Sari Swears

Most lawyers focus on how to argue damages. Very few spend enough time truly understanding the loss. And jurors can feel that. In this week's episode, I break down the 3 components every damages argument needs: Understanding the loss Valuing the loss Communicating the loss We also talk about: Why metaphor matters How small stories hit harder than big explanations A simple framework I use to think about non-economic damages Because damages aren't about formulas. They're about helping jurors understand what was taken. Love, Sari P.S. If this episode hit home for you, my live webinar on May 28th is going even deeper into how the H2H Method™ helps jurors connect to what actually matters in trial. We're going beyond the FHTH book and into what works in today's courtrooms. Register now → sariswears.com/webinar Quote: "When everything says trial should be this very formal, sterile process, we have to fight against that. It's a very human process. The things jurors talk about in voir dire — family, health, purpose, connection — those are the exact things your plaintiff lost." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Today is my 54th birthday, which honestly feels surreal to say out loud. And it got me reflecting on how I somehow went from being a classically trained pianist… to becoming the "Queen of Voir Dire." There was no grand plan. No moment where I suddenly felt ready. Just a series of moments where my want became bigger than my worry. In this week's podcast, I share the full story of how I found this work, the risks I took before I could afford to take them, the mentors who changed my life, and the 7 biggest lessons I've learned over the last 24+ years. But more than anything, this episode is about what happens when you stop waiting for certainty and start trusting what you really want. And THANK YOU for being part of this community and this journey with me. 💖 Love, Sari P.S. Speaking of becoming the "Queen of Voir Dire"… I just announced a brand new live webinar happening May 28th! We're going beyond the FHTH book and into how the H2H Voir Dire method performs in today's courtrooms. Register now → sariswears.com/webinar Quote: "The people who change their lives aren't the ones with the perfect roadmap. They're the ones willing to keep going before they know exactly how it all works out." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

You're spending your voir dire on the wrong thing. And it's not subtle. You're trying to get ahead of the defense's argument—funneling defense points, repeating their story, mapping out everything wrong with what they might bring up. Meanwhile, your jury is soaking up defense point after defense point. That's the problem. Because what you give airtime to, they give weight to. In this week's podcast, I break down the 4 topics you should avoid in voir dire, because they quietly hand power to the other side (even when you think you're doing it right). Love, Sari P.S. If you want to go deeper on this, join me LIVE on May 28th for my Beyond the Book Webinar. I'll walk you through the H2H Method™ and how it actually works in real cases and you can even bring your own case for live feedback. Register NOW → sariswears.com/webinar

You might be asking the wrong questions. Not bad ones. Just ones that never get past small talk. And if that's happening in your voir dire… you're missing the moment where jurors actually connect. Because connection doesn't come from: "Where are you from?" "What do you do?" "Have you ever…?" It comes from something deeper. From getting jurors to talk about what they value and actually staying there long enough for it to mean something. Most attorneys don't do this. Not because they don't care… but because they've never been shown how. And that gap? It shows up later in your damages. Coach K and I break all of this down in this week's podcast: What a resonant conversation actually is Why it changes the way jurors see your case And how to start shifting your questions (without it feeling forced or awkward) If your jury feels a little disconnected… this is likely why. Love, Sari Quote: "What we're really wanting from our jurors is to invest in the process. And the best time to do that is in voir dire — when they can talk about themselves and what they value… because at its core, what our plaintiff attorneys are fighting for are human values, things that we all care about. And that's what was taken in every single case." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

