On four consecutive Tuesdays in February beginning with Tuesday, February 3, the DC Bar will host a series titled Essential Trial Skills. Each session will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 9:15 p.m. at the D.C. Bar Conference Center, 1250 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
Part I, titled Jury Selection, will examine the process and procedures of jury selection, including learning the composition of the jury pool, preemptory strikes and using jury selection services. Faculty for that session will include Dwight Murray, Jordan, Coyne & Savits; Paulette Chapman, Koonz McKenney Johnson DePaolis & Lightfoot; and Edward Ungvarsky, Public Defender Service.
On the following Tuesday, February 10, Part II, titled Opening Statements and Closing Arguments, will take place. The course will examine opening and closing arguments from several key perspectives, including preparation, presentation and objections, as well as legal and ethical considerations. Speakers for that session will be D. Ames Jeffress, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and John McDermott, PLLC.
Part III of this series will be held Tuesday February 17 and is titled Witness Preparation and Direct Examination. The session will cover the vital task of preparing a witness to testify credibly at trial, techniques and strategies for effective direct examination, and legal ethics issues in the context of witness preparation. Faculty will be L. Barrett Boss and Hayes Hunt, Cozen O'Connor PC.
The final part of the series, Cross-Examination, takes place on Tuesday February 24. The level of the class intends to reach those lawyers who have not yet cross-examined a witness as well as those who have a modest level of experience. It will delve into the objectives, strategies, tactics, mechanics and legal principles governing effective cross-examination. Faculty for the final part of the series will be Patrick Attridge, King & Attridge and Bernard Grimm, Cozen O'Connor PC.
For information about available CLE credits and registration fees, see CLE Events on The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel website at www.metrocorpcounsel.com.
For reservations call (202) 626-3488 or visit www.dcbar.org.