at Harvard Law School
Cambridge, MA
With the inaugural program held in 1990, ATLA's Ultimate was the first of its kind to train trial lawyers in advanced communication skills and trial strategies. Using more than 20 years of ATLA/AAJ research, ATLA's Ultimate remains the national gold standard of trial advocacy programs.
With a recently updated agenda, this indepth five-day program delivers the ultimate strategies for jury selection, voir dire, trial psychology, and courtroom communications. It includes a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on workshops led by a faculty of seasoned trial lawyers with nationally recognized trial consultants and communications experts. Only experienced trial lawyers with more than five jury trials are admitted to the program.
"I was reminded why we do this work. I was supported, encouraged, taught so much that was profoundly helpful. I’m inspired. And, I take on faith the honest invitations by every faculty member that I can call them with questions, concerns, issues. Thank you so much."
—Emily Joselson, Middlebury, VT, 28 years in practice
"The Ultimate is far and away the best college I have ever attended. The insight that I have gained from the lectures and workshops was incredible. I believe that I will become a better lawyer after attending this college."
—Christopher M. Miller, Pittsburgh, PA, 15 years in practice
"I cannot wait to use the insights and techniques discussed and demonstrated during this course. The difference between the way we do things and the way we should do things could not be more clear after attending this college."
—Michael Lalli, Philadelphia, PA, 6 years in practice
Open only to AAJ Plaintiff Members (Regular, Life, Sustaining, President’s Club, and Leaders Forum) and is limited to 45 participants.
Saturday, March 16
Storytelling and the Trial Story• Impact in opening statement
• Making your trial story in opening
Juror Perceptions and Beliefs
• Attorney credibility
• Liability and damages
• Opening statement
Choice Theory/Framing Your Case
Demonstration: Storytelling and Theming in Opening
Commentary and Analysis
Demonstration: How to Counter Negative Juror Perceptions and Beliefs in Opening
Commentary and Analysis
Reverse Planning Lecture and Interactive Demonstration
Networking Reception
Sponsored by Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, P.C.
Sunday, March 17
Workshop on Opening Statement
Preparing Witnesses for Direct and Cross-Examination
Telling the Story Through Direct Examination
(lecture and demonstration)
• Getting the jury to listen
• Sequencing to keep the story moving
• Simplifying the complex
• Anticipating cross
Monday, March 18
Workshop on Direct Examination
Relating to the Jury—Being Human
Cross-Examination—Homicide or Suicide?
• Sequencing
• Direct v. collateral attack
Priming Jurors
Panel Discussion: Ethical Considerations in the Negotiation Waltz
Evening Colloquium (at the hotel)
Voir Dire Lecture and Interactive Session
Tuesday, March 19
Communication Skills Workshop: Voice and Movement
Workshop on Cross-Examination
Final Impact: Making Summation Count
• Trial Lawyers’ Perspective
• Trial Consultants’ Perspective
Reaching Your Goal—Let’s Talk Damages
• Giving the jury a number
• Damages in opening
• Motivating the jury to award damages
Wednesday, March 20
Neuroscience and Decision Making UpdateDemonstrations: Masters of the Art of Closing Argument
• Countering negative juror perceptions and beliefs
• Using visuals
• Anticipating juror questions
• Arguing damages
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