Product Description

Five intense days of personalized and comprehensive training provide you with fundamental courtroom skills from several venerable judges and experienced practitioners. This intense, rigorous, and challenging Workshop—and, as many of the state’s best trial lawyers attest—is vital for eager trial attorneys entering the practice and for those who want to brush up on their trial skills.

Spend the week “on your feet,” arguing, questioning, and developing your skills in a mock trial setting. From opening statements to closing arguments, direct and cross examinations, expert witnesses and eyewitnesses, you improve your trial techniques under the close scrutiny of trial judges and leading attorneys. Most of your trial performance is videotaped, so you can watch yourself in action throughout the day and receive constructive feedback from multiple faculty members, including judges.

The tips, videos, demonstrations, lectures, and group discussions throughout the Workshop culminate with a full jury trial on the final day. After your performance, you watch a live jury deliberation via closed-circuit TV before the verdict is delivered. This Workshop is your chance to hear what the mock jury thought of your skills, arguments, and courtroom demeanor. Supportive critique continues even after the trial as the presiding judge gives you unique, personalized feedback on your effectiveness. You emerge with well-honed trial skills and the ability to face your first—or next—jury trial with confidence.

This Workshop features over two dozen distinguished trial court judges, expert litigators, and several experienced lawyers who share their deep knowledge of trial practice, along with their practical and encouraging critique, as your personal mentors throughout the week. Networking opportunities continue at the closing reception, with both students and faculty attending. You leave this Workshop with a sense of accomplishment along with greater confidence in your new-found trial practice skills.

You’re encouraged to bring one or two volunteer “jurors” with you to MCLE on the final day of the Workshop—it’s a fun learning experience for them as well! Jurors need not be lawyers or law students and no advance preparation is necessary.

Agenda & Materials

• Day One: Opening Statements and Direct Examinations
• Critiquers:

  Robert M. Higgins, Esq., Lubin & Meyer, PC , Boston
  Mary M. Logalbo, Esq., MBTA Legal Department , Boston
  Steven V. Loughlin, Esq., Middlesex Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Woburn
  Jay Lynch, III, Esq., Lynch & Lynch, PC , South Easton
  
• 8:30 - 9:00 am

  Orientation and Introductions

  Hon. Paul A. Chernoff, Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.) , Boston
  Hon. Heidi E. Brieger, Trial Court/Administrative Office , Boston
  
• 9:00 - 10:00 am

  Demonstration of Opening Statements and Discussion

  Ellen J. Zucker, Esq., Burns & Levinson LLP , Boston
  
• 10:00 - 12:45 pm

  Opening Statements by Participants
• 12:45 - 1:45 pm

  Lunch (on your own)
• 1:45 - 2:15 pm

  Demonstration of Direct Examination and Discussion

  Hon. Catherine H. Ham, Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• 2:15 - 5:30 pm

  Direct and Cross by Participants

  Panel
  
• Day Two: Cross Examinations Re-Directs and the Use of Demonstrative Aids
• Critiquers:

  Joanne M. Daley, Esq., Federal Public Defender Office , Providence
  ,
  John P. Graceffa, Esq., Morrison Mahoney LLP , Boston
  Tracy M. Waugh, Esq., Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker LLP , Boston
  
• 8:30 - 8:40 am

  Introduction and Video
• 8:40 - 9:30 am

  Demonstration of Cross-Examination and Re-Direct Examination

  Leonard H. Kesten, Esq., Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten LLP , Boston
  Thomas R. Donohue, Esq., Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten LLP , Boston
  Hon. Paul A. Chernoff, Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.) , Boston
  
• 9:30 - 12:45 pm

  Cross and Re-Direct Examinations by Participants

  Panel
  
• 12:45 - 1:45 pm

  Lunch (on your own)
• 1:45 - 3:30 pm

  Introduction of Exhibits by Participants
• 3:30 - 4:30 pm

  Demonstration of Demonstrative Aids

  Joanne M. Daley, Esq., Federal Public Defender Office , Providence
  
• 4:30 - 5:30 pm

  Introduction of Exhibits by Participants (Continued)

  Panel
  
• Day Three: Qualifying and Examining Expert Witnesses
• Critiquers:

  Clarence H. Brown, Esq., Middlesex Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Woburn
  Robert L. Burke, Esq.,
  Ellen Epstein Cohen, Esq., Adler, Cohen, Harvey, Wakeman & Guekguezian LLP , Boston
  Hon. Elizabeth A. Dunigan, Essex Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Salem
  Nigel W. Long, Esq., Liberty Mutual Insurance Group , Boston
  Patrick J. Richard, Esq., , Lowell
  
• 8:30 - 8:40 am

  Introduction and Video
• 8:40 - 10:30 am

  Demonstration of Medical Malpractice

  Christine M. Martin, Esq., MBTA Legal Department , Boston
  A. Bernard Guekguezian, Esq., Adler, Cohen, Harvey, Wakeman & Guekguezian LLP , Boston
  Dr. Leslie Shaff, Esq., Attorney and Anesthesiologist , Newton
  
• 10:30 - 11:30 am

  Introduction of Exhibits (continued if necessary) by Participants

  Panel
  
• 11:30 - 1:00 pm

  Expert Problems by Participants
• 1:00 - 2:00 pm

  Lunch (on your own)
• 2:00 - 3:00 pm

  Demonstration of Closing Argument

  Clarence H. Brown, Esq., Middlesex Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Woburn
  Marisa Tagliareni, Esq., Middlesex Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Woburn
  
• 3:00 - 5:30 pm

  Expert Problems by Participants (continued)
• Day Four: Closing Arguments
• Critiquers:

  Crispin Birnbaum, Esq., Access to Justice Fellow , Watertown
  Jeffrey N. Catalano, Esq., Keches Law Group, PC , Bridgewater
  Hon. Cynthia J. Cohen, Appeals Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.) , Cambridge
  Andrew C. Meyer, Jr., Esq., Lubin & Meyer, PC , Boston
  
• 8:30 - 8:40 am

  Introduction and Video
• 8:40 - 12:45 pm

  Closing Arguments by Participants (limit 10 min)
• 12:45 - 1:45 pm

  Lunch (on your own)
• 1:45 - 2:30 pm

  Trial Preparation and Faculty Coaching
• 2:30 - 3:30 pm

  View From the Bench: Ethics of Trial

  Hon. Heidi E. Brieger, Trial Court/Administrative Office , Boston
  Hon. Paul A. Chernoff, Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.) , Boston
  Hon. William F. Sullivan, Suffolk Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• 3:30 - 4:30 pm

  MCLE Reception
• Day Five: Mock Trials
• 8:30 - 9:30 am

  Jury Orientation and Courtroom Assignments
• 9:30 - 12:30 pm

  Morning Trials

  Hon. Heidi E. Brieger, Trial Court/Administrative Office , Boston
  Hon. Paul A. Chernoff, Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.) , Boston
  
• 12:30 - 1:30 pm

  Lunch (Provided by MCLE, for Jurors as Well)
• 1:30 - 4:30 pm

  Afternoon Trials

  Hon. Heidi E. Brieger, Trial Court/Administrative Office , Boston
  Hon. Paul A. Chernoff, Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.) , Boston
  

Please Note

MCLE webcasts are delivered completely online, underscoring their convenience and appeal. There are no published print materials. All written materials are available electronically only. They are posted 24 hours prior to the program and can be accessed, downloaded, or printed from your computer.

Cochairs

Faculty