"It gives me so much purpose and meaning: we are helping educate people in a place where they don't know anything. And they need the help."

Michele Lewane is runs the Injured Workers Law Firm in Richmond, VA, which since 2006 has been advocating to get the benefits injured workers deserve for their worker's compensation claims.

Worker's compensation is a complex and bureaucratic field that requires tremendous expertise and preparation to navigate. Michele guides us through the intricate details, from initial injury reporting to hearings and litigation. She talks about the challenges faced by injured workers in getting the care, coverage and compensation they deserve, and she shares examples that illustrate the importance of early legal intervention.

Michele is also the co-founder of Kids’ Chance of Virginia, which provides post-secondary and trade school scholarships to the children of Virginia workers who have been severely or fatally injured in a workplace accident. You can learn more here: www.kidschanceva.org

It was a privilege having Michele join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"What helps motivate us in part is institutional or organizational betrayal: where the bond between the institution and the person is strong, but there's a big power differential due to the size and strength of the institution." - Peter Everett

Peter Everett and Barkley Horn from Blankenship & Keith joined us to talk about their firm's approach to personal injury law. They focus on catastrophic injury cases with a particular focus on representing survivors of violent crimes.

Their cases can often be brought down to the question of institutional betrayal, where trusted organizations fail to protect individuals or cover up wrongdoing.

Peter and Barkley share their strategies for developing their cases, and they share some fascinating stories of trial experiences, including high-profile and complex cases involving violent crimes and wrongful death.

It was a privilege having Peter and Barkley join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

AI is not perfect yet, you still have to babysit it, but it's scary. Because two years ago I used AI and thought, "Well that was kind of like using a high school senior." Now when I'm using AI, it's like, "I'm using a second year associate."

Penn Crawford joined us for a wide-ranging discussion. We talked about the realities of running a small, boutique law firm and what makes firms of this size effective for the people they represent. We also discussed the growing role of AI in legal practice — how it’s changing research, trial preparation, and day-to-day work.

Beyond the practice of law, Penn shared his perspective on maintaining personal well-being, the value of preventative care, and the distinction between managing energy versus managing time.

It was a privilege having Penn join us.

Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers
Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com

Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.

If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.

Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here.

Thank you!

Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki