Philly Legal News

08/11/2026

Need a copy of your Philadelphia police accident report? Here’s the quick answer.

The Oakes Firm

07/17/2026

What makes a truly great trial lawyer?

Many people think it's the dramatic cross-examination or the unforgettable closing argument.

George J. Lavin, Jr., Esquire believed the answer was much simpler—and much more challenging.

It begins with preparation.

In the newest article in the Silent Advocacy Library, I explore Chapter XI: Direct Examination, where George explains why credibility, organization, and careful witness preparation often have a greater impact on juries than courtroom theatrics.

Having spent more than four decades as a court reporter in both the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, I had the privilege of watching hundreds of outstanding trial lawyers. The ones who earned the greatest respect from judges and juries almost always had one thing in common—they were exceptionally prepared.

This article also recognizes the important contributions of Chilton Davis Varner, Esquire, whose collaboration helped shape many of the enduring principles found throughout Silent Advocacy.

If you enjoy trial advocacy, courtroom history, legal education, or simply appreciate timeless lessons from some of our profession's finest lawyers, I hope you'll take a few minutes to read the latest chapter.

📖 Silent Advocacy – Chapter XI: Direct Examination

https://phillylegalnews.com/silent-advocacy-chapter-xi-direct-examination/

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Do you believe that great direct examination is becoming a lost art—or is it still one of the most important skills a trial lawyer can possess?

The Oakes Firm Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Temple University Beasley School of Law Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law University of Pennsylvania

07/14/2026

One minute of preparation can improve an entire trial.

What if I told you there was a simple step that takes about 60 seconds and could improve the accuracy of your trial transcript, reduce interruptions in the courtroom, and strengthen the official record?

More than 16 years ago, I was honored to have one of my "One Minute Trial Tips" published by the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) in its Trial Techniques and Tactics Newsletter. Looking back today, I'm reminded that while courtroom technology has changed dramatically—with AI, TrialPad, TrialDirector, electronic exhibits, and remote proceedings—the fundamentals of good trial preparation have not.

In this new article for Philadelphia Legal News, I revisit that original publication, explain why preparing the court reporter before trial is one of the most overlooked ways to improve the official record, and connect it to the timeless principles of Silent Advocacy.

If you're a trial lawyer, litigation support professional, court reporter, or law student, I hope you'll find it valuable.

👉 Read the article here:

https://phillylegalnews.com/60-second-trial-tip/

I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts:

What's one trial preparation habit you've learned over the years that still makes a difference today?

The Oakes Firm

Answer Block Although courtroom technology has changed dramatically since 2010, one of the most valuable trial preparation tips I’ve learned: thorough preparation before trial creates a bett…

07/13/2026

In 2010, the International Association of Defense Counsel published one of my Trial Tips from the perspective of a court reporter.

Fifteen years later, I still believe these principles make lawyers better advocates.

Some courtroom lessons never get old.

Read more on Philadelphia Legal News.
The Oakes Firm

07/08/2026

**Sometimes the greatest lessons happen before anyone asks the first question.**

More than 30 years ago, I participated in one of the most memorable depositions of my career. It involved a Japanese engineering expert, **two interpreters**, and one of Philadelphia's finest trial lawyers, Edward A. Gray, Esquire.

At a time when realtime court reporting was still in its infancy, Ed recognized that protecting the accuracy of the record required more than great lawyering—it required thoughtful preparation.

Watching that deposition taught me a lesson I've never forgotten:

**Technology is at its best when it supports people—it never replaces them.**

In my latest Philadelphia Legal News article, I share this firsthand story and explain how careful preparation, emerging technology, and outstanding professionals worked together to protect the integrity of an international expert deposition.

👉 Read the full story:
https://phillylegalnews.com/two-interpreters-realtime-court-reporting/

If you've worked in the legal profession, I'd love to hear your thoughts. What technological advancement has had the greatest impact on your practice over the years?

Oakes Firm

By Thomas G. OakesCourt Reporter • Litigation Technology Professional • Certified TrialDirector Trainer • Former Instructor, Temple University LL.M. Trial Advocacy Program Answer Block How can rea…

06/23/2026

Years ago, while visiting Ford Motor Company's World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan on business, I had the opportunity to spend some time exploring the company's historical exhibits.

Seeing the Ford Quadricycle, early Model T vehicles, and historic assembly-line photographs was a reminder that innovation rarely starts with perfection.

Sometimes the biggest ideas begin as simple experiments.

Looking back at those exhibits also made me think about the remarkable technological changes I witnessed throughout my own career in court reporting, litigation support, and trial technology.

The lessons that transformed manufacturing more than a century ago still have relevance today.

I recently shared some thoughts—and several original photographs from that visit.

Read more:

https://phillylegalnews.com/ford-innovation-legal-technology-lessons/

The Oakes Firm

A business trip to Ford Motor Company’s World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan provided an unexpected lesson about innovation, technology, and professional change. While visiting a client,…

06/09/2026

New on Philly Legal News

Over the years, I had the opportunity to work with some outstanding trial lawyers, judges, professors, court reporters, litigation support professionals, and legal technology pioneers.

Many of these educational programs took place long before social media and cloud storage became part of everyday life. As I looked through old photographs, seminar materials, videos, and program archives, I realized there was a great deal of history worth preserving.

That's why I created the:

Legal Education, Trial Technology & Professional Archive

The archive includes materials from Temple University's LL.M. Trial Advocacy Program, IADC Trial Academy, FDCC Evolve and FedTechU programs, courtroom technology training, deposition presentation programs, and other professional educational events spanning several decades.

It also includes memories of many remarkable individuals who helped shape trial advocacy, legal education, and courtroom technology along the way.

If you participated in any of these programs—or simply have an interest in the evolution of trial advocacy and legal technology—I hope you'll enjoy taking a look.

🔗 https://phillylegalnews.com/legal-education-trial-technology-professional-archive/

Temple University Beasley School of Law The Oakes Firm

Historical archive preserving courtroom technology education, trial advocacy instruction, multimedia litigation systems, and the evolution of modern courtroom communication. What Is This Legal Tec…

05/11/2026

Explore the Trial & Deposition Technologies educational hub:

https://phillylegalnews.com/trial-deposition-technologies/

Philly Legal News YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/

Additional teaching programs, courtroom technology demonstrations, FDCC/IADC presentations, and Temple LL.M. seminar materials are being added regularly.
The Oakes Firm Temple University Beasley School of Law Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law The Legal Intelligencer Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law University of Pennsylvania

05/09/2026

Teaching Moments at Temple Law

One of the most rewarding parts of my career was helping teach courtroom technology and trial strategy at Temple University Beasley School of Law’s LL.M. in Trial Advocacy program.

This session with Jack Delany focused on “Tech Strategy: From Incident to Verdict” — discussing how trial technology, video depositions, visual evidence, and courtroom presentation systems can shape the way juries understand complex cases.

Many of the concepts we discussed years ago are now common tools in modern litigation.

More teaching videos and courtroom technology demonstrations are now being added to Philly Legal News.

The Oakes Firm

05/05/2026

Most people remember the movie Philadelphia.

But fewer know the real case that inspired it — and how it changed the legal landscape for workplace discrimination.

This isn’t just a film story.
It’s a Philadelphia courtroom story.

👉 We just updated this article with new insights and context:
https://phillylegalnews.com/the-case-that-inspired-the-movie-philadelphia/

Some cases don’t just make headlines — they reshape how justice is understood.
The Oakes Firm

The movie Philadelphia (1993) was inspired by real events, including a landmark first-impression AIDS discrimination case that began as a federal EEOC action. The case helped shape how workplace d…