This is a webcast of the live New York session.Why you should attend
You won’t want to miss this popular program, where the masters of the bar and the bench come together to share their valuable and useful insights on jury trials. We have assembled the most experienced and respected state and federal judges, as well as many distinguished litigators, to discuss their experience of what constitutes stellar advocacy when trying jury cases. There is no better way to learn about jury trial practice than from the attorneys who try the nation’s most important cases and the judges who preside over them.
Whether you are new to your career as a trial attorney or an experienced courtroom litigator, this course will give you a unique view into jury trials and the best way to handle them, from opening statements through closing arguments. Our faculty will also analyze the ethical issues that often arise and the best ways to handle these situations. Join us to gain proven strategies and practical tools to successfully handle every phase of your next jury case.
What you will learn
Join the masters of the bar and the bench to learn how to:
- Select the best possible jurors for your client and your case
- Compose and deliver an effective opening statement
- Communicate your case powerfully through effective direct examination
- Conduct a compelling cross-examination
- Make a persuasive closing argument
You’ll also earn one hour of ethics credit as you learn how best to tackle the sometimes thorny ethical issues common in jury trials.
Who should attend
This program is designed for litigators at all levels of experience and in-house counsel who are involved, or expect to be involved, in a jury trial. Litigation support professionals will also find this program useful.
Special Feature
Get the “View from the Bench” you won't hear anywhere else. Many of the nation’s most experienced and respected judges sit on each panel and share their unique perspectives on every aspect of jury trials.
This is an approved New York transitional program
The Course Handbook for this program is now available online to all attendees!
If you would like to review the material or prepare questions for faculty ahead of time, login to www.pli.edu and go to My Online Library in the My Account drop-down menu, and you'll find the Course Handbook there several days prior to the program. You will have access to the Handbook for one year from the program date.
Please note: If you should cancel or not be able to attend the program for any reason, the online version of the Course Handbook will be removed from your cart.
PLI Group Discounts
Groups of 4-14 from the same organization, all registering at the same time, for a PLI program scheduled for presentation at the same site, are entitled to receive a group discount. For further discount information, please contact membership@pli.edu or call (800) 260-4PLI.
PLI Can Arrange Group Viewing to Your Firm
Contact the Groupcasts Department via email at groupcasts@pli.edu for more details.
Cancellations
All cancellations received 3 business days prior to the program will be refunded 100%. If you do not cancel within the allotted time period, payment is due in full. You may substitute another individual to attend the program at any time.
All times are E.S.T.
Morning Session: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (E.S.T.)
9:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks
David R. Marriott
9:15 Selecting the Best Possible Jury
- Choosing jurors likely to identify with you and your case
- Asking informative questions
- Avoiding impermissible topics
- Exercising challenges wisely
- Establishing rapport and credibility
Hon. Richard M. Berman, Douglas A. Cawley, Hon. Howard G. Lane, William F. Lee
10:15 Delivering a Persuasive Opening Statement
- Grabbing the jury’s attention – and keeping it
- Developing a theme and telling your story
- The primacy principle
- Getting the jury on your side while avoiding argument
- Handling damaging evidence
- Winning approaches and common mistakes
Hon. Dennis M. Cavanaugh, Morgan Chu, Hon. Shirley Werner Kornreich, John S. Siffert
11:15 Networking Break
11:30 Conducting an Effective Direct and Redirect Examination
- Clearly and forcefully presenting your case on direct
- Secrets to effectively preparing and organizing
- Involving the jury in the story
- Preparing with the witness
- Arguing your case through the witness
- Making your witness the star of the show
- When – and when not – to ask questions on redirect
Prof. Claudia Angelos, Hon. Victor Marrero, Michele A. Roberts, Hon. Richard J. Sullivan
12:30 Lunch
Afternoon Session: 1:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (E.S.T.)
