Georgia Civil Trial Skills

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Creating a Trial Notebook - Your Blueprint for Trial
   9:00 - 9:45, Louis R. Cohan
   1. Countdown to Trial: What You Need to Do and When
   2. Traditional vs. Electronic Trial Notebooks
   3. What to Include, What to Exclude, and How to Organize
   4. Developing Key Sections of the Trial Binder
   5. Using the Notebook and Troubleshooting From the Courtroom
2. Voir Dire and Jury Selection Tactics
   9:45 - 10:30, David M. Messer
   1. The Written and Unwritten Rules of Jury Selection
   2. Juror Questionnaires and Research Tips
   3. How Jurors Think: What You Need to Know
   4. Building Rapport and Getting Jurors Talking
   5. Asking the Right Questions the Right Way
   6. The Big DON'Ts of Voir Dire Questions
   7. Avoiding Socially Desirable Response Bias
   8. Jury Selection Strategy: Who to Strike and How
3. The Secrets to a Powerful Opening Statement
   10:45 - 11:30, David M. Messer
4. Evidence Presentation, Objections, and Admission
   11:30 - 12:15, David M. Messer
   1. Rules and Procedures Governing the Introduction and Exclusion of Evidence
   2. Motions in Limine: The Trial Lawyer's Best Friend
   3. Using Documentary Evidence
   4. Spotlight on Email, Social Media, and Smartphone Evidence
   5. Lay and Expert Witness Testimony
   6. Demonstrative and Illustrative Evidence
   7. Hearsay and Other Objections: When to Use Them and How to Respond
5. Key Cross-Examination Strategies Every Lawyer Must Know
   1:15 - 2:00, Louis R. Cohan
   1. Preparing for the Cross-Examination
   2. Maintaining Control of the Witness and Direction of the Examination
   3. Cross-Examining Experts
   4. Tips for Cross-Examining Difficult and Special Witnesses
   5. Witness Impeachment Tactics
6. Closing Arguments and Jury Instructions
   2:00 - 2:45, Louis R. Cohan
   1. Do's and Don'ts of Closing Arguments
   2. Organizing Your Closing Arguments
   3. Effectively Using Evidence
   4. Rebutting Arguments and Addressing Bad Facts
   5. Practical Insights on Discussing Damages
   6. Concluding Your Closing
   7. Jury Instructions: Standard and Special
7. Direct Examination: Top 15 Tips in 30 Minutes
   3:00 - 3:30, Louis R. Cohan
8. Ethics for Trial Lawyers
   3:30 - 4:30, Louis R. Cohan
   1. Ethical Duties Toward the Tribunal
   2. Ethics of Evidence
   3. Improper Arguments
   4. Communicating With Witnesses
   5. Ex Parte Communications
   6. Juror Investigation, Contact, Bias in Jury Selection, and Jury Tampering

Accreditation Details:

Louis R. Cohan founded Cohan Law Group, L.L.C., and has been a trial lawyer for more than 25 years. Mr. Cohan has done work in breach of contract, fraud, injunctive relief, punitive damages, employment, trade secrets, real estate, construction and construction defects, and civil rights litigation. His practice is concentrated on business litigation and employment litigation. Mr. Cohan serves on the boards of the Atlanta Bar Association (treasurer-Litigation Section, chair-Small Firm Section), and the Atlanta Bar Foundation, as well as being a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Georgia and his J.D. degree from Emory School of Law.

Charles E. Hoffecker is a member with Hayle Hoffecker Peacock, where his practice focuses primarily on representing clients in employment litigation, contract litigation, commercial/business litigation and liability litigation. Mr. Hoffecker has extensive trial experience in both state and federal courts throughout the country. He also regularly conducts arbitrations and mediations, and appears in state and federal appellate courts on behalf of the firm's clients. Mr. Hoffecker is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia. He earned his B.A. degree, with honors, from Albion College and his J.D. degree from Valparaiso University School of Law.

David M. Messer is a partner with the firm of Briskin Cross & Sanford, LLC. His practice focuses on a full spectrum of business law, with an emphasis on all phases of business dispute resolution including trials, appeals, mediation and arbitration. Mr. Messer practiced as a business trial lawyer in Oklahoma for six years prior to joining Briskin Cross & Sanford, LLC. In addition to his work in business litigation and negotiation, he has extensive experience in oil and gas litigation, homeowners' association disputes, and election disputes. Mr. Messer has also successfully represented clients in a number of appeals before the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals and the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He is a former adjunct professor at Reinhardt University in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he taught a variety of courses on business law and ethics. Mr. Messer is admitted to the practice law in Georgia and Oklahoma, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Georgia; the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He earned his B.S. degree from Free Will Baptist Bible College, his M.C.M. degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his J.D. degree, with highest honors, from the University of Tulsa College of Law.