Trial and Error: 50 Mistakes Even Experienced Trial Attorneys Make

Agenda / Content Covered

1. 10 Voir Dire and Jury Selection Mistakes You May Not Realize You're Making
   10:00 - 11:00, Jason Young
2. 6 Opening Statement Pitfalls Even Trial Veterans Fall Prey to
   11:00 - 11:30, Jason Young
3. 9 of the Biggest Blunders Attorneys Make During Direct and Cross-Examination
   11:45 - 12:45, William T. O'Connell
4. 8 Top Overlooked, Misunderstood, and Misapplied Rules of Evidence
   12:45 - 1:45, Katherine M. Pratt
5. 5 Trial Motion Mistakes Even the Experts Make
   2:15 - 2:45, Jason Young
6. 6 Rookie Technology and Evidence Presentation Mistakes Professionals Make
   2:45 - 3:15, Katherine M. Pratt
7. 6 Ways You're Unknowingly Damaging Your Closing Arguments
   3:30 - 4:00, William T. O'Connell
8. Ethics for Trial Lawyers
   4:00 - 5:00, Katherine M. Pratt
   1. Candor and Fairness vs. Clients' Interests
   2. Confidentiality
   3. Misused Objections and Other Interruptions
   4. Conflicting Interests
   5. Communications With the Judge, Trial Participants, Witnesses, and Jurors
   6. Lawyer Commentary and Trial Publicity

Accreditation Details:

William T. O'Connell is a member with Wells, Anderson & Race, LLC. Mr. O'Connell's practice areas include employment and civil rights defense, product liability, and insurance defense. Mr. O'Connell is co-manager of the firm's associate training program. He is a member of the Denver and Colorado bar associations, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, and Defense Research Institute (Governmental Liability Committee). Mr. O'Connell earned his B.S. degree, cum laude, from Norwich University; and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School.

Katherine M. Pratt is a member with Wells, Anderson & Race, LLC. She handles trial-level litigation and civil appeals in the areas of employment law, civil rights, premises liability, and other civil litigation. Ms. Pratt has litigated to successful conclusion disputes in both federal and state court, as well as before administrative agencies. Her practice focuses on the defense of both private and public entities and their employees in a variety of areas, including employment discrimination disputes, civil rights violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983, FLSA claims, retaliation lawsuits, unemployment benefits matters, contract based employment disputes, trade secrets matters, and premises liability actions. Ms. Pratt advises employers about human resources issues including emerging legal issues, new statutory requirements, policies, procedures, hiring, firing, and disciplining employees. Her appellate practice includes briefing and argument before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals as well as in state courts. Ms. Pratt earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Miami University Ohio and her J.D. degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Jason Young is a member of Pearl Schneider Young LLC. Mr. Young practices in the area of insurance defense litigation and has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation including discovery, motions practice, depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and jury trials. His entire career has been spent litigating cases. Mr. Young has completed over sixty jury trials throughout Colorado; is a faculty member at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy; is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates; and POST certified Reserve Deputy Sheriff. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Colorado and his J.D. degree from the University of Denver College of Law.