About the Course
Introduction
This CLE course will summarize relevant findings from social science about the psychology of persuasion and how those findings might be put to good use by lawyers. The panel will offer strategies and techniques for synchronizing the various aspects of persuasion into cohesive presentations to put on the best case possible and make each lawyer a better advocate.
Description
Despite spending a lot of time trying to persuade others, lawyers are usually not very good at it, partly because they really do not know what persuasion is or how it works. What passes for the principles or rules of persuasion are typically hunches, myths, and half-truths. Jurors, unbeknownst to attorneys, are sitting there asking themselves, "What's in this for me?" even when the case has nothing to do with them. Looking at the case through those eyes, however, makes it easier to decide how to persuade them.
Social science has identified and verified some principles about how the mind actually works. By understanding the principles of persuasion and learning how to apply them, attorneys—especially trial attorneys—can appeal to that mindset and increase their persuasiveness.
Listen as this preeminent panel reviews key findings on judgment and decision-making and offers strategies and guidance for using the findings of brain science in the practice of law.
Presented By
Mr. Blumberg has the rare distinction of being a Board-Certified trial lawyer as well as being a Board-Certified specialist in legal malpractice and a Board-Certified specialist in medical malpractice. He has authored dozens of published articles on law and trial skills and has been on the faculty of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Trial School for over 20 years. His over 40 years of ethical litigation experience has been recognized by his peers whose recommendations earned him the highest possible national ratings for competence and ethics, awarded by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Blumberg serves on the Board of Governors of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles with emeritus status, and the National Board of Directors of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.
Mr. Guttman is a founding member of Guttman Buschner LLP (GB). His practice involves complex litigation and class actions. Mr. Guttman has tried and/or litigated claims involving fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, environmental derelictions, antitrust, business interference and other common law torts or statutory violations. The International Business Times called Mr. Guttman “one of the world’s most prominent whistleblower attorneys,” and he has been recognized as a Washingtonian Top Lawyer by Washingtonian Magazine. In addition to his work on behalf of workers and whistleblowers, Mr. Guttman is the author and/or editor of numerous articles, book chapters, and technical publications. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Mr. Guttman served on the board of the American Constitution Society and currently serves on the advisory board. He is the founder of www.whistleblowerlaws.com.
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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Date + Time
- event
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- schedule
1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
I. Findings about judgment and decision making
II. Using the findings of behavioral science in the practice of law
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- Is evidence the most important factor juries and judges take into account when making decisions?
- What are heuristics?
- What is the fundamental attribution error?
- What is defensive attribution?
Related Courses
Persuasion Principles for Trial Lawyers: Techniques and Strategies From Scientific Findings About Decision Making
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
