2012 Spring Trial Academy

The Spring Trial Academy is a two-weekend rigorous training workshop designed specifically for second-year law students. Participation in the Academy is by invitation only and is limited to interscholastic mock trial team members.

The Academy incorporates a multitude of topics and advanced training techniques intended to develop trial skills and improve courtroom presence. The 2012 Academy is offered twice during the spring semester: first on February 24th-25th and March 2nd-3rd, and again March 23rd-24th and March 30th-31st. The Friday afternoon sessions are devoted solely to improving speaking, movement and presentation skills. During the Saturday sessions, students work in very small groups for highly individualized instruction with Advocacy Program instructors and coaches in six different mini-sessions. The Academy spans two weekends so that students can take what they learn the first week and implement it the second week. Homework exercises are assigned between the first and second weekends allowing students the opportunity to put what they've learned into practice and fine-tune the skills during the second week's drills.

2012 Spring Trial Academy Schedule
First Offering: February 24-25 and March 2-3
Second Offering: March 23-24 and March 30-31

Weekend 1:
Friday, 1:00pm-5:00pm. Exercises and drills to improve breathing, speech and movement.
Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm. Sessions on opening statements using anchoring, closing with passion, witness preparation, owning the courtroom (part 1), direct examination, and cross-examination.

Weekend 2:
Friday, 1:00pm-5:00pm. Advanced exercises and drills to improve breathing, speech and movement.
Saturday, 9:00am-4:30pm. Sessions on advanced opens and anchoring, advanced closings, foundations and objections, owning the courtroom (part 2), direct examination with witness preparation, and cross-examination with impeachment.