Who we are

We are a team of nationally recognized leaders at the intersection of law, leadership, and learning. (We don’t just teach; we’ve actually done this work!)

Brett Sagel is a seasoned trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor with more than 26 years of experience handling some of the nation’s most complex cases, from corporate fraud to public corruption, as well as running the Department of Justice’s criminal trial advocacy program training hundreds of prosecutors nationwide. His record includes high-profile convictions, extensive appellate advocacy, and decades of mentoring new attorneys.

  • Brett is a highly skilled trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor with over 26 years of experience handling some of the nation’s most complex cases. As an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California for over two decades, he led high-stakes prosecutions involving white collar crime, corporate fraud, and public corruption.  He held various leadership positions, including the Chief of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force and served as the Assistant Director of the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center, where he modernized the Department’s criminal trial advocacy program and trained hundreds of prosecutors nationwide.

    Throughout his distinguished career, Brett tried over thirty federal jury trials --  many lasting weeks or months -- and secured numerous high-profile convictions, including against attorney Michael Avenatti and Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona.  Brett drafted scores of appellate briefs and argued before the Ninth Circuit 15 times.  As a dedicated mentor to new prosecutors, Brett also supervised and mentored dozens of additional federal trials and hearings.  

    In addition, Brett is an accomplished educator, teaching courses on trial advocacy, evidence, white collar crime, among other topics, to prosecutors across the country and lectured internationally on behalf of the Department of Justice and the United States Department of State in numerous countries in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe.  Brett has also served as an adjunct professor at a local law school and college.

    Brett began his career at the Department of Justice’s Tax Division through the prestigious Honors Program.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from the George Washington University School of Law.

Angela Dooley, PhD, is a visionary in instructional design and organizational development, having transformed learning strategy as the Chief Learning Officer for the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as in higher education. With expertise spanning psychology, leadership, and pedagogy, she has built innovative institutes, trained thousands worldwide, and advanced leadership development across organizations.

  • Angela is a nationally recognized leader in instructional design, adult learning, and organizational development, with over two decades of transformative impact across the U.S. Department of Justice and higher education. Angela was the Chief Learning Officer for DOJ where she spearheaded training strategy for more than 115,000 professionals, aligning learning systems with national priorities, including leadership development, employee engagement, and AI integration. Her tenure included oversight of multimillion-dollar budgets, cross-agency collaboration, management and supervision of multiple teams, and international teaching and facilitating in over 20 countries.

    Angela founded DOJ’s Faculty Development Institute, training thousands of attorneys and legal professionals in instructional design, teaching, and facilitation skills. Her work in curriculum development and impact evaluation—certified in Kirkpatrick methods—has elevated DOJ’s learning programs to measurable excellence. She also founded DOJ’s Justice Leadership Institute, training DOJ employees on leadership and supervision.

    Angela’s expertise bridges psychology, law, and pedagogy. She has consulted on federal trials, designed mock jury instruments, and published extensively on attention, memory, and multimedia learning. Her research-informed approach has shaped training for judges, federal prosecutors, law enforcement, and legal educators worldwide. 

    Angela holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and Research, master’s degrees in Business Administration and Health Administration, and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law and College of Education. Her career reflects a rare blend of strategic leadership, empirical rigor, and creative instructional vision—empowering professionals to learn, lead, and serve with purpose.

Together, we bring unmatched legal mastery and educational innovation—empowering professionals to advocate, learn, and lead with integrity and impact.

(Add something here referencing additional instructors with DOJ, SEC, etc.)

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