Thursday Programs | Friday Programs | Saturday Programs
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Jury Consultants/Mock Juries: How to Run a Focus Group from High Budget to Low Profile
Learn how to effectively use focus groups and jury consultants in trial preparation to gauge the reaction a jury will have to a given case and determine whether a shift in legal strategy is necessary prior to trial. Panelist Joel Selik will explore a comprehensive yet inexpensive approach to employing this tactic, while Howard Varinsky discusses effective methods for testing high profile and high stakes cases. Cynthia Cohen will delve into the psychological aspects of applying this legal tactic to the more typical cases. Attendees will receive the tools necessary to ascertain the need for, and effectiveness of, jury consultants and focus groups in virtually any size case and gain practical tips for bringing and defending law suits.
9:30 am – 11:30 am
How to Win at Mediation: Tips, Tools & Tricks of the Trade
Trial is a once-a-year experience for many litigators and once-in-a-lifetime for some. But mediations take place nearly every month. Mediation advocacy requires skills different from those necessary to conduct depositions or trials, and litigators need to take those skills to the next level to keep clients satisfied. This program is an in-depth exploration of those skills, in a practical, hands-on, interactive format that will teach you how to put -- or keep -- more money in your client's pocket.
Topics Covered Include: - Picking mediators: When talent is a plus, and when it isn't
- The many legitimate purposes of mediation. And a few that are not.
- Preparation: Managing client expectations, manipulating mediator expectations
- The effective Opening Session: How to impress the opposition without riling up your own client
- Using Caucus to reestablish lost client control: Strategic uses of honesty, time management and settlement authority
- When to caucus with other counsel and the mediator alone: The last refuge of desperation and sometimes even candor
- Closing the deal: Huffing, puffing, walking out and the fine art of the grumbling acceptance
- Documenting the deal: Malpractice avoidance essentials -- for mediators and litigators alike
- Follow-up: Where real mediators set themselves apart from wannabes
9:30 am-11:30 pm
Act of Communication Seminar: Trial Skills
This seminar will be conducted by trained professional actors who are experienced in teaching lawyers how to tell stories effectively. Learn how to find the stories within each case – the overall theme, the story of each witness, and the story of your talent. This program will tackle both witness preparation and trial skills.
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
The Act of Communication: Witness Preparation
Learn how to communicate effectively to the lay witness and expert alike. Have you ever had a witness ramble, become mute or otherwise freeze-up during deposition or cross-examination? This program will arm you with methods to keep your witness focused and effective.
9:00 am – 11:00 am
How to Win at Mediation: Tips, Tools & Tricks of the Trade
Trial is a once-a-year experience for many litigators and once-in-a-lifetime for some. But mediations take place nearly every month. Mediation advocacy requires skills different from those necessary to conduct depositions or trials, and litigators need to take those skills to the next level to keep clients satisfied. This program is an in-depth exploration of those skills, in a practical, hands-on, interactive format that will teach you how to put -- or keep -- more money in your client's pocket.
Topics Covered Include: - Picking mediators: When talent is a plus, and when it isn't
- The many legitimate purposes of mediation. And a few that are not.
- Preparation: Managing client expectations, manipulating mediator expectations
- The effective Opening Session: How to impress the opposition without riling up your own client
- Using Caucus to reestablish lost client control: Strategic uses of honesty, time management and settlement authority
- When to caucus with other counsel and the mediator alone: The last refuge of desperation and sometimes even candor
- Closing the deal: Huffing, puffing, walking out and the fine art of the grumbling acceptance
- Documenting the deal: Malpractice avoidance essentials -- for mediators and litigators alike
- Follow-up: Where real mediators set themselves apart from wannabes
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Beyond Power Point: Effective Use of Demonstrative Evidence from Big Budget to Shoestring Budget
Learn what works, what doesn’t work, and what budget is needed to make an effective presentation. Our expert panel will show you how the rules of evidence apply to the use of graphics in the courtroom. Gain valuable tips for persuading a jury or trier of fact while working on a shoestring budget. Learn how to hone your message and filter out what is distracting. How do you put on an organized and convincing case? How do you develop themes to allow a jury to understand complex issues? Learn the answers to these questions and more from our panel of judges, lawyers, graphics and technology consultants.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ethical Considerations for Insurance Lawyers: Ethics Vignettes
Utilizing an interactive and entertaining format illustrating hypothetical scenarios, this program focuses on the unique ethical issues confronted by lawyers. Topics examined include: scope of representation, attorney-client privilege issues, duty to disclose lawyer misconduct and communication with represented persons. TIPS has teamed up with the California State Bar and other Bar groups to enrich your experience of this program. The ABA has requested 2.0 ethics credit hours for this program
Last Updated on Friday, August 19, 2005 11:30 AM
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