I'm seeing this a lot lately, so let me say it straight: If your case feels too simple, you're probably FINALLY getting it right. You keep trying to add more: more detail, more explanation, more persuasion. But jurors don't need more. They need clarity. When you hit the point where someone hears your case and thinks, "Well… duh," that's the sweet spot. Because "duh" means: And most importantly, it triggers the question you want: "If it's so obvious… why didn't they do it?" That's where your power is. Not in being clever. Not in making it complex. In making it undeniable. So if part of you is thinking, "This feels too basic…" Good. Lean in. Love, Sari Quote: "If your case makes someone think, 'Well, duh,' that's when you know you've got it right. It means it's clear, it's common sense, and it's something no one can argue with. That's where your power is — not in being clever, but in being undeniable." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Have you ever caught yourself thinking: "Why does everything feel so overwhelming lately?" It might not be your caseload. It might not be your schedule. It might be this: You're making thousands of decisions every single day. Big ones. Small ones. Constant ones. And it's draining you. In this week's episode, I break down the exact tools I use to cut through decision fatigue, so you can STOP spinning and START moving. Here's a quick look: Why "just thinking about it" keeps you stuck (and what actually works instead) How to create a personal litmus test so decisions become automatic The simple shift that instantly reduces overwhelm (hint: zoom out) Because the goal isn't to make more decisions. It's to make fewer and better ones. If you've been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or mentally tapped out… this one's for you. Love, Sari P.S. If you're stuck between options right now, don't overthink it, grab the free decision-making download and work through it step-by-step: https://sariswears.com/decisions Quote: "The average person makes like 35,000 decisions a day… and for trial attorneys, you're making more high-stakes decisions than most people. All of these decisions lead to overwhelm." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Have YOU ever thought: "I don't think I want to do this anymore." Not forever. Not dramatically. Just… quietly, in the back of your mind. In this week's episode, I sat down with Coach K to talk about why so many trial attorneys hit this exact point. And no, you're not alone. 😉 What we've seen time and time again is this: It's not that you actually want to quit… It's that you can't keep doing it the way you've been doing it. Doing everything yourself. Carrying too much. Feeling stuck in a system that's draining you. And here's the shift… That moment where you start questioning everything? That's not the end. It's the turning point. Inside the episode, Coach K and I break down: If you've been on the edge of quitting, this one is for you. Love, Sari Quote: "I don't think I want to be a trial attorney anymore… or it's, 'I don't know, I might be crazy for saying this, but I've been wondering if I even want to do this anymore.' We hear that all the time. And out of all the hundreds of trial attorneys we've worked with… almost none of them actually quit." Coach K Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

I'm bringing this episode back because this question keeps coming up: "How do I explain my number for non-economic damages?" And here's the truth… You don't. At least not the way most attorneys try to. There is no real formula for non-economic damages. And when you try to force one… jurors can feel that it's not real. What they're actually looking for is much simpler: Do YOU believe the number you're asking for? In this episode, I walk through: The difference between price vs. value Why jurors don't need a calculation And how to present your number in a way they'll trust If you want to actually practice this, my Damages Masterclass is happening THIS June, and this is exactly what we work on. It's small group, hands-on, and designed to change how you show up in court. Give the episode a listen, and if this is something you've struggled with, come work through it with me in June. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "You're all looking for formulas, tricks, and techniques—but that's not what's going to win the day. What wins is when you stand in front of a jury, fully own your number, and they believe you—not because of your calculation, but because you've made believers out of them." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

This is my most listened-to podcast episode… ever. 🤯 So I'm bringing it back. If you've ever thought: "I don't have enough time in voir dire" "This judge limits us" "I can't get through everything I want" This episode is for you. Because the truth is, you don't need more time. You need to focus on the right things. In this episode, I walk you through the three principles you MUST get from jurors: 👉🏽 People should take responsibility when they hurt someone 👉🏽 Money holds people responsible 👉🏽 Money can help That's it. If jurors say these out loud, they begin to align. And when they align, your job gets a whole lot easier. This is the foundation. Whether you have 20 minutes or two hours, THIS is what matters. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "We are not trying to convince the jury to believe anything. These are things they already believe. Our job is to bring those beliefs into the room so jurors can rally around them and when they do, they solve the case for us." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

What if the issue isn't your case… but HOW you're thinking about the jury? Most lawyers won't say this out loud, but it's happening. You're asking the jury to do MORE than their job. Not just decide the case, but decide if you're good enough. If they rule in your favor → you feel validated. If they don't → you question everything. That's the trap. Because the jury's job is simple: hold bad actors accountable. That's it. They are NOT there to: 🚫 Like you 🚫 Validate you 🚫 Prove you're a good lawyer And the moment you start needing that from them… YOU stop serving them and start trying to get something from them. They can feel that. 🙅🏽‍♀️Stop asking, "What do they think of me?" ✅Start asking, "How can I help them do their job?" That's where everything changes. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "You are giving them the job of making you feel good about yourself. That is not their job. So much of your self-worth is tied up in whether these six or eight or twelve people like you… and that is dangerous." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

One of our H2H™ crew members, Chrissy Hagen, recently tried a medical malpractice case that resulted in a defense verdict. After trial, she reached out with a great question: Should we be spending MORE time addressing defense points during trial? In this episode, we talk through: 👉🏽 The med mal case involving a delayed prostate cancer diagnosis 👉🏽 What Chrissy heard from jurors after the verdict 👉🏽 Why some jurors admitted they "flipped" during deliberations 👉🏽 The concept of defensive attribution and how it shows up in trials 👉🏽 And the bigger lesson: WHY framing matters more than time spent on defense points As we dug into the case, something important emerged. The real issue in this case wasn't just the delayed diagnosis. It was agency. A doctor making a decision for a patient instead of giving that patient the information needed to make the decision themselves. And when you find the real piss-off point for jurors, everything about how you frame the case can change. If you've ever walked out of a courtroom wondering what happened in that verdict room, this episode is for you. Tune in NOW! 🎧

