Attorneys are trained to protect trial strategy. Communicators are trained to shape public perception. So how do you communicate strategically when litigation and public perception collide?
This fireside chat explores why these objectives are not mutually exclusive and how strategic communication under Rule 3.6 can help attorneys and their clients navigate high-profile litigation without surrendering the public narrative.
Webinar Details
📅 Date: September 24, 2026
🕑 Time: 1:00–2:00 p.m. EDT (50 min presentation + 10 min Q&A)
📍 Location: Virtual – link provided after registration
What You’ll Learn
Why “no comment” is itself a communication decision, and the risks created when others are left to define the narrative.
What Rule 3.6 permits attorneys to say publicly, and how to communicate strategically while respecting ethical boundaries.
How public perception forms long before voir dire and can influence the environment surrounding future litigation.
How legal and communications counsel can work together to manage legal, reputational, and public-perception risk rather than treating those priorities as competing interests.
When strategic communication strengthens a legal strategy, and when silence really is the right choice.
Who Should Attend
Managing partners and law firm leaders
Litigators and trial attorneys
General counsel and in-house legal teams
Legal communications and marketing professionals
Crisis and reputation management professionals
Executives facing litigation or significant legal exposure
About the Presenters
Dr. J. Eric Kowalczyk is a nationally recognized crisis communications strategist, author, and public speaker. As the CEO of Connection Point, Eric has guided municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and nonprofits through high-stakes situations, including natural disasters, civil unrest, and large-scale emergencies. His methodology and crisis communication framework have been adopted by leaders nationwide.
Melanie Reid is the Associate Dean of Faculty and a Professor of Law at Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law (LMU). Prior to joining LMU Law, Professor Reid was a trial attorney in the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section within the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division, and an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida. She is a former law clerk for Judge Charles Wilson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and a member of the Florida Bar.