Brian Coleman | Owner, President of Trial Services - In2Trial, LLC

Tell us a little about your company or service?

"Plan. Prepare. Engage!" In2Trial, LLC provides Litigation Support, Trial Services, and Trial Consulting.
Intake to Verdict = 24/7 Support. We Are Here When You Need Us. No Extra Charges for Late-Night, Early-Morning, Weekend, or Rush Work.

How did you get into this field?

I started in the Legal Industry as a Legal Videographer back in 1999. After a few years in videotaping depositions I realized there was a need to support clients in trial with their presentations. That is when I started working as a Trial Consultant. The work started locally at first, but soon I was covering trials all over Virginia and now have had the pleasure of travelling throughout the United States covering trials. I love the work, being able to work with a team to present their story in the best possible way to persuade the jury.

Do you wish others would join this industry? Do you want to encourage the next generation to get into this field?

Yes, there is always a need for great Trial Technicians and Consultants. There is not one specific "School Program" that will teach you how to become a great Trial Consultant. A good place to start is to start working in the Legal Field, learn all you can about the legal system, stay on top of current technology, presentation equipment, computers, and constantly build your network. As your experience grows, so will the opportunities.

When you're not working, what matters most to you? What keeps you grounded outside of the business?

That's a great question, as a business owner that is hard to answer. There are days were finding any time to relax is hard; unplugging from work is something I am striving to do better. What helps the most are the opportunities I can get to the mountains with my wife, pushing the noise aside and finding peace in nature.

What's your favorite local restaurant? (add the city its located in as well)

I am always down for Cheesecake Factory (Linda's Fudge Cake - Yum) or a good pepperoni pizza from Marco's Pizza.

Coffee, tea, or energy drink?

Coffee

What do you think has been the biggest factor in you or your company's success?

Remembering every client matters, every case matters and striving for excellence and consistency in all we do.

What is something you or your company does differently that you think has made a real difference?

We prepare thoroughly for cases and once in trial are ready for action. We come to the trial knowing the clients, the materials, the case, and the story. We become part of the team, jumping in to help wherever and whenever needed. We also stay focused throughout the trial and provide active feedback, experienced advocacy from Trial Consultants that have sat through hundreds of trials.

What's something you know now about your career or running a business that you wish you knew when you started?

Relationships are very important, you must build and work hard to maintain ALL relationships.

What do you think separates a really great company or professional from an average one?

Putting down the phone and focusing on the client and their needs.

What's a 'small' detail in your work that actually matters, that nobody outside the industry realizes is important?

Build a strong team, it's so easy to get overwhelmed in this industry. You need people in your corner that will stay up late and help get the edits done.

What's one piece of advice you wish you had ignored?

I can't do that... my own voice and the fear of failure I adopted early on. You have to try to succeed, if you get knocked down, get up and try again.

What's the best marketing idea you've ever tried?

Being involved in trade organizations, keeping your name in front of everyone, so they know who to call when the need arises.

What's a totally random skill that makes you good at your job?

Compassion. There is never a "happy trial," trials are about something bad happening and two sides doing their best to sort things out. It's not always about the "work" sometimes being a good listener and honestly caring about the people you are working with is more important.

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry right now?

Planning. Scheduling for trials can be very difficult. One month you can be overbooked, and seeking help on trials and then everything fall off the calendar due to continuances and settlements. Another month can have nothing and a the week before the calendar can become completely filled with new cases.

AI is changing just about everything. Are you excited about AI, worried about it, or somewhere in between?

AI may be a helpful tool, but will not replace the Trial Consultant. Every trial team should have a Trial Consultant, allowing them to focus on their clients, the case, and the law. Attorneys should never have to worry about the technology not working, or where they can find that one document.

There are new laws, regulations, technologies, and changes being introduced that could affect how people in your industry work. What changes are you watching most closely, and are there any that concern you?

Hardware and Software are constantly evolving. Ensuring we are using the latest technology and the latest equipment is important, allowing our clients the best advantages in the courtroom.

What do you think your job and/or industry is going to look like five or ten years from now?

Technology has advanced, but the work of the Trial Consultant has remained the same over the past ten years, so I imagine it will be roughly the same in ten years, but with cooler gadgets.

Where do you think your profession is headed? Do you think technology and AI will replace parts of the profession, or will they ultimately make professionals more valuable?

AI will speed up the process, allowing things to be worked up faster, and finding things to be even quicker, but the personal touch and the experience of a Trial Consultant can be very powerful for any case.

What do you think makes someone great at what they do? And what do you wish more people understood about your profession?

I still run into many people that didn't realize Trial Consultant was a real job. We are a lot more than button pushers during trial. There is a lot of work that goes into trials including: Case Reviews; Theme Development; Custom Demonstratives (Animations, Illustrations, Graphics); Preparation of Exhibits (Redactions, Bates Stamping; Exhibit Stickers); Deposition Work (Video Editing and Clip Creation); PowerPoint Presentations (Openings, Closing, Witness Examinations); Locking down presentation equipment needs and setting up. Then taking everything, all the evidence (no matter the format) and putting together into a database that allows someone to call up anything within seconds, the ability to magnify and highlight portions on the fly. There are no second takes in a trial, one mistake could lead to a mistrial. Finally adding in the ability to be comfortable around attorneys and provide feedback on the arguments and testimony. That is a Trial Consultant.

What's one mistake you see people early in their careers making that they could easily avoid?

Feeling they can do everything on their own.

What's your secret to building great relationships with clients and keeping them coming back?

Being Prepared and Consistency.

What's the part of your job that you genuinely enjoy the most?

On-site with the attorneys and paralegals, meeting in the War Room, discussing the case and working on the plan for the next day.

What's the biggest goal you have for your company or career over the next few years?

Growth. Expanding into new areas around the country and in the types of litigation work we do.

If you could go back to the beginning of your career and give yourself one piece of advice, what would you tell yourself?

Relationships are very important, you must build and work hard to maintain ALL relationships.

What's something about your industry that you believe strongly about that you think most people would disagree with?

Remember we are working with people, treat others like you would want to be treated. Being kind goes a long way.

What's a moment on the job that reminded you why the work actually matters?

I have had the privilege of assisting in the defense of several medical practitioners in medical malpractice lawsuits, where they have or are about to retire. Being part of those successful defense teams has been significant for me. Allowing a professional to go into retirement and not have a bad verdict against them be the last thing they remember about their life's work.

Who was the most memorable person you've ever worked with or for and why?

This takes me back to High School, I became part of the Drama Club and there was a volunteer father present that taught me a lot about working hard, dealing with difficult things, being present in the moment, and so much more about life. I have always been thankful for Dave Orr and the Kellam High School Drama Department.

What's the proudest 'nobody will ever know I did this, but I did' moment of your career?

I have moved to Georgia, Florida, and then back to Virginia for Trial Consulting, I then started In2Trial in 2022.

Additional Profile Information

City / State: Virginia Beach, VA

Cities Serviced: Anywhere there is a trial that needs coverage!

Website: https://in2trial.com/

Email: brian@in2trial.com

Phone: 804-955-7500

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandcoleman/

Company: In2Trial, LLC

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