Finding purpose and empowering others through legal coaching

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By Emily Kelchen | for Raise the Bar

Attorney P. Christopher Ardalan recognized that even as traditional legal seminars offer valuable information, they often can't address the specific challenges attorneys face in their individual cases, so he started Ardalan Trial College. As both a seasoned trial lawyer and a dedicated coach, Ardalan strives to bridge the gap between theory and practice, helping attorneys elevate their advocacy and win with purpose. This week, he took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about legal coaching with Raise the Bar. 

I think every lawyer has sat through a CLE they thought was a waste of time, but few of us have decided to do something about it. You did. Why?

I started Ardalan Trial College because I recognized a critical gap in legal education: a lack of strategic, targeted coaching. Through one-on-one training tailored to specific cases, attorneys develop skills that directly apply to their current challenges instead of some hypothetical. Participants consistently report gaining more from a single day with me than from years of conventional seminars, leaving with greater confidence and a clear strategy to win their cases.

I read on your firm bio that you still consider yourself a student of lawyering, even though you are now spending a significant portion of your time coaching other lawyers. What does that mean? 

Great trial lawyers must first be exceptional students of humanity, deeply understanding people, pain, loss and the human condition. The profession demands masterful communication, organization, emotional intelligence and the ability to process vast information and present it persuasively. Every trial, every coaching session, offers new lessons in this, which is why I remain a perpetual student of this art. By approaching each experience as an opportunity to learn and grow, I continuously evolve as an advocate, regardless of my experience level.

How do you help someone develop those skills you mentioned? 

Like any elite professional, success requires both innate talent and developed skills. As trial attorneys, our decisions are often guided by psychological factors—ego, anxiety, fear or insecurity. Only through honest self-reflection can we identify what truly anchors us down, allowing us to release these weights and reach our highest potential.

What motivates you—or anyone—to do that kind of deep introspection?

Having a sense of purpose is my primary motivation. Without purpose, we lack direction and fulfillment. My purpose is multifaceted: helping as many people as possible and improving others' lives, which in turn enriches my own life and my family's. There's profound satisfaction in knowing my work can positively change people's trajectories while being personally, emotionally and financially rewarding.

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Raise the Bar is curated and written by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.