Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! We offer a multi-week Lawyer’s Improv Workout. It includes everything we teach in our 4-hour class plus extra exercises that dive deeper into helping you build a detailed fact-by-fact narrative and construct mic-dropping improvised trilogies.
Our multi-week improv program takes a deeper dive into your cross-examination and narrative building skills. With additional exercises for creating imagination-sparking facts and improvised trilogies. Just like learning anything new, making these techniques second nature doesn’t happen in a day.
This program is not approved for MCLE credit. However, if you’re interested in earning continuing education credits, we encourage you to enroll in our 4-hour Lawyer’s Improv Workshop, which is accredited through the Indiana Supreme Court for 4 general MCLE credits.
Cancellation Policy: Once a participant is registered with payment, any cancellations made 30-10 days prior to the workshop date will be subject to a 25% cancellation fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than 10 days prior to the workshop. However, if you change your mind within 48 hours of purchase, we will refund your full amount.
Additionally, you may be able to transfer your enrollment to another trial lawyer. Due to the small group nature of the class, the personalized scheduling, as well as the preparation for your case synopsis, we do require that any notification of a transfer is sent a minimum of 7 (seven) calendar days from the start of the session.
Initially you’ll supply us with the details of your case and any helpful documents. We’ll then create a synopsis to share with the other attorneys in the class. During the course you’ll workshop 2 other crosses in addition to your own. Each participant is expected to prepare and perform a 15-minute cross-examination for every case. One session is also dedicated to presenting up to 10-minutes of your opening statement or closing argument.
Although it’s ultimately the lawyer’s responsibility to disguise any sensitive information, we strongly suggest changing the identities and specific details of your case to ensure the confidentiality.
Steve and Olivia have been cross-examined over 1,200 times. As career actors, we have extensive experience creating characters based on real people. We have one goal- to make it realistic. We look for specific details that help us understand motivation and ethical boundaries, so we can anticipate how a witness will naturally react to your tactics.
“Steve and Olivia, this is a profound service you all provide. Your range of characters, personalities and behaviors are off the charts. You guys are game-changers!”- Mike S., Personal Injury Lawyer, Atlanta, GA
Absolutely. This workshop is part of your preparation. It’s a great way to see how seasoned lawyers approach your case, as well as their own. Additionally, you’ll be challenged to prepare crosses for two other cases. The amount of realistic live cross-examination experience you’ll get in this class is a great way to shake off any first trial jitters and find the best way to serve your client.
Do you have a past witness that haunts you at night? Well, don’t let those experiences hold you back. This is your chance to revisit and conquer those demons!
We’re not lawyers. Isn’t that refreshing? In fact, your jury members are almost never lawyers, either. So it’s just as valuable to get non-lawyers input. As actors we’re in the business of understanding how we affect an audience. We’ll let you in on how you make your witness and fact-finder feel, so you don’t have to wait until deliberation.
Yes! Just like depositions or trials via Zoom have become an effective way to conduct your practice, so has learning trial skills. We’ve perfected the experience so the virtual environment melts away. The win- all the benefits of a trial skills class without sitting in traffic. Plus, you can meet attorneys from all over the country!
Check out these quotes from participants about the zoom environment:
I like seeing other attorneys from other areas work and learning from their feedback–new faces and voices instead of local colleagues.- Fred B., Kansas City, MO
People complain about Zoom, but I think it’s great! It’s the platform where busy lawyers can fit workshops and feedback sessions into their schedules.- Susie I., Berkeley, CA
Yeah, as much as I enjoy the in-person stuff, I can’t travel as much anymore and need to warm up to Zoom as a ‘reasonable accommodation.’ And frankly, the HOI teaching, coaching, and mentoring is very engaging via Zoom.- Kevin K., Northampton, MA
Yes, each participant is expected to have 10-minutes of an opening statement prepared and ready to be presented to the group. You’ll be able to apply new tools to your performance to see instant improvement. Whether you write out every word of your opening, just write the major bullet points, or have a consultant or colleague write it- you’ll learn how to own it in the courtroom.
We get it. We still get nervous before performing on stage. In addition, receiving feedback from your peers can be uncomfortable. All feedback is guided to be constructive, respectful, and positive so you can feel safe and supported during the learning process. That’s our #1 priority.
Everyone in the class is there to learn and to offer advice to one another. You’ll learn just as much by watching your peers perform and you’ll want to give them the same encouraging feedback they gave you.
Actually, that’s not the reality at all. Audiences can easily tell when an actor is not authentic. The job of an actor is to connect as truthfully as possible to their roles and deliver the most honest performance. We’re introducing these tools to lawyers so they can ensure the same experience with their audience.
Many of our most successful clients have taken other presentation skills courses before and that’s OK. You can take what works best for you from every class. The difference- we’re introducing skills that are rooted in the techniques that modern actors use. It will give you an engaging and honest delivery of your opening statement that you won’t get anywhere else, because we’re career actors.
