Chilton Varner and the George Lavin Memorial: Why Silent Advocacy Still Matters

Chilton Davis Varner and George J. Lavin Jr. with IADC program imagery and the title “Why Silent Advocacy Still Matters.”

Feature

Chilton Varner and the George Lavin Memorial: Why Silent Advocacy Still Matters

October 5, 2026

By Thomas G. Oakes | PhillyLegalNews The 2015 George Lavin memorial brought together moderator Chilton Davis Varner and panelists Mary ...

Courtroom illustration from Silent Advocacy Chapter XI depicting direct examination during a jury trial.

Legal Education

Silent Advocacy – Chapter XI: Direct Examination

by Thomas Oakes

July 18, 2026

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How Great Trial Lawyers Teach Instead of Perform Every trial lawyer eventually discovers that direct examination—not cross-examination—is where credibility is ...

Bar graph showing memory retention over time for telling, showing, and combining both; highest retention is achieved when people both see and hear information.

Technology & Litigation Support

If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, What Is a Video Worth?

by Thomas Oakes

July 21, 2026

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In the courtroom, every detail matters. The words spoken, the images shown, and how those pieces come together shape the ...

Black and white sketch of a trial attorney practicing silent advocacy with attentive jurors

Legal Analysis

The 13th Juror – Practicing Silent Advocacy

by Thomas Oakes

July 18, 2026

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What Is "The 13th Juror" in Trial Advocacy? The "13th Juror" is the trial lawyer who quietly earns the jury's ...

Chart showing Gen X and Y as 60% of jury pool alongside Kaspersky Labs digital amnesia report cover

Technology & Litigation Support

From a Simpler Time to the Digital Now: Juror Communication Strategies That Work

by Thomas Oakes

August 2, 2025

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Intro: In a world where information once arrived from trusted, centralized sources, today’s communication channels are fragmented, fast, and deeply ...

Tag: jury persuasion