Noelle C. Nelson, Ph.D., a nationally respected trial consultant, has been consulting to trial lawyers since 1985, giving both lawyers and their witnesses the necessary tools to present a persuasive and credible case before a judge and jury.
Dr. Nelson holds advanced degrees in clinical psychology from the United States International University (M.A., Ph.D.), and sociology degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles (B.A.) and the Sorbonne, Paris (Maitrise, Doctorat 3eme Cycle).
Dr. Nelson is a member of the American Society of Trial Consultants, the American Psychological Association and Psy Chi, the national honors society in psychology.
EXPERIENCE:
Consultant to attorneys & legal firms: trial strategy, witness preparation, focus groups, psychological and communication skills for attorneys, client relations, 1985 - present
Seminar Leader: Seminars designed for attorneys, businesses, and general public (Learning Exchange, Learning Annex), to better their communication and presentational skills, 1985 - present
Speaker: ABOTA, ATLA, various local Bar Associations, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the Practicing Law Institute, Southern California Defense Counsel, Attorney General's Continuing Legal Education Conference, various private firms, 1986 - present
Consultant to CEOs and their spouses, Jannotta Bray and Associates, 1993 - 1994
Commentator: CNN, OJ Simpson trial, 1995; E!Channel, OJ Simpson trial, 1996
Staff Therapist: West Valley Psychological Clinic, Encino, California, 1987 - present
Therapist: Pacific Center for HIV Counseling and AIDS Psychotherapy, 1994 -1997
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology: United States International University, San Diego, California
Doctorat 3eme Cycle, Political Sociology: University of Paris, France (Sorbonne)
B.A., Sociology, University of California at Los Angeles
Drama Coach: UCLA; Ateliers du Marais, Paris, France; Improvisation, speech and vocal training
MEMBER:
American Society of Trial Consultants
American Psychological Association
Psy Chi (National Honors Society in Psychology)
BOOKS:
" A Winning Case : How to Use Persuasive Communication Techniques for Successful Trial Work," Prentice-Hall, 1991
" Connecting With Your Client : Success Through Improved Client Communications Techniques," American Bar Association, 1996
" Winning! Using Lawyers' Courtroom Techniques To Get Your Way In Everday Situations," Prentice-Hall, 1997 (paperback: "Get Your Way," 1998)
“ Expert Witness Preparation ,” in ALI-ABA's Practice Checklist Manual on Trial Advocacy, ALI-ABA, 2001.
" Dangerous Relationships : How to Stop Domestic Violence before It Stops You," Insight Books, 1997 (paperback: 2001)
" Winner Takes All : Exceptional People Show Us How to Find Career & Personal Success in the 21st Century," Insight Books, 1999 (paperback: 2001)
" Everyday Miracles ," Prentice Hall Press, 2000
COLUMN: regular column, The Daily Journal, 1996 - present
Selected articles:
" Shark Repellent: Helping Experts with Cross-Examination," January 3, 1997
" Into Focus: Focus groups as key pre-trial tactic," March 7, 1997
" Visible Impact: Compelling charts and graphs in opening statements" November 7, 1997
" Silent Alarm: Juror body language reveals prejudice against your client," July 10, 1998
" Role-Playing: A focus group can help an attorney select jurors," January 29, 1999
" A Strong Theme Helps Jury Rule for Your Client," March 26, 1999
" Open Minds: Using Witnesses to Educate the Panel," September 17, 1999
" Follow the Leader: Compelling Closing Arguments," April, 2000
" Mixed Bag: Trying Your Case Before the Inevitable 'Imperfect' Jury," June, 2000
" In Focus: Dealing Successfully with Unpleasant Case Facts," July, 2000
" Vast Verdicts: Helping Attorneys Win Multimillion-Dollar Awards," August, 2000
" Draw Them A Picture: 5 Common Pitfalls of Opening Statements," November 2000
" Cut To The Chase: Helping Jurors Understand Technology," December 2000
" Motive Motif: Storytelling Techniques for Juror Persuasion," February, 2001
" Reach Out and Touch: Decreasing The Liklihood Of Lawyer Malpractice Suits," March, 2001
" Building Rapport: Arguing Before A Judge Poses Challenges For Trial Attorneys," June 2001
“ Jury Persuaders: Using Perceptual modes in Voir Dire and Opening,” September 2001
“ Molding an Image: Engaging Juror Sympathy,” October 2001
“ Judging the Jury: Using Juror Opinions in Preparing Witnesses,” December 2001
“ Post-Traumatic Address: Bringing America's Changing Perspective to the Jury Box,” March 2002
“ How to Recover From Courtroom Setbacks,” January 2003
OTHER ARTICLES: (selected)
" How to Work With Difficult Clients," Trial Diplomacy Journal, January/February, 1995
" How to Use Your Expert Witness Expertly," Los Angeles Lawyer, March 1996
" Sexual Harassment in the Workplace," with L Noel, Women Lawyers Journal, July 1996
" A New Generation of Jurors?" Trial Magazine, July 1997
" Lessons From Trial Lawyers," Bottom Line Personal, November 1997
" Persuading Jurors to Award Damages," Inside Employee Rights Litigation, June 1998
Quoted in: "Closing Arguments," by Jackie Lynn, Entrepreneur, November 1998
" When CEOs Take the Stand," Verdict, 4th Quarter, 1998
" Expert Witness Preparation," The Practical Litigator, July 1999
" Making Experts Look Smart," California Lawyer, October 1999
NEWSLETTERS & OTHER COLUMNS:
" Winning Tips," 1992 - present
" Make Your Life Work!" 1997 - present
" Lifeskills," 1990 - 1996
VIDEOTAPES:
" A Winning Case" (series approved for MCLE credit)
Volume I: The Successful Litigator's Guide to Credibility in the Courtroom
Volume II: The Successful Litigator's Guide to Persuasion in the Courtroom
Volume III: The Successful Litigator's Guide to Strategy in the Courtroom
Volume IV: How to Prepare Your Witnesses Successfully for Deposition and Trial
Volume V: How to Prepare Yourself Successfully for Deposition and Trial
(to be given directly to Witnesses)
" How To Give A Good Deposition And How To Testify Well In Court"
