We have often been approached by lawyers to help them with their cases over the last four decades.  It always seemed that the choices of involvement were limited — either we co-counseled the case fully or gave general, cursory, but positive encouragement. That led Roger J. Dodd to start teaching lawyers and judges worldwide, in addition to writing dozens of articles, commentaries, and books on Trial Skills.  See the bio/CV page.

For over three decades, Roger J. Dodd taught small clinics, normally ranging up to 15 participants, on various faculties around the country. While this was much more individualized training, there was seldom an opportunity for intense training focused on one lawyer and his or her specific case.  As often happens, the administrators for these faculties began to frustrate the teaching with rules and more rules.  Rules for the sake of rules. Trial work is individual to the lawyer and the case. Administrators, who don’t try cases, don’t understand that.  How could they?

Less than a decade ago, Roger J. Dodd was, once again, talked into teaching a small group.  Given his previous experience with administrators who just got in the way, he was reluctant.  He set up parameters, limiting his clinics to a maximum of eight participants.  Dodd Law Clinics are developed around multiple facts settings in problems or exercises.  More importantly, professional improv actors play realistic witness roles. The learning curve in the two-day clinics is astonishing. 

More and more, participants from the various teaching modalities asked for either co-counseling of cases or specific coaching.  That evolved into the coaching concept, individualized to the specific lawyer and to the specific case. Whether the coaching assignment is for one troublesome fact, tactic, deposition or hearing, or the assignment is through the entire trial preparation and trial, coaching fills that niche.

The fact that we even coach you is kept confidential. You can share that fact with your client if you choose (see section on passing on fees). Unless you insist, we will not even meet your client. We will treat your case, your facts, and your client with the same confidentiality we would our own.