Noelle C. Nelson, Ph.D. is a nationally respected trial consultant who provides trial/jury strategy, witness preparation and focus groups to attorneys. Since 2000, she has helped win more than $500 million for her plaintiff clients. Her defense clients have saved millions more.
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
Speaker: ABOTA, ATLA, TIDA, 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, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, various private firms, 1986 - present
Consultant to CEOs and their spouses, Jannotta Bray and Associates, 1993 - 1994
Staff Therapist: West Valley Psychological Clinic, Encino, California, 1987 - 2007
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
MEMBERSHIPS & HONORS:
American Society of Trial Consultants
American Psychological Association
Psy Chi (National Honors Society in Psychology)
"100 Legal Consultants You Need to Know" - Lawdragon
BOOKS (Partial List):
“The Power of Appreciation in Business: How an Obsession with Value Increases Performance,
Productivity & Profits, MindLab Publishing, 2005.
"Winner Takes All: Exceptional People Show Us How to Find Career & Personal Success in the 21st
Century," Insight Books, 1999 (paperback: 2001)
"Dangerous Relationships: How to Stop Domestic Violence before It Stops You," Insight Books, 1997 (paperback: 2001)
“Expert Witness Preparation,” Chapter in ALI-ABA’s Practice Checklist Manual on Trial Advocacy,
ALI-ABA, 2001.
"Winning! Using Lawyers' Courtroom Techniques To Get Your Way In Everyday Situations," Prentice-
Hall, 1997 (paperback: "Get Your Way," 1998)
"Connecting With Your Client: Success Through Improved Client Communications Techniques,"
American Bar Association, 1996
"A Winning Case: How to Use Persuasive Communication Techniques for Successful Trial Work,"
Prentice-Hall, 1991
BOOKLETS
“101 Winning Tips: How to Give a Good Deposition and Testify Well in Court,” MindLab Publishing, 2008.
“101 Winning Tips: How to Testify Credibly & Persuasively in Court,” MindLab Publishing, 2008.
ARTICLES (Partial List)
"Key Questions for Client Interviews" - Lawdragon.com , December 2009
"Countering the 'Blame the Victim' Defense” - Lawdragon.com , July 2009
"Getting the Best From Your Employees - Law Firm Management Techniques for Workforce Success" - The Bottom Line, July 2009
"Maximizing Your Opening Statement's Impact" - Lawdragon.com , April 2009
"Mock Trials for Solos and Small Firms" - Plaintiff Magazine, February 2009
"10 Dos and Don’ts to Tell Your Client Before They Take the Witness Stand," The Champion, October 2008
"The Power of Words: Simple Choices, Big Impact," Lawdragon.com, September 2008
"Make Yourself A Hero To The Jury," Plaintiff Magazine, August 2008
"First Impressions Before Trial," Lawdragon.com, July 2008
"Guidelines for Choosing an Expert Witness," Lawdragon.com, May 2008
"How Experts Can Survive and Thrive During Cross Examination," Plaintiff Magazine, January 2008
"How to Respond Proactively to Client Complaints," The Bottom Line, August, 2006
“Sympathetic Eyes: Choosing and Preparing Expert Witnesses,” Daily Journal, January 2005
Everyone Wins When Defense Witnesses are Trained,” Daily Journal, August 2004
“How to Shrink Goliath: Make Juries Love Corporations,” Daily Journal, July 2004
“In Voir Dire, Don’t Forget: Every Juror is Judging You,” Daily Journal, March 2004
“Celebrities Require Special Handling in Front of Jurors,” Daily Journal, December 2003
“Persuading Jurors Demands More than Top Credentials,” Daily Journal, October 2003
“Teach Witnesses Best Way to Testify, Relate to Jurors,” Daily Journal, June 2003
“Acting Confident: Maintaining Aplomb in Court Despite Setbacks,” Daily Journal, January 2003
“Ten Points for the Winning Opening Statement,” The Practical Litigator, January 2003
NEWSLETTERS:
"A Winning Tip," 1992 - 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"
