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 ...

Feature

Ringside in the Battle of the Attorneys: Through the Eyes of the Court Reporter

by Thomas Oakes

August 27, 2026

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What Thomas v. Ford Motor Company Taught Me About Preparation, Tenacity and Trial Advocacy Quick Answer: What Was Thomas v. ...

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 ...

Featured image for "The 60-Second Trial Tip Every Trial Lawyer Should Know," highlighting courtroom preparation, court reporting, and trial record accuracy based on Thomas G. Oakes' 2010 IADC publication.

Technology & Litigation Support

A Trial Tip That Still Matters: Lessons from My 2010 IADC Publication That Every Trial Lawyer Can Use Today

by Thomas Oakes

July 14, 2026

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Answer Block Although courtroom technology has changed dramatically since 2010, one of the most valuable trial preparation tips I've learned: ...

Edward A. Gray reputation lesson demonstrated by water pouring from a bottle onto a table during a legal teaching moment

Legal Analysis

You Can’t Put the Water Back: A Lesson on Reputation I Will Never Forget

by Thomas Oakes

February 14, 2026

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What lesson did Edward A. Gray teach about reputation? Edward A. Gray, Esquire taught that a lawyer’s reputation, once damaged, ...

rofessor Barbara Lynne Ashcroft, Thomas G. Oakes, and Jack Delany, Esquire, following the Temple LL.M. in Trial Advocacy trial technology lecture series.

Depositions

How Teaching Trial Technology Transformed a Generation of Trial Lawyers at Temple’s LL.M. in Trial Advocacy

by Thomas Oakes

May 4, 2026

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Key Takeaways Temple’s LL.M. in Trial Advocacy adopted a “learn by doing” model that integrated technology directly into trial performance. ...

composite image showing the Silent Advocacy book cover beside a watercolor courtroom scene with an attorney addressing a jury

Legal Education

Silent Advocacy, Chapter VI

by Thomas Oakes

July 18, 2026

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Silent Advocacy in a Modern Civil Jury Trial Silent advocacy in the courtroom is the nonverbal persuasion created by your ...

George J. Lavin, Jr. and Tom Oakes - Lunch at LaFamiglia

News Updates & Technology

🏛️ Court Officials: The Forgotten Key to Silent Advocacy

by Thomas Oakes

May 4, 2026

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Chapter V – The Silent Advocacy Series The Lesson That Began It All When George J. Lavin, Jr. published Silent ...

Judge meeting with attorneys during final pre-trial conference — Silent Advocacy Series, Philly Legal News

Legal Analysis

Chapter IV: The Final Pre-Trial Meeting with the Court

by Thomas Oakes

May 4, 2026

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Silent Advocacy Series – Teachings of George J. Lavin Jr., Esquire and Chilton Davis Varner, Esquire Introduction When the trial ...

George J. Lavin at IADC Trial Academy with proctors – trial preparation and advocacy training.

Legal Analysis

The Ultimate Pre-Trial Checklist for Trial Lawyers: Lessons from George J. Lavin’s Silent Advocacy

by Thomas Oakes

May 10, 2026

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Introduction Courtroom victories are rarely the result of a single dramatic cross-examination or a fiery closing argument. Instead, they come ...

Tag: trial advocacy