FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – John Uustal, founding partner of Kelley Uustal and Founder of The Impossible Case Institute, is leading the 2026 faculty of Built Different Trial Academy. The Academy is an Impossible Case Institute and Trial School initiative that brings together nationally recognized trial lawyers with a select group of practicing attorneys and law student scholars for an immersive, hands-on trial advocacy program.
Built Different Trial Academy was created around one mission: developing exceptional trial lawyers through rigorous, immersive training and mentorship, equipping them with the skills, judgment, and mindset required to handle society’s most challenging and consequential cases.
The Academy reflects the mission of the Impossible Case Institute, a plaintiff trial practice focused on pursuing complex, high-stakes personal injury, product liability, commercial, and celebrity cases that others are unwilling or unable to take on. Under Uustal’s leadership, the Academy extends that philosophy beyond the courtroom, investing in the next generation of trial lawyers.
“How many powerful defendants avoid accountability because no one is willing or able to invest the time, resources, and determination to expose the truth? How many devastated victims never recover the millions they deserve, never drive meaningful change, or never see justice at all? Too many lawyers accept the limits of a case instead of pushing beyond them, leaving victims with less than justice demands,” said John Uustal. “Winning cases everyone else said couldn’t be won, or couldn’t see a path to victory, is like a superpower. Built Different Trial Academy develops that superpower.”
Joining Uustal on the 2026 faculty is Andrew Finkelstein, founding partner of Finkelstein & Partners, along with additional guest faculty who have built distinguished careers trying complex, high-stakes civil cases.
The 2026 edition will welcome two selective cohorts:
The Built Different Fellows Program, designed for mid-career practicing attorneys committed to elevating their trial advocacy.
The Built Different Scholars Program, which awards scholarships to outstanding law students from across the country who have demonstrated exceptional promise as future trial lawyers. Scholars train alongside faculty, gaining early exposure to trial strategy, advocacy techniques, and mentorship from some of the nation’s leading trial lawyers.
A Different Kind of Legal Education
Unlike traditional conferences or education programs, Built Different Trial Academy is intentionally limited in size. Every participant is expected to engage actively, perform in front of peers, receive direct faculty feedback, and refine their advocacy through practical courtroom exercises rather than passive lectures — an approach that mirrors how Uustal has built his own career and trained other successful trial lawyers.
For more information or to apply, visit builtdifferent.com or contact caroline@builtdifferent.com.
About Built Different Trial Academy
Built Different Trial Academy is an elite trial advocacy program dedicated to developing exceptional courtroom lawyers through intensive, hands-on training, individualized coaching, and mentorship from nationally recognized trial attorneys. Through its Fellows and Scholars programs, the Academy invests in both practicing attorneys and the next generation of advocates, strengthening the future of the civil justice system by preparing lawyers to take on society’s most challenging and consequential cases.
