Trial Skills College 2024
April 18–20, 2024
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5WDRFVN
Program is full. Call OCDLA to be added to a waitlist.
Call (541) 686-8716 to Register
Registration Information
• Pay just $425 members only ($25 savings) until March 15.
• After March 13 — $450 ($500 after April 3).
• Registration includes three days of training. Friday and Saturday include bagels and coffee each morning, protein snacks during the breaks, and Friday includes lunch.
OPEN TO OCDLA MEMBERS ONLY
LIMITED TO 36 PARTICIPANTS, a maximum of two lawyers per office
The Trial Skills College is an intensive program and a time commitment. We expect attendees to attend all sessions, and not leave early. The success of group exercises depends on each student’s participation and attendance.
HOW TO REGISTER. To ensure geographic and human diversity only two people from the same office may register, and registration is by phone only — call 541-686-8716 today! (We are happy to put additional people on the waiting list as schedules do change and positions at TSC often open up).
The Trial Skills College takes place in two different locations. We start on Thursday April 18th at the OCDLA office, 101 East 14th Avenue, Eugene, OR and on Friday and Saturday at the Public Defender Services of Lane County office, 180 East 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR.
An intensive three day training limited to 36 participants focusing on voir dire, opening statements, cross-examination and closing argument. The program includes lectures and demonstrations by faculty, and small group exercises where students practice each trial skill in a learn-by-doing approach in a controlled non-threatening environment. The exercises are videotaped and then individually critiqued by an instructor during private meetings with participants.
Students receive a trial binder and instructions in advance to prepare.
Participants also play the parts of witnesses and jurors, further adding to the real-life feel of the trial experience.
The training will significantly advance your skills and confidence as a trial lawyer, no matter your experience level.
Oregon Faculty/Instructors are joined by
Special Guest Faculty Member —
Keith Belzer, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation by April 4 will receive a refund minus a $100 cancellation fee. After April 4 there are no refunds, including for inclement weather. It is difficult to fill a space late in the process.
Program is full. Call OCDLA to be added to a waitlist.
Call (541) 686-8716 to Register
Registration Information
• Pay just $425 members only ($25 savings) until March 15.
• After March 13 — $450 ($500 after April 3).
• Registration includes three days of training. Friday and Saturday include bagels and coffee each morning, protein snacks during the breaks, and Friday includes lunch.
OPEN TO OCDLA MEMBERS ONLY
LIMITED TO 36 PARTICIPANTS, a maximum of two lawyers per office
The Trial Skills College is an intensive program and a time commitment. We expect attendees to attend all sessions, and not leave early. The success of group exercises depends on each student’s participation and attendance.
HOW TO REGISTER. To ensure geographic and human diversity only two people from the same office may register, and registration is by phone only — call 541-686-8716 today! (We are happy to put additional people on the waiting list as schedules do change and positions at TSC often open up).
The Trial Skills College takes place in two different locations. We start on Thursday April 18th at the OCDLA office, 101 East 14th Avenue, Eugene, OR and on Friday and Saturday at the Public Defender Services of Lane County office, 180 East 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR.
An intensive three day training limited to 36 participants focusing on voir dire, opening statements, cross-examination and closing argument. The program includes lectures and demonstrations by faculty, and small group exercises where students practice each trial skill in a learn-by-doing approach in a controlled non-threatening environment. The exercises are videotaped and then individually critiqued by an instructor during private meetings with participants.
Students receive a trial binder and instructions in advance to prepare.
Participants also play the parts of witnesses and jurors, further adding to the real-life feel of the trial experience.
The training will significantly advance your skills and confidence as a trial lawyer, no matter your experience level.
Oregon Faculty/Instructors are joined by
Special Guest Faculty Member —
Keith Belzer, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation by April 4 will receive a refund minus a $100 cancellation fee. After April 4 there are no refunds, including for inclement weather. It is difficult to fill a space late in the process.
