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Trial Skills Training Participants Rosemary French, Marie Contreras, TST Faculty June 2010 Trial Skills Training, July 11-18, 2010

Welcome to the 21st National Public Interest Law Trial Skills Training! We know that you will find it a unique and enriching learning experience that will help you give better service to our clients.  

Training Schedule
The training begins with registration at Presentation Center on Sunday, July 11 from 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. and ends on Sunday, July 18 at 1:00 p.m. See Schedule. Note that there are evening sessions and individual and team preparation takes place outside scheduled sessions.

 

Training Design
Trial Skills Training employs hands-on practice and demonstration as its primary methodology. For the first part of the training, we will work with Chavez-Porter v. Sutton, Roberts v. Powell and to a lesser extent, Martin v. Smith case files.

 

Please complete Document Analysis Forms and Trial Outline Form for each case before coming to the training.  On Saturday, July 17, in teams of two, you will try Martin v. Smith before a jury.

 

A highly intensive, participatory training, TST requires an enormous commitment of your time and energy both before and during the event.

 

Throughout the training you'll be working closely with other participants in small groups of 6-8 people and in teams of two. We expect that you will prepare outside of scheduled sessions, participate in every session and attend the entire event. Certificates of completion will be awarded only to participants who attend all sessions.

 

Pre-Training Assignments

We can't emphasize enough that the more that you prepare before the training, the more you can focus on skill building at the training. We are aware of what you go through to leave the office for a week. In any event, do the best that you can. Get started now! Trust us -- you can't save it for the plane or car ride -- especially if you're driving.

 

1.  Preparing Trial Outlines
Study the Chavez-Porter v. Sutton, Roberts v. Powell and Martin v. Smith case files. For each case, complete Document Analysis Forms  -- you'll need to make copies -- and the appropriate Trial Outline. No pleadings exist in Roberts; the elements of the cause of action and other pertinent law appear in the jury instructions in the case file at page 49 et seq.  Case Theory in a Nutshell and Mauet at 505-511; 526-539 discuss how to complete trial outlines and formulate a case theory. We will review and discuss the trial outlines at your first small group session on Sunday. Please bring one copy of each trial outline to exchange with a colleague at this session.

2. Reading Mauet, Trial Techniques
At the training we will give you your very own hard copy of Mauet, Trial Techniques, 7th edition. We are making an electronic version available so you can read certain pages in advance.  The training involves no lecture; large group sessions focus on demonstrating skills. Trust us, you'll have very little time to do much first time reading at the training.

Focus on the material on preparation, opening and closing, direct and cross, exhibits, experts and objections. We suggest: Chapter I; Chapter IV 61-93; Chapter V 95-139; Chapter VI 167-175; Chapter VII 247-273; Chapter VIII 309-344; Chapter IX 416-461; Chapter X 465-497; Chapter XII 541-560.

Training Site
Presentation Center is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains at 19480 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos. Directions. Although Presentation Center is in the mountains, most people have no problem with their cell phone reception. Telephone messages can be left for you at 408/354-2346.
 
There is a tennis court, and plenty of trails for hiking. There is also a swimming pool (unheated). Bring casual attire as it can get warm during the day and a jacket as it can get cool at night. All meals will be provided beginning with lunch on July 11 and ending with lunch on July 18.

Presentation Center is a retreat center, not a hotel. Consider bringing: alarm clock, flashlight, bathrobe, MP3, musical instrument, song book, sports equipment, playing cards, board games and anything else of this nature.

Transportation
The closest airport is San Jose International located about 30 minutes from Presentation Center. We can get you back to the airport at the end of the training. To get from the airport to Presentation Center, we suggest contacting Alpha-Trans Airporter or Bayex Airporter.
Alpha-Trans Airporter  866-466-6406  Special fare is $50 for up to two passengers.  Ask for Peter when making your reservation.
Bayex Airporter 800-299-0058 The fare is $69 for up to three passengers.
 

Please Bring to the Training
1. Court/hearing attire for the trial or hearing on Saturday.  Legal Services "casual" is encouraged throughout the rest of the week.

2. Laptop and flash drive (if you can) and plenty of paper, pens, pencils.  Printer will be available.

3. Post-its, stapler, paper clips and anything else to help organize you.

4. Extra light (the rooms have only one or two low wattage lamps).

5. Case files, schedule, this memo, trial or hearing outlines.

Note: Presentation Center has Wi-Fi.

We're looking forward to working with you. Contact us if you need anything at 415/695-9296 or marie@benchmarkinstitute.