Trial Skills College 2025
April 10–12
The program is full. Call OCDLA to be added to a waitlist at (541) 686-8716.
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 10th 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 an electronic 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, Nelson Defense Group, Hudson, Wisconsin
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation by March 27 (two weeks prior) will receive a refund minus a $100 cancellation fee.
After March 27 (two weeks prior) there are no refunds, including for inclement weather. It is difficult to fill a space late in the process.
2025 Trial Skills College
April 10–12 • Eugene, OR
Moderated by: Laura Fine
Thursday, April 10
LOCATION: OCDLA Office, 101 East 14th Avenue
12:00p Registration/Check-In / OCDLA Office
1:00 Welcome and Introductions (15 min)
1:15 Demo: Opening Statement (15 min)
Speaker: Jenifer Feinberg, Attorney at Law, Medford
1:30 Lecture Theme + Theory, Good Facts Bad Facts and Different Ways to Approach It (75 min)
Speaker: Keith Belzer, Nelson Defense Group, Hudson, WI
2:45 Break (15 min)
3:00 Lecture: Opening Statement (30 min)
Speaker: Paul Rudof, Northampton, MA
3:30p Setting the Scene (15 min)
Speaker: Joshua Cohen, Fat Pencil Studio, Portland
3:45 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
4:00 Ice Breaker and Introductions (45 min)
4:45p Adjourn for the day
April 10–12 • Eugene, OR
Moderated by: Laura Fine
Thursday, April 10
LOCATION: OCDLA Office, 101 East 14th Avenue
12:00p Registration/Check-In / OCDLA Office
1:00 Welcome and Introductions (15 min)
1:15 Demo: Opening Statement (15 min)
Speaker: Jenifer Feinberg, Attorney at Law, Medford
1:30 Lecture Theme + Theory, Good Facts Bad Facts and Different Ways to Approach It (75 min)
Speaker: Keith Belzer, Nelson Defense Group, Hudson, WI
2:45 Break (15 min)
3:00 Lecture: Opening Statement (30 min)
Speaker: Paul Rudof, Northampton, MA
3:30p Setting the Scene (15 min)
Speaker: Joshua Cohen, Fat Pencil Studio, Portland
3:45 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
4:00 Ice Breaker and Introductions (45 min)
4:45p Adjourn for the day
Friday, April 11
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
7:30a Breakfast
8:00 Lecture: Closing Argument (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Reid Kajikawa, Public Defense Services of Lane County, Eugen
8:45 Break and move to small groups (15 min)
9:00 Small Group Workshop #1 on Closing Argument with Video Review (90 min)
10:30 Break/ Transition back to main room (15 min)
10:45 Demo: Closing Argument (15 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Tamara Scull, Elkhorn Public Defenders, Vale
11:00 Lecture: Demonstrative Evidence (30 min)/ Atrium
Speaker: Joshua Cohen, Fat Pencil Studio, Portland
11:30 Lunch (included) (45 min) / (Atrium)
12:15p Lecture: Cross-Examination (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Russell Barnett, Attorney at Law, Portland
1:00 Instruction on the Thuemmel Drill (5 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Russell Barnett, Attorney at Law, Portland
1:05 Break/Transition to small groups (10 min)
1:15 Practice of the Thuemmel drill in small groups (20 min)
1:35 Small Group Workshop #1 on Cross-Examination with Video Review
(60 min)
2:35 Break/move to Atrium (15 min)
2:50 Lecture: Plea Bargains/Ethics (60 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Hugh Duvall, Duvall Law Office PC, Eugene
3:50 Demo: Cross-Examination, Including Controlling a Difficult Witness (20 min)/ Atrium
Speaker: Keith Belzer
Keith Belzer, will cross-examine Dr. Mary Jane Snitch. Dr. Snitch to be played by Laura Fine.
4:05 Stretch break (10 minutes)
4:15 If you fall asleep at counsel table, the first thing you say when you wake up is “objection”. Be A Goldfish (30 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Whitney Boise, Boise Matthews LLP, Portland
4:45 Q & A from students about any issues
5:00p Adjourn for the day.
Saturday, April 12
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
8:00a Doors open and continental breakfast available
8:30 Small Group Workshop #2 on Cross-Examination with Video Review (90 min)
10:00 Break/move to Atrium (10 min)
10:10 Voir Dire: Demo & Lecture (60 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Lisa Ludwig, Ludwig Runstein LLC, Portland
11:10 Break/transition to small groups (5 min)
11:15 Small Group Workshop on Voir Dire with Video Review (120 min)
1:15p Group Photo
1:25 Lunch
1:55 Return to small groups
1:55 Small Groups — Closing Argument Workshop #2, Demos (45 min)
2:40 Break/Return to Atrium (10 min)
2:50 Closing Remarks: Integration of Theme & Theory into Each Aspect of Trial (45 min) / Atrium
Speaker: Keith Belzer
3:35p Adjourn
Thursday, April 10
LOCATION: OCDLA Office,101 East 14th Avenue
Friday, April 11
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
Saturday, April 12
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
LOCATION: OCDLA Office,101 East 14th Avenue
Friday, April 11
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
Saturday, April 12
LOCATION: Public Defender Services of Lane County Office, 180 East 111h Avenue
The program is full. Call OCDLA to be added to a waitlist at (541) 686-8716.