“I thought the exercises getting us to think about the feelings we want to evoke and the ways to get there were most illuminating, because that kind of instruction isn’t available anywhere else.”- Susie I., Berkeley, CA
Right before trial is the perfect time to take this workshop! THIS IS PART OF YOUR TRIAL PREP. We’ll be working on your real-life case (just tweaked to protect any sensitive info). The feedback you’ll receive can be applied immediately so you can avoid making costly mistakes at trial.
Yes! We’ve worked with a number of attorneys who have an opening statement prepared by their consultant. Very few trial consultants have the background to help you deliver someone else’s words with familiarity and honesty. This workshop is essential to making words that aren’t yours sound natural. Because after all, you’re the one that has to own them in the courtroom.
That’s good because we don’t want to turn you into one either. Your work is serious and we want to empower you with techniques and strategies that will make a serious difference in your practice. That being said, we can’t say you won’t have any fun taking this class because we believe that the more fun you are having in our programs, the more you’ll take away.
Olivia Espinosa is an actor, director, and playwright. She has over two decades of experience teaching performing arts, playwriting and dramaturgy (helping playwrights revise their play in preparation for production).
In 2022, she was nominated for best supporting performer in a play by BroadwayWorld San Diego for her performance as Lore/Nena in Azul (Diversionary Theater); American Mariachi (Denver Center New Play Summit); The Astronaut Farmworker, A Lonely Boy’s Guide to Survival… (La Jolla Playhouse POP Tour).
As a director, Olivia was honored as the recipient of Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s most prestigious award- The Phil Killian Directing Fellowship where she was assistant director to Bill Rauch on Off the Rails by Randy Reinholz, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure highlighting the haunting and resilient stories of Native Americans during the U.S. Indian Boarding School movement. She’s also an ensemble member of Native Voices at the Autry in Los Angeles.
Olivia has assistant directed under many prominent Broadway directors at the La Jolla Playhouse, including Tony award winning director, Tina Landau. www.oliviaespinosa.com
Yes! Just like depositions or trials via Zoom have become an effective way to conduct your practice, so has learning trial skills. We’ve perfected the experience so the virtual environment melts away. The win- all the benefits of a trial skills class without sitting in traffic. Plus, you can meet attorneys from all over the country!
Check out these quotes from participants about the zoom environment:
I like seeing other attorneys from other areas work and learning from their opening and their feedback to my opening–new faces and voices instead of local colleagues.- Fred B., Kansas City, MO
Since the onset of Covid, I have been amazed at how effective Zoom workshops are. In this instance, I learned a great deal by observing and the group critiquing the presentations of the other lawyers’ opening statements.- Mike W., Atlanta, GA
People complain about Zoom, but I think it’s great! It’s the platform where busy lawyers can fit workshops and feedback sessions into their schedules.- Susie I., Berkeley, CA
Yeah, as much as I enjoy the in-person stuff, I can’t travel as much anymore and need to warm up to Zoom as a ‘reasonable accommodation.’ And frankly, the HOI teaching, coaching, and mentoring is very engaging via Zoom.- Kevin K., Northampton, MA
We’re not lawyers. Isn’t that refreshing? In fact, your jury members are almost never lawyers, either. So isn’t it just as important to get non-lawyers input? As actors we’re in the business of using genuine emotions to perform a compelling story for an audience. This isn’t based on the latest science. These tools are based on emotion and, as actors, we’re in the business of emotions. In fact, some researchers have found that emotions account for up to 90% of decision-making.
Although we have geared this class towards prepping opening statements, you’re absolutely welcome to use an upcoming or past oral argument. The tools you’ll gain are exactly the same. In fact, some of our first experiences teaching these acting techniques were for oral argument presentations.
Absolutely! We offer one-on-one coaching based on your unique schedule. Please contact Olivia@hausimprov.com for more details.
This workshop is part of your trial prep, so if you have a new case you’re working on, then it’s a great time to revisit this course. Although you may not be surprised by the material covered, you’ll be surprised at how much more you’re able to master these techniques by revisiting them over and over again. Many of our participants return to class 3-4 times per year.
Yes, we offer scholarships for certain circumstances. To find out if you qualify please email Steve@hausimprov.com.
Although there’s some universality to improv techniques, you haven’t experienced them like this before. We’ve cut out anything that doesn’t translate to your work as a lawyer- like being a comedian. Instead, we teach Haus-made improv exercises you won’t see anywhere else. In fact, some improv exercises have been custom made as a direct response to challenges participants face in client consults, depos and cross-examination.
If you’ve ever been to the gym, you know it takes time to build lasting muscle strength. Building strong trial skills requires the same attention. Although you may not be surprised by the material covered, you’ll be surprised at how much more you’re able to master these skills by revisiting them over and over again. Many of our participants return to class 3-4 times per year.
Absolutely. In some ways, you are at a huge advantage by starting to learn trial skills with us. These techniques are used by some of the preeminent trial lawyers in the country. Since you don’t have years of bad habits, you’ll start your journey as a trial lawyer more disciplined and focused.
