Have you perfected your process of trial preparation into an art of war? Are you getting all you can out of the opportunities witnesses and opposing counsel let slip during trial? Do your juries leave the courtroom wanting to reach the verdict that you've clearly stated you want? Take your courtroom presentation skills to the next level of excellence with this strategic guide. Order today!

1. Voir Dire/Jury Selection Strategies
2. Opening Statements and Direct Examination
3. Cross-Examination and Redirect – Focus on Experts and Evidence
4. Effective Exhibits and Courtroom Technology
5. Summations and Jury Instructions
6. Roundtable Discussion

1. VOIR DIRE AND JURY SELECTION STRATEGIES
   9:00 - 10:00, Richard L. Darst
1. Preparing for Jury Selection – Researching Your “Target Audience”
   (Venue, Juror Pool Demographics, Creating Your “Ideal Juror,” Drafting Surveys/Questionnaires, etc.)
2. Preparing the Pre-Trial Order
3. Introducing Your Case During Jury Selection
4. Bringing to the Surface and Overcoming Juror and Judicial Biases
5. Reading the Vital Non-Verbal Signals Jurors are Sending
6. Peremptory and For-Cause Challenge Tactics
2. OPENING STATEMENTS AND DIRECT EXAMINATION
   10:15 - 11:30, Jennifer M. Lute Costella
1. Maximizing the Impact of Opening Statements
   (Introducing Case Theme and Key Case Parties; Laying out the Sequence of Events; Introducing Supporting and Damaging Evidence; Preparing Judge and Jury to Focus on Specific Elements of Trial Presentation; Opening Techniques That Simply Don't Work, Cutting Out Unnecessary Clutter)
2. Preparation Tips for Direct Examination
   (Establishing the Main Theme; Organizing the Order of Testimony; Preparing Witnesses; Formulating Effective Questions)
3. Areas of Direct Examination
   (Specific Approaches to Impeachment, Fact Testimony, Expert Testimony, Causation, Liability, Damages, Foundation, etc.)
4. Persuasive Witness Testimony – How to:
   1. Develop the Story and Make it Interesting
   2. Integrate a Theme
   3. Adjust to the Specific Audience
   4. Limit the Scope
   5. Handle and Introduce Exhibits
   6. Authenticate Documents
   7. Humanize Your Witness
   8. Anticipate and Neutralize Cross-Examination
5. Is Interim Commentary Allowed? How to Use it Well
3. CROSS-EXAMINATION AND REDIRECT – FOCUS ON EXPERTS AND EVIDENCE
   11:30 - 1:00, Theodore J. Blanford
1. Advance Uses of Basic Cross-Exam Tools: Bias, Opportunity to Observe, Inconsistency, etc.
2. Tips for Cross-Examining Difficult Lay Witnesses
3. Opposing Experts in the Courtroom – Setting Up the Motion to Strike
   1. Timing/Sequence
   2. Phrasing
   3. Detailed Facts
   4. Psychological Components
   5. Advanced Techniques for Getting an Expert Disqualified
4. Making and Responding to Objections
5. Relevancy Issues
6. Addressing Hearsay
7. Redirect Examination – Taking Advantage of the Often-Overlooked Resource
4. EFFECTIVE EXHIBITS AND COURTROOM TECHNOLOGY
   2:00 - 3:00, Thomas J. Jarzyniecki Jr.
1. Overcoming Fear and Confronting Technology
2. Preparing for the Digital Trial
   1. Digital Case Storage and Organization
   2. Authentication of Documents
   3. Document/Exhibit Organization
   4. Preparing the Courtroom and Conditioning the Jury
   5. Blending Technology Use Into Your Presentation for Seamless Delivery
3. Choosing the Right Method and Form of Exhibit
   (Physical vs. Image; Actual vs. Demonstrative; Budget; Setting; Venue; Subject Matter; Order of Proof; Presenter's Style and Preferences; Comfort Level With Technology)
4. Does Each of Your Exhibits Pass the 8-Point Test?
5. What Can the Opposing Counsel do With the Evidence I Introduce?
6. Video Depositions (Prior Testimony)
   1. Advantages and Pitfalls
   2. When to Use
   3. Rules of Completeness
   4. Objections
   5. Fairness
5. SUMMATIONS AND JURY INSTRUCTIONS
   3:15 - 4:15, Ronald S. Todd
1. What to Include
2. Length and Style Tactics
3. Use of Pace and Voice Inflection to Emphasize Key Elements
4. Addressing the Weak Points of the Case
5. The Verdict Sheet/Jury Instructions – Clearly Asking for What You Want
6. Handling Surprises at Trial – What to do When Unfavorable Facts Surface
7. Lessons Learned From Experience – Share Your Trial Tips and Techniques
6. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
   4:15 - 4:30, Theodore J. Blanford, Richard L. Darst, Thomas J. Jarzyniecki Jr., Jennifer M. Lute Costella, and Ronald S. Todd
1. Handling Surprises at Trial - What to do When Unfavorable Facts Surface
2. Lessons Learned From Experience - Share Your Trial Tips and Techniques

