Purpose
To assist any lawyer interested in developing or polishing
heightened advocacy skills through an intensive six days of personal
training.
Why This Program Matters
The ability to effectively present an opening statement, competently
conduct a direct examination, deliberately cross-examine an adverse
witness, make a compelling closing argument, and, of course, handle
a jury trial with confidence are learned skills that remain the keys
to success for any litigator. No amount of second-chairing trials,
attending one-day programs, or conferring with a senior lawyer can
replace the real thing—doing it. That is what this program has been
about for over 30 years.
Why This Program Makes Economic Sense
Whether you are a lawyer in a big firm struggling to obtain trial
experience, or practicing in a small shop facing a myriad of
litigation challenges, this program makes economic sense.
First, it is less expensive than comparable programs, because
Virginia CLE’s mission is to keep the program affordable.
Second, it is time-efficient—for six days you are immersed in
substantive material and critical practice that would normally take
years to experience, all while earning 36+ hours of CLE credit,
including 2.0 hours of Ethics credit. Add in six days of networking
with other lawyers from all around the country, and you might even
create some future business to add to your new skills.
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 the new Trying Cases to Win: In One Volume—a $120
value—by Stephen A. Saltzburg and Herbert J. Stern. Each attendee
will leave with a video recording of his or her individual
performances and critiques, including his or her performance as lead
counsel in the mock trial.