Yes, it’s perfectly normal. In fact, we still get nervous before performing improv on stage. Most class participants usually feel any nervousness melt away after the first exercise. Our priority is to make every workshop a positive and supportive environment so you are fully focused on learning career-changing-skills.
Yes! No experience is needed. We clearly introduce and model each exercise, so you can maximize your time learning the techniques and strategies instead of trying to figure out how to complete the exercise. Our aim is to make every part of the class accessible to all our students.
Although we primarily work with plaintiff’s, family, and criminal defense trial lawyers, we believe this workshop will improve any lawyer’s ability to succeed in their practice. Our participants have spanned 30 states, Canada and the UK.
That’s right and we don’t pretend to be lawyers. That’s why we invite one of our workshop alumni to be our “lawyer moderator” during our 4-hour workshop. They take part in the exercises and discussions to help connect the techniques and strategies you learn in this class to your actual experience in the courtroom.
And while we may not be lawyers, we are trial consultants. Since 2022 we’ve contributed to our clients’ successes in the courtroom by providing consultation on cases leading to over $27 MILLION in verdicts.
Although you’ve probably been instructed to use similar techniques, the methods we use to weave performance and practical trial skills will elevate your ability to command the courtroom and react effectively to the unexpected. After working with several law schools and their mock trial teams, we can speak with confidence that this training is unlike anything being taught in law school.
We currently have approval from the Indiana Supreme Court to offer 4 general MCLE credits for Lawyer’s Improv Workshop. We provide you with all the support materials you need to submit to your state bar association and petition for credit.
Yes! Just like virtual depositions or trials, Zoom has become an effective way to conduct your practice and learn trial skills. We’ve perfected the experience so the virtual environment melts away. The win- all the benefits of a trial skills class without sitting in traffic. Plus, you can meet attorneys from all over the country.
Check out these quotes from participants about the zoom environment:
“With Zoom, we may not be able to use full-body movement but we can use our faces, heads and hands. And the courts increasingly require us to appear on a monitor anyway, so it’s good to be home on screen for examining witnesses. You managed the occasional technological hiccups really professionally with minimal disruption.” – Susie I., Berkeley, CA
“I was pleasantly surprised at how well zoom improv worked :)” – Danielle S., San Diego CA
“I think in-person is tough to beat. I do not however enjoy the time to travel and Zoom works better than I would have thought prior to the pandemic. I feel the workshop is very beneficial via Zoom.” – Russ G., Santa Barbara, CA
Your work is serious and we’re NOT trying to turn any of our students into comedians. However, we do believe that people learn best when they’re having fun. Our goal is to help you strengthen proven trial techniques for client consults, depos, directs and constructive cross-examinations. If you’re interested in creating quirky characters or speaking gibberish, this class is not for you.
Yes! And… Our specialty is creating improv exercises that directly translate to a problem or challenge that trial lawyers face, and in the last 9 years we’ve seen just about everything you’re up against. Each exercise has been specially curated to make you a better advocate for your client- even when all the odds are against you. Whether you’ve never been to trial, want to get pumped for an upcoming depo/cross, or just want to get passionate about your work again- this class is designed to benefit you.
Actors are constantly searching for truth and honesty in their performances. Great improv actors are the same. By living in the moment, we are looking to react authentically as we discover our story on stage. We’ve taken the best theater tools and techniques that translate directly to your craft as a trial lawyer, so you can also be completely locked in and honest in the courtroom… because your best super power is being YOU.
We currently have approval from the Indiana Supreme Court to offer 4 MCLE credits for our introductory class, Lawyer’s Improv Workshop. This information can be submitted to most state bar associations to petition for credit.
There are two ways to pay for our workshops. You can use credit or debit cards via PayPal. We also accept Venmo @hausimprov please contact us for more details.
Once a participant is registered with payment, any cancellations made 30-10 days prior to the workshop date will be subject to a 25% cancellation fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than 10 days prior to the workshop. However, if you change your mind within 48 hours of purchase, we will refund your full amount.
Additionally, enrollment for our online courses are fully transferable up to 24 hours before the workshop. Just reach out to us to let us know if you’d like to have a colleague take your space or transfer your registration to a future online session.
Yes! If you have a group you’d like us to work with, please contact Olivia@HausImprov.com for more information. We also have lots of offerings via Zoom.
Due to our privacy policy for registered participants, we do not allow non-registered participants to observe or audit our workshops.
If you are interested in private training or consultations, please contact us using this link.
Haus of Improv is primarily an arts-education company, introducing the techniques of improvisational acting to the classroom and for professional development. However, we are able to provide live shows for private events through our theatre partners. If you are interested in a live improv show for a private event, please contact us using this link.
Yes we do! Our workshops work best with parties of 6 to 10. For more details, please contact us using this link.
Our phone number is (657) 464-3117 or you can use this link to contact us.