights into leveraging public policy for community and economic development. #BlackBusinessEmpowerment #CommunityEngagement #LegislativeAdvocacy #GeorgiaLegislation #EconomicDevelopment #GovernmentContracting #VotingMatters #CommunityLeadership #PolicyInfluence #PublicPolicyAwareness https://lnkd.in/eEphacTa

History in the making! The BCAS successfully convened the Global Strategic Litigation and Advocacy event during the third session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. The event, held in Geneva on April 16, 2024, brought together an international cadre of lawyers, academics, activists and other civil society actors from 20 countries, culminating in the announcement of the Global Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Network. The network aims to champion systemic change through legal avenues to secure reparations and promote equity for people of African descent worldwide. “After a decade, our persistent calls for reparations continue to be overlooked. The old ways of requesting reparations have not worked. It is not enough to ask those who oppress us to right their wrongs; we must demand it, enforce it through the power of strategic litigation paired with relentless advocacy” Nicholas Marcus Thompson CEO, BCAS. Interested individuals and organizations around the world can join the network here: https://lnkd.in/eAtTbsag Learn more https://lnkd.in/epyBvFzw

Please join us in congratulating Domonique Flowers, Staff Attorney with the the Courtroom Advocacy Project, for having his article published in Volume 54, Issue 1! His article is titled, “Passing the Mantle: The Transformative Initiatives of Harry Cummings, Ashbie Hawkins, and the Next Generation of African American Lawyers in Maryland, to Utilize the Legal System and Advance the Racial Progress of African American Citizens.” Please find the link to read here: https://lnkd.in/eH5nVsfs

Bridging the Gap in Police Communication –Discover how Surksha, a groundbreaking initiative, bridges the gap between the police and the public In the realm of law enforcement, effective communication is not just a tool; it’s the cornerstone of trust, safety, and community engagement. Yet, in many societies, the perception of the police often carries an aura of fear, intimidation, or mistrust. Addressing this issue is not just about improving public relations; it’s about fostering a sense […] https://lnkd.in/gMwbkRk3 In the realm of law enforcement, effective communication is not just a tool; it's the cornerstone of trust, safety, and community engagement. Yet, in many societies, the perception of the police often carries an aura of fear, intimidation, or mistrust. Addressing this issue is not just about improving public relations; it's about fostering a sense of security and cooperation. This is where Surksha, a groundbreaking initiative, steps in to redefine the narrative. Understanding the Fear Factor The fear associated with law enforcement often stems from a lack of understanding, negative past experiences, or cultural perceptions. People may hesitate to communicate with the police due to fear of re...

Ok, so I attended this program today. I begin by saying that this is an excellent program and I cannot recommend it enough. Something came up today during it that I think needs addressing. A number of participants were asked about feedback they had been given on their oral advocacy. Many, mostly women or female-presenting, spoke about how they were told they have to be nice and more friendly for judges to find them persuasive, to the point of going against the grain of one’s personality at times. One person had remarked “aren’t we supposed to be liked?” In my view, our job isn’t to be liked. We’re advocates. Sometimes for awful positions. If we’re training people to be nice and likeable as being persuasive, we’re doing lawyers a disservice. Sometimes being a strong advocate means ruffling some feathers. I was reminded in the class that this is could be a gendered issue in particular. All I can say is that I won’t be mentoring or coaching people to do this. You can be yourself and be a strong, passionate, empathetic advocate. People in power need to be better at mentoring. Decision makers need to make it clear that being likeable isn’t what makes the decision. Lastly, if you have bigots who think women need to be sweet and nice as some sort of litmus test to succeed - do the profession a favour, retire.

Enrich your practice and your work life with Civility & Professionalism for Litigators: The Whole Lawyer. Insight from esteemed members of the Bench & Bar will deepen your understanding of what civility really means — even in the heat of zealous advocacy. https://ow.ly/xmCf50SVVGp