2024 Trial Skills College
April 18, 19, 20 • Eugene, OR
Moderated by Laura Fine, Eugene
April 18, 19, 20 • Eugene, OR
Moderated by Laura Fine, Eugene
Thursday, April 18
LOCATION: OCDLA Office, 101 East 14th Avenue
LOCATION: OCDLA Office, 101 East 14th Avenue
Thursday, April 18
LOCATION: OCDLA Office, 101 East 14th Avenue
12:00p Registration/Check-In / OCDLA Office
1:00p Welcome and Introductions (15 min)
1:15p Demo: Opening Statement (15 min)
Demo: Jenifer Feinberg, Attorney at Law, Medford
1:30p Lecture Theme + Theory, Good Facts Bad Facts and Different Ways to Approach It (75 min)
Speaker: Keith Belzer, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, La Crosse, WI
2:45p Break (15 min)
3:00p Lecture: Opening Statement (30 min)
Speaker: Lisa Ludwig, Ludwig Runstein LLC, Portland
3:30p Setting the Scene (15 min)
Speaker: Joshua Cohen, Fat Pencil Studio, Portland
3:45p How to Prepare for Tomorrow Morning, Trial Binder and Importance of Organization (15 min)
Speaker: Laura Fine, Law Office of Laura A. Fine PC, Veneta
4:00p Ice Breaker and Introductions (45 min)
4:45p Adjourn.
Friday, April 19
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
7:30a Breakfast
8:00a Lecture: Closing Argument (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: The Honorable Edward Kroll, Beaverton Municipal Court, Beaverton
8:45a Break and move to small groups (15 min)
9:00a Small Group Workshop #1 on Closing Argument with Video Review (90 min)
10:30a Break/ Transition back to main room (15 min)
10:45a Demo: Closing Argument (15 min) / Atrium
Speaker: The Honorable Edward Kroll, Beaverton Municipal Court, Beaverton
11:00a All in the Same Boat (30 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Steven Sherlag, Sherlag | De Muniz LLP, Portland
11:30a Lunch (included) (45 min) / (Atrium)
12:15p Lecture: Demonstrative Evidence (30 min)/ Atrium
Speaker: Joshua Cohen, Fat Pencil Studio, Portland
12:45p Lecture: Cross-Examination (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Russell Barnett, Attorney at Law, Portland
1:30p Instruction on the Thuemmel Drill (5 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Russell Barnett, Attorney at Law, Portland
1:35p Practice of the Thuemmel drill in large group
1:50p Break/Transition to small groups (10 min)
2:00p Small Group Workshop #1 on Cross-Examination with Video Review
(60 min)
LOCATION: OCDLA Office, 101 East 14th Avenue
12:00p Registration/Check-In / OCDLA Office
1:00p Welcome and Introductions (15 min)
1:15p Demo: Opening Statement (15 min)
Demo: Jenifer Feinberg, Attorney at Law, Medford
1:30p Lecture Theme + Theory, Good Facts Bad Facts and Different Ways to Approach It (75 min)
Speaker: Keith Belzer, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, La Crosse, WI
2:45p Break (15 min)
3:00p Lecture: Opening Statement (30 min)
Speaker: Lisa Ludwig, Ludwig Runstein LLC, Portland
3:30p Setting the Scene (15 min)
Speaker: Joshua Cohen, Fat Pencil Studio, Portland
3:45p How to Prepare for Tomorrow Morning, Trial Binder and Importance of Organization (15 min)
Speaker: Laura Fine, Law Office of Laura A. Fine PC, Veneta
4:00p Ice Breaker and Introductions (45 min)
4:45p Adjourn.
Friday, April 19
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
7:30a Breakfast
8:00a Lecture: Closing Argument (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: The Honorable Edward Kroll, Beaverton Municipal Court, Beaverton
8:45a Break and move to small groups (15 min)
9:00a Small Group Workshop #1 on Closing Argument with Video Review (90 min)
10:30a Break/ Transition back to main room (15 min)
10:45a Demo: Closing Argument (15 min) / Atrium
Speaker: The Honorable Edward Kroll, Beaverton Municipal Court, Beaverton
11:00a All in the Same Boat (30 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Steven Sherlag, Sherlag | De Muniz LLP, Portland
11:30a Lunch (included) (45 min) / (Atrium)
12:15p Lecture: Demonstrative Evidence (30 min)/ Atrium
Speaker: Joshua Cohen, Fat Pencil Studio, Portland
12:45p Lecture: Cross-Examination (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Russell Barnett, Attorney at Law, Portland
1:30p Instruction on the Thuemmel Drill (5 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Russell Barnett, Attorney at Law, Portland
1:35p Practice of the Thuemmel drill in large group
1:50p Break/Transition to small groups (10 min)
2:00p Small Group Workshop #1 on Cross-Examination with Video Review
(60 min)
3:00p Break/move to Atrium (15 min)
3:15p Demo: Cross-Examination, Including Controlling a Difficult Witness (20 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Keith Belzer, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, La Crosse, WI
Keith Belzer, will cross-examine Dr. Mary Jane Snitch. Dr. Snitch to be played by Laura Fine.
