You will learn from some of the premier trial lawyers of our time, including the lawyers who have literally written the book on their respective topics (Harvey Levine — Levine on Trial Advocacy: Jury Selection, Rutter Group, 2004; Dominic Gianna — Opening Statements 2d: Winning in the Beginning by Winning the Beginning, Thomson/West, 2004; and Terence F. MacCarthy – MacCarthy On Cross-Examination, ABA Publishing, 2007). Our top-notch trial lawyers have tried over a thousand cases and will pass on their innovative and effective techniques to you. In addition, a sitting Federal District Court Judge will provide his thoughts on the techniques presented, and provide you with his thoughts on professionalism, and the Dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State University will participate in the Ethics program.

Each topic will be presented by one of the top trial lawyers in the country. There will be demonstrations of the techniques discussed and panel discussions. We will cover pretrial preparation, jury selection, opening arguments, direct examination, cross examination, professionalism and ethics at trial, and closing arguments. The techniques presented are creative and persuasive. Whether you are a seasoned trial lawyer or getting ready to try your first case, you will never think about trying a case the same old way again after attending this conference.

We offer a spectacular location, Pointe South Mountain Resort, located just a short drive from Phoenix International Airport. Golf, a water park, and spa are all located on-site. Bring your family and enjoy the Desert in Spring or come by yourself and take a refreshing break. This conference offers the best that CLE and Phoenix in March can offer.

The ABA offers a special discount of $100 per person for law firms sending two or more persons. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to buy Terry MacCarthy’s treatise on Cross-Examination at a specially reduced rate. We offer over eight hours of CLE, including one hour of ethics credit.

This program is sponsored by the Trial Techniques and Business Litigation Committees of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association. We expect attendance by trial lawyers of all levels and skills. Come join us and find out why TIPS has the most innovative trials programs around!

John P. Buckley
Program Co-Chair
Ungaretti & Harris LLP
Chicago, Illinois

Return to Top

CLE

PREPARING THE CASE FOR TRIAL—30 minute presentation followed by 15 minute panel discussion
Alan Dial, a seasoned trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor, will lead a presentation on how to prepare a case for trial success. The presentation will set the stage for the CLE programs to follow and will address: the strategy of developing a trial theme and how to weave that theme throughout your case; how to select your best witnesses; the use of motions in limine to define the scope of testimony; the use of trial aids such as demonstrative exhibits and jury notebooks; and, jury psychology and testing your trial theme with jurors.

VISUAL LEARNING AND JUROR BEHAVIOR: WHEN BAD COMMUNICATIONS HAPPEN TO GOOD LAWYERS—30 minute presentation followed by 15 minute panel discussion
Bryan Harston, Senior Managing Director in FTI’s Trial Services practice, discusses persuasive communication techniques, the prized tools of a good trial lawyer. When you talk to the jury, what do you say? What do they hear? Are they the same? Are you sure? Explore some of the ways different people learn, and strategies for visually reinforcing your message in the courtroom. Panel discussion will follow.

JURY SELECTION—45 minute presentation; 15 minute demonstration; 15 minute panel discussion
Harvey Levine, one of California’s pre-eminent trial lawyers, will focus on principles of jury selection and the development of methodologies that will assist in maximizing the effectiveness of voir dire. The program will also demonstrate how specific techniques and strategies in jury selection will lead to the development of central case themes and assist in improving trial skills from opening statement to closing argument.

WINNING THE BEGINNING: THE PERSUASIVE OPENING IN THE 21ST CENTURY—45 minute presentation; 15 minute demonstration; 15 minute panel discussion
Dominic Gianna, one of this country’s foremost teachers of the arts of advocacy, persuasion and trial techniques, presents his program Winning the Beginning: The Persuasive Opening in the 21st Century. Dominic Gianna has received many awards as a result of his contributions to the art of advocacy. Dominic Gianna, the author of the widely regarded treatise on Openings, Opening Statements 2d: Winning in the Beginning by Winning the Beginning (Thomson/West, 2004), will show you how to captivate, and ultimately motivate, your jury using his unique opening argument techniques.

