Center for Legal Aid Education

Basic Lawyering Skills Training

Note: This course is for Florida advocates only. However....

If you would like information about bringing Basic Lawyering Skills Training to your state or region, contact Jaime Roosevelt at 617-946-4672 x4112 or jroosevelt@legalaideducation.org.

December 7 - 9, 2010: Sign me up! Register Now!

Join us for Basic Lawyering Skills: December 7 - 9, 2010, Embassy Suites-USF/Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL.

Basic Lawyering Skills Training

Grounded in the rich history, culture and values of legal aid, our Basic Lawyering Skills training (BLST) is the perfect first skill training for a legal aid lawyer. You'll learn and practice interviewing skills, client counseling, negotiation, legal analysis, case planning and development, motion practice and trial skills, all in a friendly, supportive, low pressure environment with expert feedback and critique. While centered around core advocacy skills, the course also recognizes the importance of ongoing professional development - giving you the opportunity to plan your own professional development goals and approach in the context of the particular challenges that legal aid practice presents. Our learning presentations will be taught by seasoned practitioners from both inside and outside the Florida legal aid community. Each will be highly able and eager to impart what they have to share. Presentations, problem solving exercises, case study illustrations, paired negotiations, simulated motion hearings and the like all play their role too in making BLST a memorable and transformative training event.


"BLST was an invaluable experience... I was able to apply the principles I've learned in a very practical setting. I appreciated the dedication of our group of trainers and the honest feedback I was given during our exercises. I would recommend that any new (or experienced) advocate take this training sooner rather than later."

- Autumn L. Johnson, Northwestern Legal Services, PA 


Agenda for December 7-9, 2010

DAY 1

  • 10 am - noon: Welcome, Introductions and History of Legal Aid
  • 1 - 3 pm: Client Interviewing
  • 3 - 5 pm: Case analysis & planning

DAY 2

  • 9 - noon: Discovery
  • 1:00 - 3:30 pm: Deposition
  • 3:30 - 5:15: Client counseling

DAY 3

  • 8.:00 - 11:15 am: Trial planning and preparation
  • 11: 30 am - 1:00 pm: Developing as an advocate
  • 1:15 - 2:15 pm: Achieving high impact outcome for clients
  • 2:15 - 3:00 pm.: Closing Plenary, Evaluations and Graduation

For further BLST information, please click here