3:35p Lecture: Plea Bargains/Ethics (60 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Joanna Perini-Abbott, Angeli Law Group LLC, Portland
4:35p Q & A from students about any issues
4:45p Adjourn for the day.
3:15p Demo: Cross-Examination, Including Controlling a Difficult Witness (20 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Keith Belzer, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, La Crosse, WI
Keith Belzer, will cross-examine Dr. Mary Jane Snitch. Dr. Snitch to be played by Laura Fine.
3:35p Lecture: Plea Bargains/Ethics (60 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Joanna Perini-Abbott, Angeli Law Group LLC, Portland
4:35p Q & A from students about any issues
4:45p Adjourn for the day.
Saturday, April 20
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
8:00a Doors open and continental breakfast available
8:30a Small Group Workshop #2 on Cross-Examination with Video Review (90 min)
10:00a Break/move to Atrium (10 min)
10:10a Voir Dire: Demo & Lecture (60 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Laura Fine, Law Office of Laura A. Fine PC, Veneta
11:10a Break/transition to small groups (5 min)
11:15a Small Group Workshop on Voir Dire with Video Review (120 min)
1:15a Lunch
1:45p Return to small groups
1:45p Small Groups — Closing Argument Workshop #2, Demos (45 min)
2:30p Break/Return to Atrium (10 min)
2:40p Closing Remarks: Integration of Theme & Theory into Each Aspect of Trial (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Keith Belzer, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, La Crosse, WI
3:25p Adjourn
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
8:00a Doors open and continental breakfast available
8:30a Small Group Workshop #2 on Cross-Examination with Video Review (90 min)
10:00a Break/move to Atrium (10 min)
10:10a Voir Dire: Demo & Lecture (60 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Laura Fine, Law Office of Laura A. Fine PC, Veneta
11:10a Break/transition to small groups (5 min)
11:15a Small Group Workshop on Voir Dire with Video Review (120 min)
1:15a Lunch
1:45p Return to small groups
1:45p Small Groups — Closing Argument Workshop #2, Demos (45 min)
2:30p Break/Return to Atrium (10 min)
2:40p Closing Remarks: Integration of Theme & Theory into Each Aspect of Trial (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Keith Belzer, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, La Crosse, WI
3:25p Adjourn
Trial Skills College students are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements. I have listed some local hotels that are close to where the Trial Skills College will take place.
Timbers Inn (0.4 miles from OCDLA office and 0.1 miles from Lane County Public Defender’s Office)
1015 Pearl Street
Eugene, OR
(800) 643-4167
(call for pricing and availability)
Graduate Eugene (1 mile from OCDLA office and 0.8 miles from Lane County Public Defender’s Office)
66 E 6th Avenue
Eugene, OR
(541) 342-2000
(call for pricing and availability)
Best Western New Oregon (1.5 mile from OCDLA office and 1.3 miles from Lane County Public Defender’s Office)
1655 Franklin Boulevard
Eugene, OR
(541) 683-3669
(call for pricing and availability)
Timbers Inn (0.4 miles from OCDLA office and 0.1 miles from Lane County Public Defender’s Office)
1015 Pearl Street
Eugene, OR
(800) 643-4167
(call for pricing and availability)
Graduate Eugene (1 mile from OCDLA office and 0.8 miles from Lane County Public Defender’s Office)
66 E 6th Avenue
Eugene, OR
(541) 342-2000
(call for pricing and availability)
Best Western New Oregon (1.5 mile from OCDLA office and 1.3 miles from Lane County Public Defender’s Office)
1655 Franklin Boulevard
Eugene, OR
(541) 683-3669
(call for pricing and availability)