THEODORE J. BLANFORD is a managing partner of Hume, Smith, Geddes, Green & Simmons LLP, where he focuses in the insurance defense area. He defends personal injury cases, construction accident cases, legal and medical malpractice cases, environmental cases, and suits against governmental entities and their employees. Mr. Blanford's diverse trial experience ranges from termite infested houses to slander and defamation to wrongful death. He has argued in front of the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to practicing law, he was a Lieutenant with the Indiana State Police. Mr. Blanford also is a Lieutenant Colonel with the Indiana National Guard, where he serves as the state Equal Opportunity Advisor to the Adjutant General. He earned his B.S. degree from Indiana University and his J.D. degree from Indiana University School of Law.

RICHARD L. DARST is a partner at the law firm of Cohen Garelick & Glazier, where he concentrates his practice on federal litigation, employment law, and general litigation. He has held the positions of president of the 7th Circuit Bar Association, distinguished fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, president of the Indiana Affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association, president of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis Northeast, Interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Deputy Corporation Counsel for the city of Indianapolis, trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., member of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Committee on Procedures for the Appointment of Counsel in Civil Cases, member of the Southern District of Indiana Committee for Recommendations for U.S. Magistrate Judge, the Southern District of Indiana (local rules committee), and chairman of the ICLEF Federal Practice Seminar. Mr. Darst earned his B.A. degree from Indiana University and his J.D. degree from Indiana University at Bloomington School of Law.

THOMAS J. JARZYNIECKI JR. is a partner in the law firm of Kightlinger & Gray, LLP, where he practices in the areas of fire subrogation, products liability law, general trial practice and domestic relations. He is the author of "42 Things You Need to Know about Insurance Law" for the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum;"What's Mine is Yours," for an ICLEF subrogation law seminar; and "How to Become an Expert on Experts," for the National Subrogation Pro Indiana Chapter. Mr. Jarzyniecki is a frequent lecturer and has spoken at many seminars, including "Fire Litigation," for an ICLEF subrogation law seminar; and "Defense Seminar Case Law Update," "Defense Seminar on Tripartite Relationships," and "Defense Seminar on Product Liability" for the Insurance Institute of Indiana. He earned his B.A. degree from The State University of New York at Buffalo and his J.D. degree from Valparaiso University School of Law. Mr. Jarzyniecki is a member of the Indiana State and Illinois State bar associations, and also is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern districts of Indiana. He is a member of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana (Product Liability Section chair, 2003), the Defense Research Institute, the National Association of Subrogation Professionals, and the Property Loss Research Bureau.

JENNIFER M. LUTE COSTELLA started her legal career as in-house counsel focused on insurance defense, including coverage disputes, fraud and automobile liability. She then joined a multi-state law firm in northwest Indiana, and now practices with the law firm of Metzger Rosta LLP, based in Noblesville, Indiana. Ms. Lute Costella's litigation practice is concentrated in the areas of insurance and self-insured corporation defense, including contractual, automobile, trucking, products and premises liability, as well as restaurant liability. She has tried cases to juries and the bench in many counties throughout the state of Indiana. Ms. Lute Costella is admitted to practice law in the state of Indiana, and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. She earned her J.D. degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in Valparaiso, Indiana, and her Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree from Purdue University.

RONALD S. TODD is a sole practitioner in Noblesville, Indiana, where he practices in the areas of criminal and civil litigation. He has lectured previously for National Business Institute, and he is a member of the Indianapolis and American (Litigation and Small Firm sections) bar associations, and the Indiana State Bar Association (Litigation and Small Firm sections; Law Office Management, and Small Firm and Solo Conference committees), the American Association for Justice (Criminal Law, and Sole Practitioner and Small Firm sections), and the Indiana Trial Lawyer Association (sustaining member). Mr. Todd earned his B.A. degree from Miami University, his M.S.M. degree from Purdue University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Notre Dame University.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com