DIRECT EXAMINATION—30 minute presentation; 15 minute demonstration; 15 minute discussion
Larry J. Cohen, a national speaker on trial practice, will talk about how to take advantage of all the resources available to the trial lawyer to present the most interesting and effective direct examination. The successful trial lawyer does so much more in direct examination than just convey information the jury needs; the courtroom must be energized as each witness contributes what the jury is at least encouraged and at best compelled to see as valuable parts of the story that will be the lawyer’s case. Not every witness will be captivating, but successful lawyers create enduring memories in their direct examinations that are the building blocks on which favorable verdicts are based. Larry will show you how to get the most out of each witness on direct examination.

TERRY MACCARTHY’S “LOOK GOOD” CROSS-EXAMINATION - 75 minute presentation; 15 minute discussion
Terence F. MacCarthy is synonymous with effective cross-examination. For 40 years he has been the head of the Federal Defender’s Office in Chicago, and is among the top CLE instructors in the nation owing to his lectures on cross-examination technique. And now, Terence MacCarthy has literally written the book on cross-examination - published by the American Bar Association. Learn how to look good on cross, even when the witness is not cooperating. Terry will show you how to tell a story in cross-examination, too, even when you are faced with a hostile witness. Learn how to manage and effectively minimize the witness’s involvement, without appearing controlling, extracting, and insulting. Discover how to use effective short statements and make the witness affirm everything you say. Terry will present and demonstrate his cross-examination technique.

ETHICS DURING TRIAL
A Federal District Court Judge and the Dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, an Ethics Professor, discuss professionalism and ethical issues at trial with a panel comprised of a plaintiff’s trial lawyer who teaches ethics, a defense lawyer, and an in-house counsel. The panel discussion will use the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and provide practical advice for trial lawyers.

GUIDING THE JURY TO DO THE RIGHT THING—HOW TO GIVE AN EFFECTIVE CLOSING ARGUMENT—45 minute presentation; 15 minute demonstration; 15 minute discussion
Alice Hector, renowned Miami trial lawyer, will discuss successful techniques for winning your case in closing. Ms. Hector will give you ideas about how to capture and hold the attention of the jury, confirm the beliefs of the jurors already on your side, and convince the undecided jurors to vote for your client.

Return to Top

Hotel

Hotel Deadline: February 4, 2008
Advance Registration Deadline: February 11, 2008

For reservations call the Pointe South Mountain Resort at 602/438-9000. A limited number of rooms have been blocked for program registrants of the TIPS MASTERS OF THE COURTROOM PROGRAM at the Pointe South Mountain Resort, 7777 South Point Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85044, for a hotel room rate of $265 single/double plus 12.07% tax. For reservations, please call the Pointe South Mountain Resort directly at 602/438-9000. The room block will be held until exhausted or until Monday, February 4, 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 Trial Techniques Program when calling the hotel to make reservations. Hotel check-in is 4:00 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 48 hours prior to the scheduled day of arrival to avoid a one-night cancellation charge.

Return to Top

Registration

You can Register online or download the registration form in the brochure and mail, or fax to 312/988-6230 by February 11, 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 February 11, 2008. Registration reservations will be confirmed in writing within 10 business days.

Register Online Today!

* For questions regarding this program, please contact: Donald Quarles at 312/988-5708.

Return to Top

Click here for more information about the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS). Your e-mail address will only be used within the ABA and its entities. We do not sell or rent e-mail addresses to anyone outside the ABA. To change your e-mail address or remove your name from any future general distribution e-mails you can call us at 800-285-2221 or write to: American Bar Association Service Center 321 N Clark Street, Floor 16 Chicago, IL 60610. If you are an ABA member, log in to the ABA web site to edit your member profile. Otherwise, complete this form. Review the ABA Privacy Statement.