1:45 Handling Ethical Issues in Jury Trials
- Avoiding ethical pitfalls and making ethical decisions
- Preparing a witness without coaching
- Dealing with a witness whose story changes or conflicts with other evidence
- Using jury consultants and investigating jurors
Hon. Joseph F. Bianco, Hon. John Gleeson, Michael A. Jacobs, Gregory A. Markel
2:45 Mastering the Art of Cross-Examination
- Controlling the courtroom, the witness, and the testimony
- The art of impeachment
- Arguing and reinforcing your case through cross
- Avoiding common mistakes
- Learning and using techniques that work
- Dealing with difficult witnesses
Hon. Jed S. Rakoff, Hon. Edgardo Ramos, Stephen D. Susman, Dan K. Webb
3:45 Networking Break
4:00 Making a Compelling Closing Argument
- Using your evidence powerfully and effectively: show, don’t tell, the jury
- Anticipating your adversary’s responses
- Weaving in the law
- Preparing and delivering a winning summation
Evan R. Chesler, Hon. Kiyo A. Matsumoto, Hon. Loretta A. Preska, Theodore V. Wells, Jr.
5:00 Adjourn
Chairperson(s)
Speaker(s)
Hon. Richard M. Berman ~ Senior Status, United States District Judge, United States District Court, Southern District of New York
Hon. Joseph F. Bianco ~ United States District Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
Hon. John Gleeson ~ United States District Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
Hon. Howard G. Lane ~ Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Queens County Supreme Court
Hon. Victor Marrero ~ United States District Judge, United States District Court, Sourthern District of New York
Hon. Kiyo Matsumoto ~ United States District Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
Hon. Jed S. Rakoff ~ United States District Judge, United States District Court, Southern District of New York
Hon. Edgardo Ramos ~ United States District Judge, United States District Court, Southern District of New York
Program Attorney(s)
PLI makes every effort to accredit its Live Webcasts. Please check the CLE Calculator above for CLE information specific to your state.
PLI's Live Webcasts are approved for MCLE credit (
unless otherwise noted in the product description) in the following states/territories: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho*, Illinois, Indiana
1, Iowa*, Kansas*, Kentucky*, Louisiana, Maine*, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire*, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York
2, Ohio
3, Oklahoma, Oregon*, Pennsylvania
4, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia
5, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming*.
*PLI will apply for credit upon request.
Arizona: The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement.
Arkansas and Oklahoma: Audio-only live webcasts are not approved for credit.
1Indiana: Considered a distance education course. There is a 6 credit limit per year.
2New York: Newly admitted attorneys may not take non-transitional course formats such as on-demand audio or video programs or live webcasts for CLE credit. Newly admitted attorneys not practicing law in the United States, however, may earn 12 transitional credits in non-traditional formats.
3Ohio: To confirm that the live webcast has been approved, please refer to the list of Ohio’s Approved Self Study Activities at http://www.sconet.state.oh.us. Online programs are considered self-study. Ohio attorneys have a 6 credit self-study limit per biennial compliance period. The Ohio CLE Board states that attorneys must have a 100% success rate in clicking on timestamps to receive ANY CLE credit for an online program.
4 Pennsylvania: A live webcast may be viewed individually or in a group setting. Credit may be granted to an attorney who views a live webcast individually. There is a 4.0 credit limit per year for this type of viewing. A live webcast viewed in a group setting receives live participatory credit if the program is open to the public and advertised at least 30 days prior to the program. Live webcasts viewed in a group setting that do not advertise at least 30 days prior the program will be considered "in-house", and therefore denied credit.
5Virginia: All distance learning courses are to be done in an educational setting, free from distractions.
Running time and CLE credit hours are not necessarily the same. Please be aware that many states do not permit credit for luncheon and keynote speakers.
Note that some states limit the number of credit hours attorneys may claim for online CLE activities, and state rules vary with regard to whether online CLE activities qualify for participatory or self-study credits. For more information, refer to your state CLE website or call Customer Service at (800) 260-4PLI (4754) or email: info@pli.edu.
If you have already received credit for attending some or the entire program, please be aware that state administrators do not permit you to accrue additional credit for repeat viewing even if an additional credit certificate is subsequently issued.