What's actually motivating you in trial? 🤔 Is it love for your client? Love for justice? Love for the craft? Or is it fear? Fear of screwing up. Fear of missing something. Fear of not being good enough. In this week's episode, I'm back with Coach K talking about why so many trial attorneys are fueled by self-criticism and WHY that strategy quietly burns you out. We break down: 👉🏽 Why being hard on yourself doesn't create excellence 👉🏽 Why replaying mistakes reinforces them 👉🏽 How fear-based motivation keeps you stuck 👉🏽 And what happens when you shift to love instead Because fear constricts. Love expands. And what you focus on, you create. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "Whatever's motivating you is what's going to move you forward. If it's fulfilling, resonant, exciting — that's the energy you want behind your work. But if it's beating yourself up, focusing on failure, working long hours until you can't think anymore — that's the wrong motivation. It's going to drag you down. You won't be fulfilled. You won't feel joy. And it's not sustainable." Coach K Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Let's talk about the voice in your head. The one that says: "You should settle." "You're not ready." "If you lose, you're exposed." That's NOT wisdom. That's your saboteur and it's trying to keep you "safe." In this week's episode, I break down: 🤨 What the saboteur really is 🤨 Why your brain resists growth 🤨 The 7-step process to stop self-sabotaging your trials (BONUS: Free downloadable prep sheet) 👉🏽 Download FREE 7 Step Process Prep Sheet 👈🏽 You can't stop thoughts from entering your brain. But you CAN decide what to do with them. Start growing the box. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "You cannot stop thoughts from entering your brain. That's not how the brain works. But you can be intentional about what you do with the thought once it's there. You can decide: this thought is here — what do I want to do with it? Because when you don't decide, the saboteur decides for you." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

You ever feel like your brain just… won't cooperate? 😣 You're overwhelmed. You're reactive. You're exhausted by 3:00 PM. You can't focus the way you know you should be able to. And then you beat yourself up for it. In this week's podcast, Coach K and I are talking about something that might hit closer to home than you expect: Why SO many trial lawyers operate like they have ADHD (even if they don't). We break down: 👉🏽 What actually happens when your prefrontal cortex gets hijacked 👉🏽 Why chronic stress mirrors ADHD symptoms 👉🏽 The connection between overwhelm, impulse control, and addiction 👉🏽 The three things you can start doing immediately to get your brain back online If you've ever thought: "Why can't I just get it together?" This episode is for YOU. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Kevins ADHD Coach: https://lyndahoffman.com/ Quote: "The brain fog and overwhelm that happens with ADHD — it takes so much more work just to do basic tasks. By the end of the day, you're exhausted. And there are a lot of times where you're just tapping out like, 'I can't do this anymore.' That can feed addiction or whatever coping mechanism you reach for. And it's very reminiscent of an attorney, because trial attorneys have that same brain fog, that same fatigue, that same overwhelm because of their jobs — even if they don't have ADHD." Coach K Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Michael was here in Portland for our January Masterclass… so of COURSE I had to take the opportunity to sit down with him in the podcast room. 😉 Michael Cowan is a trial lawyer, firm owner, author of Big Rig Justice, AND host of Trial Lawyer Nation. We talk about: 👉🏽 His path from Wall Street litigator to plaintiff trial lawyer 👉🏽 The evolution of his practice (and his firm) over the years 👉🏽 What shifted when he focused on the internal work (not just trial tactics) 👉🏽 Why loving trial is very different from simply getting through trial It's a grounded, honest conversation about growth, professionally and personally, and what it REALLY takes to keep getting better in this work. If you care about mastery, you'll want to listen. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "I could do all the trial techniques in the world. I could memorize other people's openings and copy their moves. But none of it would matter until I fixed myself. When I didn't trust the jury, when I didn't trust myself, that came through — in my tone, in my body language, in my eyes. And if they don't trust you, they shouldn't trust you. The shift for me was learning to believe that I am just as deserving, capable, and worthy as anyone else — not better, not worse. Once I stopped tying verdicts to my worth, everything changed." Michael Cowan Trial Lawyer Nation Podcast: https://triallawyernation.com/ Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

