Hey,

Before the $1.3 million result.
Before the witness prep.
Before the nightly “talk me off the ledge” phone calls.

Keith Rutman found us through improv.

In 2018 he started taking improv classes to stay sharp between trials. What he got was a second framework for everything he'd been doing in the courtroom.

Then he went to Google — "San Diego trial skills workshops with improv."

Keith found Trial Haus.
He listened to our Cross Lab podcast and got hooked.

But he didn't call us. Not yet. He waited.

"I waited for the case that landed on my desk that I simply could not afford to lose."

And that case finally arrived.

By the time Keith found us, he knew that the biggest principle in improv—Yes, And—was just cross-examination in disguise.

Most attorneys hear "improv" and think it’s about winging it, pretending to be a cat or cringey jokes that flop. No gracias!

At the core of improv is structure when it matters.
Flexibility when your plan takes a dump.
And a partner who's got your back.

We didn’t turn Keith into a different lawyer.
We helped him become more stable inside the chaos.

What that looked like in practice:

• Strategy sessions: Figure out the weak spots and leverage the gold
• Jury selection: Live in the courtroom
• Cross prep: Get your client ready for the stand
• Story sharpening: Strip away the clutter and surface what matters
• Off-the-ledge calls: When the sh!t hits the fan and you need backup
• Daily decompression: Reset before doing it all over again

Keith described it all this way:

"Not only did they believe in the case from the start and resolve to help me help my client, but they were really excited to do so. And they delivered in spades."

The outcome:

"$1.3 million later—I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to work with them again."

BTW, that verdict was $550k above the ask- I think Keith hit it out of the park. ​
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Got a case you can't afford to lose, Reader?

→ [Schedule a strategy session]​

Bring a case, tell us about a witness, or a cross that feels heavy. We'll show you how we'd approach it.

Your talk-you-off-the-ledge trial consultants,

P.S. Keith still performs improv when he's not in court.

If you're in San Diego this Sunday 5/31/26, Keith is performing with Death by Improv at Mockingbird Improv in Liberty Station at 8pm. More info → [LINK]​

PPS. If you're in SD and want to grab a coffee and talk shop — hit reply.

PPPS. If you're not in SD but want to talk anyway? [Schedule a strategy session]​