Trial Skills: In partnership with the American College of Trial Lawyers!
Co-sponsored with the American College of Trial Laywers, Trial Skills places the know-how of exceptional faculty within a supportive and technologically sophisticated learning environment. With the help of trial simulation packages (developed by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy) specially chosen for their relevance to legal services practice, you'll develop key skill areas - opening statements, direct and cross examination of lay and expert witnesses, introducing evidence, and closing statements - through an ongoing cycle of discussion, demonstration, practice, and feedback. Videotaped practice sessions and one-on-one feedback and critique will also help to ensure that you'll leave this training with heightened skills and confidence.
"This was the first time I had the opportunity to practice trial skills from beginning to end and to receive such thorough and helpful feedback."
- Kimberley Moore-Waite, Legal Aid Services of Olkahoma
Faculty Information
Lisa Arrowood, fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and founding partner at Todd & Weld LLP.
Ritchie Berger, ACTL fellow and director of Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew in Vermont (where he's worked for over 25 years).
Earle Cooley, ACTL fellow; trial lawyer with over 50 years of experience.
Stefanie Balandis, senior attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services and former president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.
Bruce Felmly, ACTL fellow; trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience.
Daniel Gleason, ACTL fellow; trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience; board member at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of Boston, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, and Wide Horizons for Children.
David Hanrahan, ACTL fellow; former captain in a combat branch of the US army; has practised law for over 40 years.
Laurence Johnson, ACTL fellow; president of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation with over 40 years of legal experience.
Bjorn Lange, ACTL fellow; previously public defender in New Hampshire's Concord homicide unit for 15 years; currently (and for the last 14 years), an assistant federal public defender.
James Marcellino, ACTL fellow; former president of the Boston Bar Association.
William McCormack, ACTL fellow; counsel at Sally & Fitch LLP, Boston.
John McCullough, director of the Mental Health Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid.
Harry Miles, ACTL fellow; partner at Green, Miles, Lipton & Fitz-Gibbon LLP, Northampton, MA; trial lawyer with over 35 years of experience.
Peter Mullin, assistant US attorney for 24 years; now assistant attorney general at the Massachusetts Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Tom Peisch, ACTL fellow; founder and partner of Conn, Kavanaugh, Rosenthal, Peisch and Ford LLP; has over 30 years of experience has a trial lawyer.
Terry Segal, ACTL fellow; former press secretary and campaign manager for US Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill; special counsel at Duane Morris LLP.
Elizabeth Segovis, director of Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, and director of training, at Rhode Island Legal Services; has over 20 years of experience in legal services.
Bruce Singal, ACTL fellow; head of the litigation department at Donoghue, Barrett & Singal PC.
Betsy Soule, elder law practioner at South Middlesex Legal Services; chair of Wayland Council on Aging Board of Directors; has over 20 years of experience in legal services.
Joseph Steinfield, ACTL fellow; partner at Prince Lobel Glovsky and Tye, Boston, MA.
Richard Tucker, ACTL fellow; has over 30 years of experience in civil litigation at Bernstein, Burwick, Tucker & Stern, LLC.
Philip Walker, ACTL fellow; commercial and personal injury litigation specialist at Day Pitney LLP.
Albert Zabin, ACTL fellow; life member of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation; civil litigation specialist at Duane Morris LLP.
Richard Zielinski, ACTL fellow, chair of the Massachusetts State Committee; director at Goulston & Storrs' Boston office.
Sample Training Agenda
Here's how the four days of Trial Skills typically break down (each day we also make sure to include an hour-long lunch, and timely breaks for beverages and snacks, as well as group overviews and debriefs):
DAY 1
9am - 9.30: Training Overview and Introductions
9.30 - 3.00: Opening Statements
3.00 - 5.15pm: Evidence
DAY 2
9am - 3.30: Direct and Cross Examination - Witness Preparation
3.30 - 5.15pm: Direct and Cross Examination - Lay and Expert Witnesses
DAY 3
9am - 3.30: Direct and Cross Examination of Expert Witnesses
3.30 - 4.00: Closing Statements
4.00 - 5.00pm: Personal Coaching sessions
DAY 4
9am - 1.30: Closing Arguments
1.30 - 2.15pm: Closing Plenary
For further Trial Skills information, please click here.