At Harvard Law School and the Sheraton Commander Hotel
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.
The intense 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
Saturday, March 10
Storytelling and the Trial Story
• Impact in opening statement
• Making your trial story in opening
Howard Nations
Juror Perceptions and Beliefs
• Attorney credibility
• Liability and damages
• Opening statement
David Wenner
Choice Theory/Framing Your Case
Mark Mandell
Demonstration: Storytelling and Theming in Opening
Jerry O’Neill
Commentary and Analysis
Chris O’Brien
Demonstration: How to Counter Negative Juror Perceptions and Beliefs in Opening
Phillip Miller
Commentary and Analysis
Chris O’Brien
Workshop Introductions
Networking Reception
Sponsored by Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, P.C.
at the home of Michael and Margie Bogdanow
Sunday, March 11
Communication Skills Workshop: Capturing, Holding, and Directing the Jury’s Attention
Joshua Karton
Workshop on Opening Statement
Preparing Witnesses for Direct and Cross-Examination
Jaine Fraser
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
Carl Solomon
Evening Colloquium (at the hotel)
Jury Selection and Voir Dire
(lecture and demonstration)
• Jury questionnaire
• Challenges for cause
• Voir dire demonstrations
• Reading nonverbals in the venire
- Finding followers and their leaders
- Locating potential blocks/factions
- Identifying likely “hot” topics and biases
Bob Gerchen
Richard Jenson
Monday, March 12
Workshop on Direct Examination
Relating to the Jury—Being Human
Charles Becton
Cross-Examination—Homicide or Suicide?
• Sequencing
• Direct v. collateral attack
Roxanne Conlin
Priming Jurors
David Wenner
Panel Discussion: Ethical Considerations in the Negotiation Waltz
Moderator: Jerry O’Neill
Roxanne Conlin
Chris O’Brien
Carl Solomon
Tuesday, March 13
Communication Skills Workshop: Voice and Movement
Joshua Karton
Workshop on Cross-Examination
Final Impact: Making Summation Count
Charles Becton
Reaching Your Goal—Let’s Talk Damages
• Giving the jury a number
• Damages in opening
• Motivating the jury to award damages
Jerry O’Neill
Chris O’Brien
Evening Colloquium (at the hotel)
How Focus Groups Can Help Your Case
• Concept versus structured focus groups
• Analyzing and using the information
Jaine Fraser
Bob Gerchen
Richard Jenson
David Wenner
Wednesday, March 14
Effective Advocacy Using Exhibits and Themes in Trial
Phillip Miller
Demonstrations: Masters of the Art of Closing Argument
• Countering negative juror perceptions and beliefs
• Using visuals
• Anticipating juror questions
• Arguing damages
Howard Nations
Workshop on Summation
Cocktail Reception
Closing Banquet (at the hotel)
