William S. Bailey

Bill Bailey blends an illustrious, four-decade career in both criminal and civil trial practice with legal scholarship, teaching and authorship. Bailey’s research and writing focus on the use of images, words and stories to influence thought and decision; his books draw heavily from the fields of behavioral psychology, communication, and neuroscience.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Washington, Bailey was a decorated trial attorney. He was named "Litigator of the Month" (National Law Journal) and "Trial Lawyer of the Year" (Washington Association for Justice), and was frequently listed among the Best Lawyers in America. Bailey was named one of "Seattle's Top Lawyers" by both Seattle Magazine and Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, as well as a "Superlawyer" by Washington Law and Politics.  

Bailey later became the first professor of practice at the University of Washington School of Law, focusing on bringing real-world skills to aspiring trial lawyers. He teaches torts, trial advocacy, forensic evidence, pre-trial practice, advanced motion practice, and legal writing. In 2018, Professor Bailey was awarded the Philip A. Trautman Small Sections Professor of the Year distinction.

Bailey’s first Trial Guides book, Show the Story: The Power of Visual Advocacy (2011), has been widely praised as "the Bible for using visuals in trial" and "a breakthrough into the 21st Century, with exceptional depth on the psychology of learning and remembering." UW Law awarded Bailey the 2012 Faculty Excellence Award, based on this groundbreaking book: an honor doubly compelling, as this award is traditionally reserved for academics texts.

His second Trial Guides book, Show The Brief: Visual Writing Strategies & Techniques (2023), explores how to create powerful documents that demonstrate the facts of your case in an accessible, persuasive manner.