Fear, Confidence, and Jury Trials feat. Kyle Sherman (November 2020)

7 hours ago
3 min read

Kyle Sherman is a trial specialist, civil plaintiff’s attorney, and founder of Trial Structure. In this episode, Kyle shares why law school was the hardest season of his life, how Jerry Spence Trial College reshaped his confidence, and why he believes jury work is about persuasion, not convincing.

About This Episode

Background

Kyle Sherman grew up in Missouri before attending LSU for both undergrad and law school. His path toward law began unexpectedly when he was called as a witness in a trial while still in high school. That experience planted a seed that would eventually grow into a career in the courtroom.

“When I was in high school, I ended up being a witness in a trial and I actually did pretty good," shares Kyle Sherman on You Are A Lawyer.

But law school itself was not inspiring. Kyle bartended his way through school and never quite felt like he fit the mold of a traditional law student. He describes those three years as extremely difficult and admits that the pressure and culture left him miserable at the time.

Why Law School

Kyle did not go to law school out of some long held childhood dream. Part of his decision was practical, and part of it was simply not being ready to leave college life. When he arrived, the competitive culture and high stakes environment hit him hard.

“It was probably the worst three years of my life," reflects Kyle Sherman on Episode 16 of You Are a Lawyer.

What ultimately carried him through was a shift in mindset. When his mother told him he did not actually have to practice law just because he earned the degree, something clicked. The realization that a law degree could open doors beyond traditional practice relieved the pressure he had placed on himself and allowed him to finish.

What Can You Do with a Law Degree

Kyle’s career demonstrates that legal education is less about memorizing doctrine and more about learning how to relate to people. He explains that jury trial work is not primarily about statutes or case law. It is about understanding human behavior, credibility, and persuasion.

“Jury trial work is not law. Jury trial work is relating to people," explains Kyle Sherman, on this episode of You Are a Lawyer.

Through his own growth, especially after attending Jerry Spence Trial College, Kyle reframed trial advocacy as structured storytelling. Legal training gave him analytical tools, but his success in the courtroom comes from listening, adapting, and presenting cases in a way jurors can understand and internalize.

Lawyer Side Hustles

Kyle is the founder of Trial Structure, a consulting and training company that helps plaintiff attorneys organize and present their cases effectively. What began as a personal quest for confidence evolved into a system he now teaches to others.

“It’s changed my practice. It’s changed my life,” shares Kyle Sherman in Episode 16 of You Are a Lawyer.

Through seminars, workshops, and consulting, Kyle teaches lawyers how to frame liability, anticipate defenses, prepare clients for trial, and structure persuasive narratives. Trial Structure focuses on practical strategy, jury psychology, and preparation. His work reflects a broader YAAL theme: sometimes the most meaningful impact comes from teaching other lawyers how to do their work better.