ISBA CLE

Sharpen Your Trial Skills

Presented by the ISBA Tort Law Section

Chicago
Friday, February 27, 2009
ISBA Regional Office
20 S. Clark St. (map and directions)
Suite 900
Register Now

8:55 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

5.50 MCLE credit hours, including 1.0* PMCLE credit

The speakers will address the steps in filing a lawsuit and preparing for trial from the perspective of a personal injury claim. This presentation is designed for all attorneys who are interested in improving their trial skills. The program will also address current issues and cases in trial law.

Program Coordinators/Moderators:
Ronald W. Kalish, Steinberg Goodman & Kalish, Chicago
Josephine Cullotta, Cullotta Law Offices PC, Glenview

8:55 – 9:00 a.m.  Welcome and Introductions
Ronald W. Kalish

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.  Dos and Don’ts at Trial
Our distinguished speaker will draw on his experiences and observations from 20 years of presiding from the bench over various jury trials in Cook County and will instruct on what to do and what not to do at trial. The session will also cover suggestions on effective persuasion techniques, covering all aspects of trial from motions in limine through the closing argument.
Hon. Richard J. Elrod, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago

9:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Methods, Strategies, and Structures for Voir Dire
How you select a jury can maximize your chances of winning your case. This session will address the law applicable to jury selection and will provide sample questions relating to personal injury actions.
G. Grant Dixon III, Dixon Law Office, La Grange

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.  Ethics During Trial*
For this presentation, the speaker will address the ethical conduct of an attorney during trial and will refer to the Rules of Professional Conduct.  Discussion will also include pertinent case law relating to lawyer/party/witness misconduct.
Francis P. Morrissey, Burke Mahoney & Wise, Chicago

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.  Break

10:45 – 11:15 a.m.  Opening Statement
Techniques that relate to the opening statement include storytelling, structure, and theme. The session will cover the basic dos and don’ts of the opening statement, as well as basic and recent case law relating to the opening statement.
Stephen D. Phillips, Phillips Law Offices, Chicago

11:15 – 11:45 a.m.  Expert Testimony - Getting It In, Keeping It Out, and Protecting the Record
The speaker will discuss the best ways to ensure that your expert’s opinion will be allowed at trial and also how to challenge the admissibility of your opponent’s expert opinions. Discussion will further include basic and recent case law regarding the admissibility/barring of expert testimony and how to protect and preserve the record on appeal.
Hon. Robert E. Gordon, First District Appellate Court, Chicago

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.  Lunch on your own

12:45 – 1:15 p.m.  Closing Argument
Our speaker will discuss techniques relating to the closing argument, including how to arm and motivate your favorable jurors to argue on your behalf in deliberations.
Bruce M. Kohen, Anesi Ozmon Rodin Novak & Kohen, Chicago

1:15 – 1:45 p.m.  Direct and Cross-Examination Strategies
Discussion will center on strategies that relate to direct and cross-examination, including who and how many witnesses to call and their sequence; damages; and day-in-the-life videos. Impeachment and rehabilitation will also be discussed.
Alice Dolan, Dolan & Nisivaco, LLC, Chicago
Joseph G. Bisceglia, Jenner & Block, Chicago

1:45 – 2:15 p.m.  Illinois Pattern Instructions (IPI) Update
The speaker will discuss the new IPI recently approved by the Illinois Supreme Court. The session will also cover those IPI that have been proposed but not approved and pertinent non-IPI relating to personal injury actions.
Michael T. Gill, Pfaff & Gill, Chicago

2:15 – 2:30 p.m.  Break

2:30 – 3:00 p.m.  Alternatives to Trial*
When should you consider alternatives to trial? This question and other topics including mediation, binding and non-binding arbitration, and effective presentations will be addressed.
Alex Goodrich, Vice President, ADR Systems, Chicago

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.  Evidentiary Issues Commonly Faced at Trial
Discussion will center on the rules of evidence necessary to successfully try a case. Also covered will be basic and recent case law that relate to evidentiary issues that often arise during trial of a personal injury action. 
Michael C. Bruck, Williams Montgomery & John Ltd., Chicago

3:30 – 4:00 p.m.  Bringing It All Together; Using a Trial Consultant
The speaker will address how to determine whether your case could benefit from a trial consultant and the various ways in which one can be engaged.
La Verne O. Morris, M.P.S., Trial Graphix, Chicago

*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to review