CLE
Michael DeBlis
Michael DeBlis DeBlis Law
Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt Harnessing Psychology to Win at Trial
Video play button
Announcement!

You are watching a webinar preview. To view the full webinar, log in to your Justia Connect account or sign up for free.

Overview AI Webinar Summary
Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt: Harnessing Psychology to Win at Trial

This presentation begins by addressing the “villain” stereotype that is hoisted on a criminal defendant from the moment the jury enters a courtroom and what we can do to blunt it. We are all familiar with catch phrases like, “To really know what another person is going through, you need to walk a day in their shoes.” Truer words have never been spoken and this saying is a fundamental tenet for being a zealous trial lawyer. But practically speaking, empathy can be hard, especially when the person you’re defending is accused of doing bad things.

We’ll explore this topic from a different perspective that may forever change the way you view your clients. We’ll also explore some exercises that will help you to expand your capacity for human connection so that you can relate more to your clients.

We will then move into psychology where I will introduce you to Carl Jung and how his teachings have been used by Hollywood producers for generations to tell some of the most mesmerizing stories in cinematic history. I’ll dissect it, provide you with examples, and then show you how this same framework can be applied in the courtroom when you stand up to tell your client’s story.

Topics covered include:
Criminal Law Law Practice Trial Skills
Agenda:
  • Overview and Framing
    • Core thesis: Trial advocacy = human psychology + storytelling
    • Why understanding human nature is a competitive advantage

  • The Advocate as Performer (Without the Pressure)
    • The “performance” trap vs. authentic presence
    • Reframing: “taking a pass” instead of chasing perfection
    • Eliminating toxic self-talk (“Head noise”)
    • Practical takeaway
      • Language shifts that reduce anxiety in trial prep

  • Fear as Fuel in the Courtroom
    • Fear as a universal human condition (Macbeth example)
    • Reframing fear:
      • Not an enemy → a source of energy
    • “Fear is excitement without breath”
    • The Gerry Spence “Confession of Fear” concept
    • Practical application:
      • Using vulnerability to build credibility with jurors
      • Turning fear into presence, clarity, and persuasion

  • From “Villain” to Human Being
    • The jury’s default: your client = villain
    • Why that framing is psychologically powerful — and dangerous
    • Lessons from Shakespeare and modern anti-heroes
    • Key concept:
      • “People do bad things when they feel justified”
    • Practical application:
      • How to reframe blame into understanding
      • Avoiding one-dimensional character portrayals

  • Radical Empathy: “Crawling Inside the Client”
    • Gerry Spence’s principle: “crawl inside the hide of the client”
    • “Walk a mile in his shoes” as a trial skill — not a cliché
    • The hidden story vs. the “bare facts”
    • The “iceberg” metaphor of human behavior
    • Practical techniques:
      • Client interviews that uncover narrative gold
      • Identifying formative life events
      • Turning biography into persuasion

  • Jungian Psychology & The Shadow Self
    • Introduction to Carl Jung’s shadow
    • The dual self:
      • Conscious identity vs. suppressed impulses
    • Projection and misjudgment in jurors
    • Why understanding your own shadow matters
    • Practical application:
      • Recognizing triggers in yourself and others
      • Using shadow awareness to deepen storytelling
      • Building authentic courtroom presence

  • The Hero’s Journey as Trial Structure
    • Transition to Joseph Campbell framework
    • Mapping trial narrative to:
      • Ordinary World
      • Call to Adventure
      • Crisis / Shadow Emergence
      • Transformation
    • Key insight:
      • Jurors instinctively understand story structure
    • Practical takeaway:
      • Organizing openings and closings as narrative arcs

  • Case Application & Closing Takeaways
    • Brief walkthrough of Daniel Rivera mock case
      • Reframing conduct through psychology
      • Making behavior understandable (not excusable)
    • Final principles:
      • Caring is the foundation of persuasion
      • Self-awareness = advocacy power
      • Story > facts alone

  • Questions & Answers (As Time Permits)
Read More ›
Duration of this webinar: 90 minutes
Originally broadcast: May 20, 2026 10:00 AM PT
Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

