Purpose
To assist any lawyer interested in developing or polishing heightened advocacy skills through an intensive 5 days of personal training.

Format
First, all participants will attend daily live lectures and demonstrations by some of the finest speakers and lawyers in the country. In addition, from the beginning of the program, each participant will be assigned to a dedicated group of like-experienced lawyers, not to exceed eight members. Within the groups — each led by at least one experienced trial lawyer or judge from our faculty — each participant will study and perform every aspect of advocacy, i.e., opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination, examination of experts, introduction of exhibits, negotiation, and closing argument. Next, each group will learn and practice advocacy skills under the guidance of a different faculty member. While being videotaped, participants will take part in individual exercises, with accompanying group discussions and critique, designed to focus on particular advocacy skills.

Finally, the skill building and practice will culminate in program participants conducting, as lead counsel, a live mock jury trial presided over by an experienced federal or state judge. At the conclusion of the mock trial, the judge will discuss and critique the trial with the participants.

Support Materials
During the course, program participants will work with several different case files, ranging from relatively simple to quite sophisticated, so that the participants can develop and practice their advocacy skills in different contexts. The files afford lawyers of all levels of experience — whether they handle civil, criminal, or commercial matters — opportunities to attack problems that will challenge them. Each registrant will also receive a copy of Saltzburg's, Trial Tactics. Each attendee will leave with a videotape of his or her individual performances and critiques, including his or her performance as lead counsel in the mock trial.