I'm joined by special guest Nate Cobb, a New Mexico-based trial lawyer who used to say, "I don't need that mindset stuff." Until a case forced him to find out the hard way that mindset isn't optional — it's EVERYTHING. In this episode, Nate breaks down a recent case that settled mid-trial for $17.5 million and exactly what made the difference when the pressure was on. We talk about: 👉🏽 Why ignoring mindset almost cost him the case 👉🏽 How owning the number changed negotiations 👉🏽 Why trusting the jury matters more than fighting the defense 👉🏽 The moment he knew the case had shifted (and the defense knew it too) If you've ever told yourself "I'll focus on mindset later", this episode is for YOU. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "I went from operating out of fear and reaction to realizing that the only reason my practice felt overwhelming was because I made it that way. Coaching didn't just change how I tried cases — it changed how I thought, how I showed up, and how much I actually enjoyed my work. Mindset isn't extra. It's the foundation." Nate Cobb Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

One decision changed Tom D'Amore's (one of my FAVORITE clients) entire practice: He stopped being "great at settling cases"… and became a trial beast. In this episode, Tom and I break down what actually shifted everything: 👉🏽 Why lawyers who don't try cases get paid less, even when they settle 👉🏽 How fewer cases created bigger results 👉🏽 Why most serious cases aren't about one bad actor, but systemic failure 👉🏽 And what it really takes to walk into a courtroom prepared — not hoping for luck This is REAL trial work, real verdicts ($26.5M, $21M), and real growth. This is the stuff NO one teaches in law school and very few people are willing to say out loud. If you've felt that pull toward trial or you KNOW you're capable of more… Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "If you've got 150 cases, you're never going to excel at trial work. You just can't do all the things you need to do to prepare properly. That's why we keep our caseload small—so we can actually do the work." Tom D'Amore Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Here's what I see all the time in trial openings: 😴 Same tone 😴 Same pace 😴 Same energy The WHOLE way through… And THAT'S the problem. In trial, you're always doing one of three things: 👉🏽 Teaching 👉🏽 Storytelling 👉🏽 Dealing with resistance Each one needs a different energy. Teaching should FEEL electric. Storytelling should FEEL like a movie. Dealing with resistance requires calm & confident leadership. When all three sound the same, jurors don't feel anything. Great openings manage energy on purpose. They let jurors learn, feel, and engage — moment by moment. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "Most openings are boring and unmemorable because the energy never changes. It's the same energy the entire time — and that's mindless and boring for jurors. Great openings work because they manage energy from section to section, letting jurors learn something, feel something, and stay engaged." Sari de la Motte Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

Hot take: Closing is NOT your last chance to re-argue the evidence. By the time you stand up, jurors are overloaded, stressed, and terrified of getting it wrong. And piling on more facts? That's not helping. Closing has one job 👉 empower the jury to act. In this week's Sari Swears podcast 🎙️, I break down the 8 ingredients every closing needs — the pieces that calm juror brain threat, give them structure, and show them exactly how to do their job. We're talking: 🚨 Why themes beat facts at the end 🚨 The part most lawyers skip (and shouldn't) 🚨 How to turn jurors from hostages into heroes If your closing feels heavy, forced, or flat… this might be why. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "The purpose of closing is not to re-argue the evidence or shove more facts into jurors' brains. At that point, they're already overloaded. The real purpose of closing is to empower the jury to take action — to give them structure, tools, and confidence so they know exactly how to do their job and trust themselves enough to do it." Sari Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/

If delegating feels risky and holding on feels exhausting, this episode will hit home. On the podcast this week, I'm joined by Coach K and Meredith Berg, an EOS Implementer, to talk about the real reason running your firm feels so damn heavy — and what ACTUALLY fixes it. 🎯 We get into: 👉🏽 Why delegation fails (even when you want to let go) 👉🏽 How accountability (not micromanagement) creates freedom 👉🏽 The biggest mistake law firm owners make with roles and people 👉🏽 Why culture matters just as much as skillset 👉🏽 How to stop spinning and start executing on a real vision This isn't a theory. It's structure. It's clarity. It's relief. If you want your firm to support your trial work instead of competing with it, press play. Tune in NOW! 🎧 Love, Sari Quote: "Everyone hits a ceiling. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or leading a growing organization, there's only so much time and capacity one person has. At that point, you either choose to grow — by delegating and elevating — or you stay stuck." Meredith Berg Can't get enough of me? Connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saridelamotte/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SariSwears Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SariDLM Free FB Group for Plaintiff & Criminal Defense Attorneys https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromhostagetohero/