NELA
Empowering Workers' Rights Attorneys
Trial Boot Camp
Thursday, October 17 |
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|---|---|
| 7:00–8:00 a.m. | Registration & Breakfast |
| 8:00–8:15 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
| 8:15–9:30 a.m. | The Importance of Focus Groups Using focus groups in advance of trial can be an invaluable strategy to flesh out the strengths and weaknesses of your case in advance of trial. Our panelists will share how you can most efficiently utilize focus groups (and do so at any budget). |
| 10:00–11:15 a.m. | Jury Selection Strategy Selecting a jury that will be open and receptive to your client and their story is a vital component of any trial. Often implicit biases play a role in determining what the “perfect juror” looks like. This panel will explore how you can strategize in advance of your jury selection and ensure you are not relying on preconceived notions of who the right juror is for your case. |
| 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Workshop: Focus Groups & Jury Selection Strategy (Part 1) Trial teams will meet and discuss the lessons from the morning plenary sessions. All Advocates should be prepared with a list of questions they would want answered from a focus group if they were preparing the mock trial in a “real world” setting. Trial teams can discuss how the advocate questions about the case raise about the potential strengths and weaknesses of the case. |
| 1:15–2:00 p.m. | Workshop: Focus Groups & Jury Selection Strategy (Part 2) Trial teams will meet and continue to discuss the lessons from the morning plenary sessions. All Advocates should come prepared with a list of voir dire questions for the mock trial. The mock trial day will not include jury selection, so this will be your only time to discuss what your jury selection strategy would be for this case. |
| 2:15–3:30 p.m. | The Mechanics of Trial Navigating the complex rules of the courtroom are vital to a successful trial. Selecting the order of your witnesses, correctly submitting trial evidence, and navigating trial objections are among the topics our experienced litigators will cover. |
| 4:00–4:45 p.m. | Workshop: The Mechanics of Trial Trial teams will meet and practice the skills discussed during the Mechanics of Trial plenary session. Advocates should come prepared with an outline of how they would organize their trial, including order of witnesses and evidence presentation. |
| 5:00–6:00 p.m. | Trial Team Huddles Trial Boot Camp Advocates and Campers will meet with their designated Trial Teams and Leaders to prepare for the mock trials using the techniques and pointers discussed during the day’s lectures and workshops. |
| 6:00–6:45 p.m. | Reception Co-Sponsored by the National Institute for Workers’ Rights |
Friday, October 18 |
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| 7:00–7:50 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:00–9:15 a.m. | The First & Last Word—Developing Powerful Opening & Closing Statements Trials are an exercise in storytelling and your opening & closing statements are your chance to ensure jurors see the full story behind your case. Our experts will share their strategies for drafting powerful opening & closing statements and demonstrate courtroom techniques to make the most of your time in front of the jury. |
| 9:45–11:15 a.m. | Workshop: Powerful Opening & Closing Statements Trial teams will meet and practice the skills discussed during the Opening & Closing Statements plenary sessions. All Advocates should come prepared with 5 minutes of an opening or closing statement to share with the group and receive critique. |
| 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | The Art of Examining Witnesses Witness testimony is often the most powerful part of any trial and mastering the art of examining witnesses can make (or break) your case. From preparing your own witnesses for direct to perfecting the art of cross examination, our experienced faculty will share their tips and tricks for making the most of witness testimony. |
| 1:15–2:45 p.m. | Workshop: The Art of Examining Witnesses Trial teams will meet and practice the skills discussed during the witness examination plenary sessions. All Advocates should come prepared with a list of questions (either direct or cross as assigned) to moot with their trial team. |
| 3:15–4:30 p.m. | Workshop: Final Thoughts The final workshop period will be a chance for trial teams to discuss how the skills they have learned over the past two days work cohesively to present a winning case. |
| 4:30–6:00 p.m. | Trial Team Huddles Trial Boot Camp Advocates and Campers will meet with their designated Trial Teams and Leaders to prepare for the mock trials using the techniques and pointers discussed during the day’s lectures and workshops. |
Saturday, October 19 |
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| 7:00–7:50 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:00–10:00 a.m. | Mock Trial I Trial Boot Camp Advocates and Campers will meet with their designated Trial Teams and Team Leaders for the first mock trial. |
| 10:00–11:00 a.m. | Mock Trial I Evaluation Session Advocates and Campers will meet with their designated Trial Teams and Team Leaders for a critique of the first mock trial. |
| 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Box Lunch |
| 12:00–2:00 p.m. | Mock Trial II Trial Boot Camp Advocates and Campers will meet with their designated Trial Teams and Team Leaders for the second mock trial. |
| 2:00–3:00 p.m. | Mock Trial II Evaluation Session Advocates and Campers will meet with their designated Trial Teams and Team Leaders for a critique of the second mock trial. |
A common fact pattern based on an actual discrimination case will be used for the skill-building workshops and mock trials. Participants will be provided with the case materials in advance of the Boot Camp and will begin working with their Trial Teams before arriving at the Boot Camp to maximize the learning experience. The first two days of Trial Boot Camp include:
Workshops
Participants will meet with their designated Trial Teams and Leaders to refine trial techniques and perfect individual styles by participating in skill-building workshops.
Trial Team Huddles
Trial Boot Camp Advocates and Campers will prepare for the mock trials using the techniques and pointers discussed during the day’s lectures and workshops.
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