Introduction
Michael DeBlis, the speaker, discusses his experience as a criminal defense attorney and the challenges of representing clients accused of serious crimes. He highlights the importance of understanding human nature to be a better advocate. Michael shares his initial fear of public speaking and the pressure of his first trial. He describes the adversarial nature of the courtroom and the sensation of being constantly observed by the jury.
Managing the Courtroom Setting
Michael emphasizes the role of body language and physical expression in conveying information to the jury. He shares insights from mentors on managing fear and using it as a motivator. Michael discusses the power of vulnerability and caring in connecting with the jury and humanizing the client. He stresses the need to provide the jury with a complete story to guide their understanding of the case.
The Role of Empathy and Understanding
Michael discusses the role of empathy in being a powerful courtroom advocate. He emphasizes the importance of getting to know the client and their circumstances. Michael discusses the usefulness of foreshadowing and providing context to humanize the client and their actions. He shares insights from Shakespeare on understanding human behavior and the complexity of villains.
Applying Psychological Frameworks in Court
Michael introduces the concept of the shadow self and its relevance in understanding client behavior. He shares insights from Robert Bly and Carl Jung on the shadow self and its impact on behavior. He emphasizes the need to acknowledge one's own shadow self to become a better advocate. Michael provides examples of how Jung's theories are linked to screenwriting and storytelling. He concludes by applying Jung and Joseph Campbell in the courtroom with a mock criminal case demonstration.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Speaker
Michael DeBlis
Michael DeBlis Partner
DeBlis Law

Michael is a trial lawyer. He graduated Cum Laude from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Summa Cum Laude from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law with his Masters of Law in Taxation. Michael is known for his charismatic personality and his unyielding dedication to his clients. Read More ›

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

*CLE credit is only available to Justia Connect Pros. Not a Pro? Upgrade today>>

Alaska CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 General

Earn Credit Until: May 19, 2031

California CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 General

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

Hawaii CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 General

Earn Credit Until: May 19, 2028

Illinois CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 General

Earn Credit Until: May 19, 2028

New Jersey CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.80 General

Earn Credit Until: May 19, 2027

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 General

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2027

Ohio CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 General

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2026

Pennsylvania CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 Substantive Law, Practice, and Procedure

Earn Credit Until: May 19, 2028

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 General

Earn Credit Until: April 30, 2027

Vermont CLE

Status: Approved

Format: Live (Virtual), On-Demand

Credits: 1.50 General

Earn Credit Until: May 20, 2031

West Virginia CLE

Status: Approved

Format: On-Demand

Credits: 1.80 General

Earn Credit Until: December 31, 2029


This presentation is approved for one and a half hours of General CLE credit in Alaska, one and a half hours of General CLE credit in California, one and a half hours of General CLE credit in Hawaii, one and a half hours of General CLE credit in Illinois, one and a half hours of General CLE credit in North Carolina, one and a half hours of General CLE credit in Ohio, one and a half hours of Substantive Law, Practice, and Procedure CLE credit in Pennsylvania, one and a half hours of General CLE credit in Vermont, and one hour of General CLE credit in West Virginia. This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.80 hours of total CLE credit. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.50 credit hours.
This presentation is approved for one and a half hours of General CLE credit in California from 2026-07-01 to 2028-06-30.

Justia only reports attendance in jurisdictions in which a particular Justia CLE Webinar is officially accredited. Lawyers may need to self-submit their certificates for CLE credit in jurisdictions not listed above.

Note that CLE credit, including partial credit, cannot be earned outside of the relevant accreditation period. To earn credit for a course, a lawyer must watch the entire course within the relevant accreditation period. Lawyers who have viewed a presentation multiple times may not be able to claim credit in their jurisdiction more than once. Justia reserves the right, at its discretion, to grant an attendee partial or no credit, in accordance with viewing duration and other methods of verifying course completion.

At this time, Justia only offers CLE courses officially accredited in certain states. Lawyers may generate a generic attendance certificate to self-submit credit in their own jurisdiction, but Justia does not guarantee that lawyers will receive their desired CLE credit through the self-submission or reciprocity process.

Looking for CLE credit? Visit CLE Dashboard CLE Accreditation
Watch Related Videos
CLE
Michael DeBlis
Michael DeBlis DeBlis Law
Storytelling Strategies for the Courtroom
Watch Now
CLE
Lauren D. Fraser
Lauren D. Fraser Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins, PC
Connecting Creative Arts to the Art of Lawyering
Watch Now