2010 North Central Region Trial Academy

Download Registration Form | What to Expect | Program Schedule
Registration Fees | Continuing Legal Education Credit
Resort Information | Refund Policy

The North Central Trial Academy, sponsored by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana and the Wisconsin Defense Counsel, is the only trial technique seminar in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin specifically designed for defense counsel. The Trial Academy is an excellent means of providing “on your feet” experience for lawyers who have limited courtroom and trial experience.   

 

What to Expect

Students can expect personal attention, a rigorous schedule and an exceptional education in trial advocacy.

Students are provided written materials well in advance of the Academy and are responsible for coming to the Trial Academy prepared to conduct the entire defense of the trial, from the opening statement to the closing argument. The materials provided, which include investigative materials, statements from witnesses to be used for impeachment, pleadings, deposition testimony, jury instructions and articles on trial advocacy, allow the students to conduct an entire trial. The students are to be prepared as if they were actually engaged in trial.

With a ratio of four students to one instructor, every student is guaranteed individual attention during each phase of the trial. Each student is videotaped while conducting part of the trial, and each receives a copy of that videotape upon conclusion of the Trial Academy.

Due to the intensity of the program, we recommend that all participants spend Friday night, January 22, 2010, at the hotel. This will provide participants with additional time for preparation so that they can get as much out of the program as possible.
 

Registration Information
Enrollment for the Academy is limited to 44 students with registration being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee includes all Academy materials, videotape, all meals, and networking opportunities. Guestrooms must be reserved on the registration form and are at an additional rate. Members of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana or the Wisconsin Defense Counsel or their associates enjoy a reduced price registration fee.

	Registration thru 12/31/09	Late Registration
IDC, DTCI, CTCW Members	$850	$900
Non-Members	$1,000	$1,150

To guarantee that students receive their Academy materials in plenty of time to prepare for the Academy, and due to the limited enrollment of 44 students, early registration is recommended. For additional information, please contact IDC Executive Director Sandra Wulf at idc@iadtc.org or 800-232-0169. 

Refund Policy
Full refunds will be made on all cancelled rooms. Registration refunds will be made according to the following schedule:

Full Refund:	Through December 31, 2009
50% Refund:	January 1 - 10, 2010
No Refund:	January 11-22, 2010

 

Continuing Legal Education
We will apply for the following CLE credit for this program:

State	CLE Credit
Illinois	14.50
Indiana	14.50
Missouri	17.50
Wisconsin	17.50

 

Resort Information
The 2010 North Central Trial Academy will be held at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort located at 3500 Midwest Road, Oak Brook, IL. A block of rooms has been reserved for all Academy participants. The IDC will handle all room reservations. Sleeping rooms are separate from the Academy registration fee and are priced at $160 single/double. The room block will expire on December 31, 2009. Rooms reserved after this date will be made on a space and rate available basis only. To reserve a room, please indicate on the registration form, the evenings for which you will need accommodations.
 

Program Schedule

Thursday, January 21, 2010
07:00 p.m.	Informal Gathering for early arrivals
Friday, January 22, 2010
07:30 - 08:00 a.m.	Registration and Continental Breakfast
08:00 - 08:25 a.m.	Orientation
08:25 - 08:45 a.m.	Motions in Limine
08:45 - 08:55 a.m.	Jury Instructions
08:55 - 09:15 a.m.	Faculty Demonstration of Voir Dire and comments on Voir Dire
09:15 - 09:45 a.m.	Faculty Presentation of Plaintiff's Opening Statement
09:45 - 11:00 a.m.	Defendant's Opening Statement
11:00 - 11:30 a.m.	Faculty Demonstration of Defendant's Opening Statement and Discussion of Defense Opening Statement Strategy
11:30 - 12:30 p.m.	Luncheon
12:30 - 12:50 p.m.	Faculty Lecture on Cross Examination
12:50 - 01:20 p.m.	Faculty Demonstration of Plaintiff's Direct Examination (Chris Dessing)
01:20 - 03:20 p.m.	Students: Defendant's Cross Examination of Chris Dessing
03:20 - 03:40 p.m.	Faculty Demonstration of Witness’ Direct Examination of Pat Fairbanks
03:40 - 04:15 p.m.	Students: Cross-Examination of Plaintiff's Witness Pat Fairbanks
04:15 - 04:35 p.m.	Doctor's Lecture
04:35 - 04:50 p.m.	Faculty Demonstration of Direct Examination of Plaintiff's treating Physician, Dr. Reban
04:50 - 05:05 p.m.	Facutly Presentation on Direct Examination of Defendant's Retained Expert (IME), Dr. Casey
05:05 - 06:30 p.m.	Students: Cross-Examination of Treating Doctor (Dr. Reban) and Direct Examination of Defendant’s Examining Doctor (Dr. Casey)
06:30 p.m.	Cocktails & Dinner and General Review with the Faculty and members of the IDC Board of Directors
Saturday, January 23, 2010
07:45 – 08:15 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
08:15 – 08:40 a.m.	Faculty Lecture on Trial Notebooks, Trial Procedures and Procedures at End of Plaintiff’s Case
08:40 – 09:00 a.m.	Faculty Demonstration of Witness Preparation
09:00 - 10:30 a.m.	Students: Direct Examination of Defendant Dale Kippers
10:30 - 10:50 a.m.	Faculty Cross-Examination of Defendant
10:50 - 11:20 a.m.	Students: Direct Examination of Defendant’s Witness Treecote
11:20 - 12:30 p.m.	Luncheon
12:30 - 1:00 p.m.	Faculty Presentation of Plaintiffs Closing Argument
1:00 - 03:00 p.m.	Students: Defendant’s Closing Argument
03:00 p.m.	Adjournment