March 25 – 26, 2008
Intercontinental Hotel on the “Magnificent Mile”
Chicago, IL

Welcome to Chicago, and to the TIPS Staff Counsel CLE for 2008. Our last CLE here was a great success. We use a proven format with a first day for the front-line litigators and a second, half-day, with management issues.

Tuesday starts off with a trial judge well known for his “Art of Persuasion” CLE presentations: The Honorable Mark Drummond. A panel of three expert witnesses follows, with tips on cross-examining experts. After lunch, you’re treated to none other than Terence F. MacCarthy, one of the most riveting cross-examination experts and CLE speakers today.

Tuesday continues with a unique speaker—Diane Wyzga. She's the only R.N., J.D. professionally-trained storyteller and former law professor who trains lawyers. Diane will interactively work with us to make interesting trial stories of our own fact problems using the actual bad facts as we sometimes get from Claims.

Wednesday's program includes two panels of staff attorneys, regional, and corporate managers, and a legal recruiter. The first addresses the best ways to communicate with Claims. The second discusses how to conduct an interview, how to handle discipline, and how best to address staff conflicts.

All of this and Chicago, too! Sign up today and we look forward to seeing you there.

Dan Acosta, Chair
Farmer’s Insurance
Houston, TX

Jack Criswell, Program Chair
Cincinnati Insurance Company
Birmingham, AL

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CLE

CROSS-EXAMINATION OF EXPERTS
This presentation is from Judge Mark A. Drummond’s popular series “The 8 Keys to the Art of Persuasion.” Mark A. Drummond was a trial lawyer for nearly 20 years before taking the bench. He has taught throughout the United States and was selected by the United Nations to train the war crimes tribunal prosecutors at Oxford, The Hague and in Arusha, Tanzania.

PANEL DISCUSSION—THE EXPERT’S PERSPECTIVE OF CROSS-EXAMINATION
Learn from qualified experts how to prepare your expert for cross-examination; how to ask the right questions of the opponent’s expert; how to present your theme through cross-examination; and how to select the exhibits your expert needs to carry the message.

TERRY MACCARTHY ON CROSS-EXAMINATION
Published quotes about Terry MacCarthy, author of “MacCarthy on Cross-Examination” and Executive Director of the Federal Defender Program in Illinois: “. . . America’s most popular and respected teacher of lawyers. . .” “one of the top four CLE speakers in the country” “. . . engaging, animated, roguish and unusually intelligent.” “. . . galvanic personal style. . .” [MacCarthy] is “. . . constitutionally incapable of boring anybody for long. . .” In MacCarthy’s galvanic style, he will reevaluate how we cross- examine. Learn: the “look good”, “one word”, “storytelling” system; dynamic of cross-examination, what is important; the importance and use of primacy and recency; how to properly use transitions; looping; the three possible ways to cross-examine—which one we should use; plausibility cross-examine; and control of witness.

INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING AT TRIAL AND ETHICS
Former Trial Lawyering Skills Professor, Diane F. Wyzga, is the only R.N., J.D. and professionally-trained storyteller teaching litigators how to use storytelling techniques and principles. Realizing that defense attorneys must work with the facts of their particular legal stories, Diane helps you translate difficult fact patterns into compelling legal stories. Her interactive teaching style will help you see how to identify, shape and effectively deliver your clients’ stories, and what ethical restrictions may apply. Web site: http://www.lightrod.net

PANEL 1: PRACTICAL APPROACH TO COMMUNICATION WITH THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT
Should Staff Counsel tell Claims that their reserve is insufficient? How? What is the best way to handle potential excess exposure? How should Staff Counsel deliver unfavorable aspects of the case and an opposing view of case value to the adjuster while still maintaining a positive working relationship?

PANEL 2: HR TALENT MANAGEMENT IN A STAFF COUNSEL ENVIRONMENT
While Managers certainly appreciate the human resource training provided by individual carriers, the training is often not specific to Staff Counsel. Staff Counsel Managers have a unique set of pressures, balancing not only the management issues common to any law office, but also corporate interests such as Human Resources, Claims, and a legal department hierarchy. Our panelists are experienced in this balance and provide real world experiences on how to handle the issues facing managers in a Staff Counsel environment. This includes those “difficult” performance conversations. The presentation will include a step-by-step approach to performance management. You will be provided “tip” sheets, worksheets, and road maps to use when you, the manager, get back to your office. You will also be prepared, through role playing, for the myriad issues unique to Staff Counsel Performance Management.

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Hotel

Hotel Deadline: February 25, 2008
Advance Registration Deadline: March 3, 2008

For Reservations call the InterContinental Hotel at 312/944-4100. A limited number of rooms have been blocked for program registrants of the TIPS STAFF COUNSEL PROGRAM at the InterContinental Chicago Hotel, 505 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 6061, for a hotel room rate of $219 single/ double Main Building, or $229 single/double Historic Building plus 15.4% tax. The room block will be held until exhausted or until Monday, February 25, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. (CST). After the meeting specified hotel deadline, reservations will be confirmed based on availability. Please refer to the TIPS Staff Counsel Program when calling the hotel to make reservations. Hotel check-in is 3:00 p.m. and checkout is 12:00 p.m. (noon). All reservations must be guaranteed by credit card or deposit check. Individuals with guaranteed reservations must cancel their reservations by 24 hours prior to the scheduled day of arrival to avoid a one-night cancellation charge.

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Registration

 

You can Register online or download the registration form in the brochure and mail, or fax to 312/988-6230 by March 3, 2008. The registration fee includes admission to the program, course materials, continental breakfast, breaks, and welcome reception. If you wish to have your name appear on the pre-registration list distributed at the program, ALL registration forms must be received no later than the registration deadline of March 3, 2008. Registration reservations will be confirmed in writing within 10 business days.

Register Online Today!