Vinay’s comments
Vinay Deobhakta’s comments
Why Your Brain Shuts Down in Court (And How We Protect You)
Ever wonder why your mind goes completely blank the second you enter a courtroom or read a toxic email from the opposition?
You aren’t losing your case; your brain is just trying to survive an “Amygdala Hijack.”
When a high-stakes legal battle triggers your fight-or-flight response, the logical, strategic part of your brain effectively shuts down. You stop being a strategist and start reacting like a survivor, which is exactly why self-litigants over-explain, get defensive, or freeze.
Most advisors only focus on the paperwork, but paperwork doesn’t win cases; clear-headed execution does. True success in court isn’t just about having the best argument… It’s about having the most regulated mind in the room.
Let’s shift you from panic to preparation.
Moving from the Sidelines to the Centre Stage
Stop being a spectator in your own case. Learn how to shift from defense to design, control your narrative, and command the courtroom to win.
The Currency of Credibility
The truth won’t save you in court… Credibility will. Stop being a victim of the system. Master the protocol, align your evidence, and command the room.
The Courtroom’s Quietest Killer
In two decades of legal strategy, I’ve seen brilliant cases won on law and lost on a single flaw: Ego. I call it E.E.G.O.—Edging God Out. When validation takes the driver’s seat, sound strategy is left behind. To win, you must learn the hardest courtroom skill of all: leaving your ego at the door.
Navigating the 2026 Crackdown on Litigation Abuse
The NZ legal landscape has shifted. With the 2026 Family Violence reforms, the court is no longer a playground for litigation abuse. Learn how to adapt your strategy to the new standards of professional conduct.
The New Professional Standard
Discover the new professional standard for McKenzie Friend support, built on ethics, accreditation, and trust. Learn more at mckenziefriendprofessionals.com.
Disrupting the Status Quo
When you stop reacting to the legal system emotionally and start using its own procedures strategically, you move from feeling overwhelmed to standing with clarity and agency.
The Psychology of the Courtroom
Success in Family Court is less about emotion or aggression and more about maintaining calm, structured clarity so you can present your case with focus, authority, and the right support around you.
The Birth of a Disruptor
A top-tier lawyer struck off after one mistake exposes a broken system, and reinvents himself to give elite strategy to the underdogs.
Vinay Deobhakta not ready to retire yet
Retirement? Me? The idea might make some sense on paper — New Zealand’s standard retirement age is 65, after all. But let’s be honest, anyone who knows me knows that I’m not the type to put my feet up and disappear into the background. I thrive on challenges, and as...
I’m interested in helping others
This article reminds me when I started putting into action the idea of still helping others on an even bigger scale than I had before after I had been unjustly disbarred by the NZ Law Society and bankrupted. Now in 2025, my cutting edge McKenzie Friend Professionals...
Jealous Lawyers, Blurred Photos, and a Whole Lot of Comeback
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/agribusiness/crafar-deal-planner-on-insolvency-charges/NDOJY2XOVKSODJVRN6EYB3XZFY/ See how they blur the photo when posted on the internet? The original was taken by a professional photographer in Tauranga and was crystal...
Tragic protest: Man sets himself alight over Family Court battle.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/97119812/man-who-died-after-setting-himself-alight-had-been-protesting-family-court-issues This was a very sad case. The man was so disgruntled with the family court of NZ and his frustration was such he set fire to himself outside...
Some thoughts on Louise Nicholas’s revelations on Police Corruption
Just thinking back to a case I was involved in back in the early 2000s (you can read a little more about it here). The case was significant for legal history because I was Louise's McKenzie Friend support person. My role here paved the way for victims in sexual...
Vinay’s comment to Geoff’s reference
Vinay's comments on Geoff's reference:The Accredited McKenzie Friend Training Program has my Vinay Deobhakta Method™ Mentoring and Supervision Life Skills, built into its components. I’m privileged (together with Caroline), to have been a pivotal spiritual link...