The MCLE Trial Advocacy Workshop is a unique opportunity to develop and enhance your skills as a trial attorney. It is intense, rigorous, and challenging-and "worth it."

For seven days you will be "on your feet" arguing, questioning, and developing your skills in actual trial work. From openings to closings, in direct and cross-examination, with expert witnesses and eyewitnesses, you improve your skills under the rigorous scrutiny of expert trial judges and lawyers. Most of your participation is videotaped. After general discussion in the group, you sit down with a faculty member to learn how your presentation, preparation, and technique can be improved as you watch yourself on videotape.

While both civil and criminal cases serve as the basis of instruction, the emphasis is on trial techniques rather than substantive law. The Federal Rules of Evidence are assumed, but the balance of the law is in a hypothetical jurisdiction. Each student attorney is provided with a full set of problems and case materials by Thomas A. Mauet and Warren D. Wolfson.

At the end of the workshop, you participate in the full jury trial of a case. The trials constitute a culmination of the week's efforts and give you the chance to pull together skills learned during the preceding week. Not only do you receive a full critique from the presiding judge, but you have the unique opportunity to watch your jury deliberate via closed circuit television and to discuss the jury's reaction to your courtroom skills and demeanor after the verdict is in!

Special workshop materials

You receive workshop materials, including simulation exercises, approximately one week prior to the workshop so that you may prepare. Pre-workshop preparation ensures that you maximize the learning experience for yourself and for other registrants. Each registrant is also encouraged to bring one or two volunteer "jurors" with them for the weekend jury trials. Jurors need not be lawyers and do not need to prepare anything for the workshop.

Expert faculty

An invaluable feature of this workshop is the participation of a visiting faculty of over two dozen distinguished trial judges and lawyers who provide a sophisticated and experienced view of trial advocacy.