Plug for NITA
This summer I attended a 10 day seminar put on by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy entitled Building Trial Skills. I found that the substantive information that was taught was pretty much standard fair with the exception of some technology information. Some experienced attorneys might pass it up. But what I found very useful for the beginning attorney or the more experienced attorney was the hands on work and the review of that work by some of the better, if not legendary, trial lawyers in the Pacific Northwest. Many of your opening statements, closing arguments, cross examinations etc. are taped and then you are allowed to sit down one on one with one of the legendary trial attorneys who then critiques your work. You would be surprised at how much you learn doing that. Knowledge of the technique is one thing, executing it is another. NITA puts this seminar on all year long in different regions of the country. They also have a smorgasboard of other seminars including Advanced Trial Skills which I intend to take next year.
