teaching — "The Velvet Hammer" Blog

Since covid entered the world, have dramatically curtailed speaking travel. But times are changing. And when the request comes in from the Colorado trial lawyers women’s caucus. I say yes. Even though Anne says: are you suuuuuurrrrreeeee. And wags her eyebrows at me.

We had just turned down Wyoming because there was no direct flight and it would have been an 8 hour trip. But this one is a simple flight to Denver which is not far away. Then an hour and a half drive to the resort. Piece of cake I enthuse. Anne gives me a knowing look.

humanKaren KoehlerJune 1, 2023women, teaching, traveling lawyer, public speaking

Throwback: Shadowing Mom 2006 (By Alysha then 15)

From the very beginning I knew that my shadow day with my mom would not be exactly relaxing. I woke up the same time I do every school morning, and left the house by 7:30am. Kristin (co-student) met me and my mom and we headed out to Seattle. On the way over we were stuck in a fantastic jam of traffic, so we had a lot of time to question my mom about how she likes being a lawyer, and got an idea of some of the different cases she does.

Karen KoehlerJuly 11, 2020teaching, family, mentors

Teaching Voir Dire with Bill Bailey and a little help from Trader Joes

Prologue:

Taught trial advocacy for many years at UW School of Law with dear friend Bill Bailey. Bill is now a full time professor at the school. Since teaching without him would not be the same, decided to turn in adjunct badge. However, today am going to the school to teach voir dire.

Karen KoehlerJanuary 16, 2015teaching, voir dire

The bad student: a story from when I used to teach piano

I started teaching piano as a sophomore in high school. By then, I was going on my seventh year of piano. Vy Husted, my own teacher, acted as my supervisor. And I went through a training program. My parents let me turn part of our rec room into a classroom. Two pianos and a double sided chalkboard. This was no joke.

Karen KoehlerMay 1, 2014friends, great people, teaching

Voir Dire PPT from WSBA speech

Karen KoehlerOctober 31, 2013public speaking, bar association, voir dire, lawyer seminar, teaching

On liking and empowering your own voice

Listening to my own voice used to pain me. I avoided it. Couldn't stand it. It seemed too high. Too sweet. And if I didn't remember to tuck my tongue in, there was a lisp. Oh, how much I yearned for a deep booming voice. So I could preach when I spoke. Like M.L.K.

Karen KoehlerSeptember 30, 2013public speaking, teaching, women

Voir Dire...as a social gathering via Spreecast

What the heck is a spreecast.

Why so glad you asked. But can't quite explain it to you. Because still not exactly sure.

Mitch Jackson, asks me to do one with him. On voir dire.

Karen KoehlerMay 13, 2013voir dire, public speaking, teaching

Talking Head interviews Bouncy Ball Lawyer (Me)

Am speaking for Avvo at their Lawyernomics seminar this weekend.

Colin O'Keefe of Lexblog is doing video interviews. My job is to explain why it is important for lawyers to show personality. This video is hilarious because...well..

Karen KoehlerApril 23, 2013lawyer seminar, public speaking, teaching, video

The 4 lamest words used to conduct direct exam of a fact witness

Drive up to the gate. Pay $15 for a parking pass. Drive 100 feet forward and turn left. Find a space and park. Am barefoot. Slip on shoes. Exit car. Walk around the side of the building. Open the doors. Am now inside the UW school of law. Head down the hallway to room 138. Open the door. It's a big theater styled space. Walk down the stairs to the front. Give Bill Bailey a hug. He’s a full time professor there for now. This is the big lecture class for the trial advocacy program.

Karen KoehlerApril 16, 2013direct exam, teaching, witness

Top 10 Tips from a Voice Coach

I teach trial advocacy with Judith Shahn who is a voice coach. Judy has been a senior lecturer at the University of Washington's School of Drama since 1990.

Here are Judy's top suggestions for more effective speaking...

Karen KoehlerJanuary 17, 2013public speaking, teaching

The last class

The teams are putting on the final trial. It is our last class of the year. The seventh year Bill Bailey and I have taught trial advocacy together at the UW. (He's a professor on staff now in the law school)

Rush around all day doing our regular lawyer stuff. Inch along thru rush hour traffic to get to the school by 5:30. Stomachs often rumbling. Sometimes choke down a power bar.

Karen KoehlerJune 12, 2012great people, public speaking, teaching, mentors

The Hapa Mommy Trial Lawyer answers Bill's question

My dear friend Bill Bailey is now on staff as a professor at the U of W law school. He asks me to participate in a writing project. You can figure out his question by reading the answer.

Karen KoehlerFebruary 23, 2012teaching, women

Words of Wisdom for Young Lawyers - Humility

Yesterday a law student from Phoenix asked for this article (written about a decade ago).

Trial Lawyers are often perceived by the public as arrogant and phony. This is because the art of braggadocio is so prevalent and even sometimes necessary in our profession. Behind the show lie those memories that need to be periodically replayed so we don’t buy into the myth of our professional persona.

Karen KoehlerApril 13, 2011mentors, teaching, writing

“The Velvet Hammer” Blog

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