A Trial Lawyer’s Guide to Preserving the U.S. Justice System ft. Eric Weitz

February 5, 2026 Joe Stephens

The fabric of American law is changing: courts are in crisis, judges are under threat, and something needs to change. This episode of Between the Briefs reveals the ‘what’ as hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Eric Weitz, Founder of the Weitz Law Firm and President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.

What You’ll Learn:

Leveraging authenticity to build courtroom credibility, instead of performance
The critical gap between law school education and trial practice reality
Why non-economic settlements matter more than transactional case resolution
How to leverage technology for strategic advantage without losing your competitive edge
The three universal needs of every catastrophic injury client
The major shifts taking place in the plaintiff litigation space

Trial lawyers find themselves at an inflection point. This episode reminds us how to make the best of it.

Want to watch this episode of Between the Briefs instead? Get the full video on YouTube.

About the Contributors

Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

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Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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