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 And Jury Selection Strategies
2. Opening Statements and Direct Examination
3. Cross-Examination and Redirect – Focus on Evidence
4. Finding and Dealing with Experts
5. Effective Exhibits and Courtroom Technology
6. Summations and Jury Instructions

1. VOIR DIRE AND JURY SELECTION STRATEGIES
   9:00 - 9:45, John E. Ballow
   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
   9:45 - 10:45, Dennis R. McCoy
   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 EVIDENCE
   11:00 - 12:00, Leonard D. Zaccagnino
   1. Advance Uses of Basic Cross-Exam Tools: Bias, Opportunity to Observe, Inconsistency, etc.
   2. Tips for Cross-Examining Difficult Lay Witnesses
   3. Making and Responding to Objections
   4. Relevancy Issues
   5. Addressing Hearsay
   6. Redirect Examination – Taking Advantage of the Often-Overlooked Resource
4. FINDING AND DEALING WITH EXPERTS
   1:00 - 2:00, John P. Feroleto
   1. Finding the Expert
   2. Vetting the Expert
   3. Using an Expert for Trial Prep
   4. Direct and Cross of Expert
5. EFFECTIVE EXHIBITS AND COURTROOM TECHNOLOGY
   2:00 - 3:15, F. David Rusin
   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
6. SUMMATIONS AND JURY INSTRUCTIONS
   3:30 - 4:30, John E. Ballow
   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

JOHN E. BALLOW is the principal of The Ballow Law Firm, P.C., located in Buffalo, New York, where he specializes in the trial of cases involving personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death and construction site accidents. Mr. Ballow is a graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo, New York and the Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He is a former special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Ballow has been adjunct professor of law at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School since 1998, where he teaches trial technique. He is certified by both the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in medical malpractice. Mr. Ballow was involved in the representation of victims of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in a pro bono capacity. He frequently lectures in the areas of trial technique, wrongful death, medical malpractice and the use of experts at trial. Mr. Ballow has been asked to act as trial counsel for law firms throughout New York, as well as other jurisdictions. From 2005 through 2008, he has been nominated by his peers to be included in Who's Who in Law in Western New York in the areas of personal injury and medical malpractice. Mr. Ballow has also been selected to be included in the New York edition of Super Lawyers for the years 2007 through 2009 in the area of personal injury litigation, where he was selected as one of the top 50 attorneys in upstate New York. He has written articles that have been published regarding medical malpractice and was a reviewer for The Federal Judicial Center's 2004 publication of the Manual for Complex Litigation, 4th Edition.

JOHN P. FEROLETO is a principal in the firm of John P. Feroleto, Attorney at Law, where he has practiced for more than 25 years. He has presented for national, state, provincial and local associations, including the American Association for Justice, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and various local or regional professional groups. Mr. Feroleto has served as the chair of the National Interstate Trucking Litigation Group of the American Association of Justice and represents individuals injured by defective products, and those injured at construction sites or the workplace, and trucking and transportation collisions.

DENNIS R. McCOY is a partner with Hiscock & Barclay, LLP, where his main areas of practice include torts, insurance and professional malpractice. He has lectured numerous times on his areas of expertise. Mr. McCoy was the chair member for the presentation "Issues in Legal Malpractice." He was a presenter at the presentation "Knowing Your Malpractice Liability Insurance Policy and Avoiding the Use of It." Mr. McCoy has written several articles for various publications on his areas of expertise. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. degree from the University of Buffalo Law School. Mr. McCoy is a member of the Erie County and New York State (Torts Insurance and Compensation Law Section and Executive Committee) bar associations, the New York Bar Association Committee on Association Insurance Programs, the Committee on Tort Reparations, the Defense Research Institute and the Advisory Board for CytoJournal.

F. DAVID RUSIN is a trial attorney with the Law Offices of William K. Mattar, P.C., where he concentrates his practice on the prosecution of personal injury claims on behalf of injured persons. He has extensive civil trial experience in the areas of personal injury, automobile liability, premises liability and admiralty law. Mr. Rusin is admitted to practice before all courts in New York, the U.S. District Court for the Western and Northern districts of New York, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a frequent lecturer on a wide variety of topics, including issues related to personal injury, automobile liability, no-faults, torts, insurance coverage and ethics. Mr. Rusin earned his B.A. degree from The State University of New York at Buffalo and his J.D. degree from the University of Dayton School of Law.

LEONARD D. ZACCAGNINO is a partner with the law firm of Shaw & Shaw, P.C., where he practices in the areas of personal injury litigation, general civil litigation and civil and trial law. He spends most of his time representing plaintiff civil actions, as well as criminal and trial work. Mr. Zaccagnino has also been chosen as an arbitrator in numerous arbitration proceedings involving claims for personal injuries. He has spoken on behalf of the Young Lawyers Section of the Erie County Bar Association on "Lawyer Advertising for the Small to Medium Size Firms," the New York State Bar Association on "No Fault Insurance," Hilbert College on "Civil Litigation and Trial Practice" and at numerous seminars on issues dealing with civil litigation. Mr. Zaccagnino earned his B.S. degree from Canisius College and his J.D. degree from Syracuse University. He is a member of the New York Trial Lawyers, the Western New York Trial Lawyers, the Erie County Bar Association (member, Negligence Committee) and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

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