“Fred Lane's course is by far the absolute best” of the many trial skills programs that Bannockburn attorney James E. Keps has attended. “After the first class, I was hooked. I never missed one session,” he said.

A unique educational offering for many years for lawyers who want to enhance courtroom presentation styles, Fred Lane's Trial Technique Institute was developed by a past president of both the Illinois State Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

“As any litigator will tell you, trial advocacy is an art,” said Keps, who completed the nine-month curriculum in June. “Participating in Fred's course is like participating in a sculpting class taught by Michelangelo.”

Keps praised Lane's style of hands-on teaching and added, “Lock this guy in a safe. He is a precious commodity to the legal community.”

The fall schedule of weekly Tuesday evening classes will begin in September in the ISBA Chicago Regional Office. Prospective students may attend the opening session at no charge.

The complete curriculum consists of 54 hours of learning and practicing the finer points of trial practice. Co-directors are Fred Lane and Scott D. Lane, a member of the Tort Law Section Council.

Among guest faculty members who conduct occasional sessions are trial attorneys Philip H. Corboy, Robert Clifford, Kevin T. Martin, Joseph A. Power, Pamela L. Gellen and Andrew Kopon Jr., and Appellate Justices Warren D. Wolfson and Michael J. Gallagher.

For registration details call (312) 726-8775.