Welcome

Introductory Remarks on Trial Advocacy

James H. Seckinger, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame (USA)

Questioning Techniques: Drills on the Fundamentals

Part 1: Non-Case Specific Topics

• Overview
  
• Demonstration by faculty
  
• Performance by participants in pairs
  
  1. practicing “succinctness” in questioning witnesses
     
  2. practicing “headlines” in questioning witnesses
     
  3. practicing “open questions” with witnesses
     
  4. practicing “closed questions” with witnesses
     
  5. practicing “summarizing facts” as in an opening statement

Questioning Techniques: Drills on the Fundamentals

Part 2: Case Specific Topics

• Exercise: maximizing a favourable factual theory or minimizing an unfavourable factual theory
  
• Demonstration by faculty
  
• Performance by participants in pairs on each of the 5 fundamental questioning techniques.
  
  1. practicing “succinctness” in questioning witnesses
     
  2. practicing “headlines” in questioning witnesses
     
  3. practicing “open questions” with witnesses
     
  4. practicing “closed questions” with witnesses
     
  5. practicing “summarizing facts” as in an opening statement

Opening Statements & Closing Arguments
Exercises on the Fundamentals – Part 1

• Demonstration by faculty
  
• Performance by participants in pairs
  
  1. start an opening statement limited to maximizing
     one favourable factual theory
     
  2. start a closing argument limited to maximizing one
     favourable factual theory
     
  3. opening statement limited to maximizing one
     favourable factual theory

Opening Statements & Closing Arguments
Exercises on the Fundamentals – Part 2

• Demonstration by faculty
  
• Performance by participants in pairs
  
  4. closing argument limited to maximizing one
     favourable factual theory
     
  5. end an opening statement limited to maximizing one
     favourable factual theory
     
  6. end a closing argument limited to maximizing one
     favourable factual theory

Chief, Cross & Re-Examination
Exercises on the Fundamentals – Part 1

• Demonstration by faculty
  
• Performance by participants in pairs
  
  1. examination-in-chief limited to maximizing one
     favourable factual theory
     
  2. cross-examination limited to maximizing one
     favourable factual theory
     
  3. re-examination limited to maximizing one favourable
     factual theory

Chief, Cross & Re-Examination
Exercises on the Fundamentals – Part 2

• Demonstration by faculty
  
• Performance by participants in pairs
  
  4. examination-in-chief limited to minimizing one
     unfavourable factual theory
     
  5. cross-examination limited to minimizing one
     unfavourable factual theory
     
  6. re-examination limited to minimizing one
     unfavourable factual theory

Workshop Leader

James H. Seckinger, Professor of Law
University of Notre Dame (USA)

Based on the fact scenario used during the main program, participants will have the opportunity, in partners, to put what they have learned into practice and conduct a mock trial. The skills learned will be valuable to both criminal and civil practitioners.

The mock trial exercise brings together the various trial advocacy skills taught in the preceding day and a half into a full trial scenario. Each trial will
be presided over by top litigators, who will provide individual critiques and coaching to participants at the close of the trial. This invaluable feedback will further develop, correct and refine advocacy skills. The main objective of the session is not to identify the “winner” of the case, but rather the team with superior advocacy skills.

It’s rare to get a chance to get individual feedback beyond law school advocacy courses, and it’s rare to get focussed expert practitioner feedback at all. This will be a supportive, non-intimidating environment
geared toward helping you improve your trial performance. Preparation will be required; however, the results will be worth it. The enrolment will be
strictly limited to ensure a quality experience, so register now. You’ll be glad you did.

What Past Attendees Said:

“The emphasis on learning-by-doing was most valuable. The good habits become adopted as a ‘matter of course’ in what I do.”

“All of the presenters were marvellous in the hands-on provision of advice.”