Miami trial lawyers break it all down in this episode of Courtside. ⚖️ Topics covered: → Why local counsel matters more than you think → The aggressive culture of South Florida litigation → AI in the courtroom — certification requirements & hallucinated cases → ChatGPT privacy: work product or third-party disclosure? → The humanity of judges & why that matters → How winning cases get lost (bad facts, hiding the ball) 🎙️ Courtside is a legal podcast hosted by Miami trial lawyers giving you an inside look at litigation, culture, and the future of law. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week.

In this episode of Courtside, Etan sits down with the Honorable Scott Silverman — former circuit court judge, current arbitrator and mediator with JAMS, and Chief Historian of the 11th Judicial Circuit — inside the very courtroom where history was made.

What do trial lawyers miss in the heat of the moment—and why can those decisions determine what happens on appeal?

In this episode of Courtside, Etan and Jose sit down with appellate attorney Deija Lifshitz to explore the differences between government and private practice, how appellate thinking shapes litigation strategy, and why preserving issues for appeal can make or break a case.

They discuss jury perception, the hidden role of appellate counsel during trial, malpractice pressure, and the often-overlooked importance of jury instructions. The conversation also touches on where the profession may be heading, including the early role of AI in shaping how cases are analyzed and decided.

From courtroom tactics to the structure of legal decision-making, this episode examines how cases are actually won—and how lawyers think beyond the moment.

Disclaimer: Courtside episodes are for general information only and are not legal advice.