MCLE's Family Law Trial Advocacy Workshop is an intensely challenging course designed to enhance your domestic relations trial skills. It is a unique opportunity to spend six days "on your feet," practicing your skills under the rigorous scrutiny of Probate and Family Court judges and dozens of leading practitioners. The primary emphasis is on trial advocacy from motion practice to examination of expert witnesses to final argument.

In class sessions, you perform as a trial counsel in various phases of a domestic relations trial. Class exercises include a variety of problems that arise in the context of divorce litigation. The week begins with exhibits and demonstrative evidence and progresses to direct and cross-examination on M.G.L. Chapter 208, § 34 factors. By the end of the week, you are examining actual real estate and psychological experts who are specially selected to participate because of their experience testifying in divorce proceedings. Student performances are fully critiqued, both in group settings and one-on-one with faculty members. Throughout the week, you have the opportunity to observe expert domesticrelations practitioners demonstrate effective trial techniques. You also hear lectures on selected family law trial topics. On the last day of the workshop, you participate in the full trial of a domestic relations case. Those trials are a culmination of the week's efforts and give each student the chance to pull together skills learned during the preceding week. Each trial is presided over by a Probate and Family Court judge, who concludes the session with a critique and discussion of the student's performance.

Workshop benefits

Special workshop materials and preparation

You receive a notebook of workshop materials, including case files and motions, as well as a handout of exercises and directions approximately one week prior to the workshop so you have time to prepare. Preworkshop preparation ensures that you maximize your learning experience for the program.

In addition, attendees receive excellent resources to use in their practice. Each registrant receives Massachusetts Courtroom Advocacy, a portable reference to use in preparing for each stage of trial. The second resource, the Evidence Primer for Family Lawyers by Phyllis Federico includes a series of vignettes which highlight the right ways to introduce evidence in your practice. Registrants also receive the Civility Guidelines for Family Law Attorneys published by the Massachusetts Bar Association.