The Advocacy Series- keynotes and seminars

The best advocacy, both in and out of a courtroom, requires honest communication.  That, in turn, always requires sensitive listening and often depends on dramatic skills.  Building on both his legal and theatrical experience, Judge Schudson offers advocacy programming tailored for law students, lawyers, and other individuals seeking to enhance their personal and professional communication. 

 

  1. Trial Advocacy - The Complete Course (thirty hours) - for law schools
  2. Trial Advocacy - A Comprehensive "Introduction" (four hours) - for bar associations and law firms
  3. Appellate Advocacy - Writing and Arguing - for bar associations and law firms
  4. Dramatic Skills - The Actor's Art in the Courtroom - for law schools, bar associations, and law firms
  5. Individual Litigation Coaching - for lawyers

 

1.Trial Advocacy - The Complete Course (thirty hours)

Designed for law schools, Trial Advocacy is a "scholar-in-residency" seminar for ten students.  Featuring substantial role-playing and mock-trialing, Judge Schudson's Trial Advocacy may be unique.  It includes group coaching, individual mentoring, and an evening of theatre and discussion with professional actors and directors.

Since 1999, Judge Schudson's Trial Advocacy has been presented at the University of Wisconsin Law School where, each semester, the students, in their anonymous evaluations, have rated the course as the law school's best.

 

2.Trial Advocacy - A Comprehensive "Introduction" (four hours) - for bar associations and law firms

A condensed, lecture-version of Judge Schudson's full Trial Advocacy course, this comprehensive introduction is designed for groups, large and small.

HOUR ONE:  CENTERFIELD

I.   Courtroom Ownership – Mays, DiMaggio, and the Legend of Irving Younger

     A. “Ownership,” not “Comfort” – Is there any place you’d rather be?

     B.  The Goal:  Credibility – Trust

     C.  Reaching the Goal:  establishing the emotional connection

1. Honesty – finding your style; expanding your repertoire
2. Humility – correcting for your style
3. Rapport – speaking English, using (and abusing) notes, dressing up (and down)
4. Butterflies – Sister John and the autobiography of Helen Hayes                   

     D.  Self-introduction / the levels of communication and the essence of caring

 

II.  In the Beginning – The Closing Argument

  1. Asking (and answering) the two critical questions

  B.  Charting the course:  “How do I get there?”

  C.  Reaching twelve (and others), not one

 

III. Preparing for Trial

      A. The magic moment of total ignorance

      B. Honesty – the jury’s indulgence / the actor’s art

 

HOUR TWO:  BASS ACKWARDS

I.   Trying the Case before Trying the Case – From Jury Instructions to Voir Dire

A.  Jury Instructions:  structuring strategy through legal standards

B.  Special Verdicts:  shaping closing arguments to fit verdict questions

C.  Voir dire:  trying the case before the trial begins

  • opening the relationship
  • un-selecting the jury
  • educating the jury

 

a.   the federal dilemma / the state statute

      D. The Opening Statement:  TV, movies, and rolling the credits

      E.  Closing the Deal

 

II.  The Devilish Details – Sound, Sightlines, Wardrobe, Staging … and Off-staging

 

HOUR THREE:  STARBUCKS

I.   Direct Examination – the Courtroom Cafe – the Uninformed Conversation

A.  Non-Leading Questions – Not!

B.  Notes – using them before they use you

C.  Staging – who’s this trial for, anyway

D.  Second-chairs – eyes and ears, or kids in the car

E. Visual aids – power points, or impotent pursuits

F. Packaging – the gentleman’s three neckties

G. Reiteration – showtime!

 

II.   Cross-Examination – Pulling Pinochio’s Strings

A. Testifying

B. Turning with the skid

C. Reiteration – encore!

 

HOUR FOUR:  SOMINEX

I.   Never Again Losing Sleep Over the Rules of Evidence

1. Introducing exhibits
2. Refreshing memory
3. Impeaching with prior statements

II.  Objections

      A. “Objection!”

      B.  The talking objection

      C.  Responding to objections

      D.  Side-barring
           
      E.  Protecting / Preserving the record

F. Parking

 

IV.  Where We Go From Here – Self-Help

 

3. Appellate Advocacy - keynotes and seminars

 

With insights from his seven years as a litigator, ten years as a trial judge, and twelve years as an appellate judge, Judge Schudson guides bar associations, law firms, and individual lawyers through the appellate process -- a process that, for the excellent lawyer, begins long before an appeal.

Appellate Advocacy, from keynotes to comprehensive seminars, is tailored to fit bar associations, law firms, and lawyers.

 

4. Dramatic Skills - The Actor's Art in the Courtroom - keynotes and seminars

For law schools, bar associations, law firms and individual lawyers, Dramatic Skills - The Actor's Art in the Courtroom, takes three distinct shapes:

an entertaining keynote introducing dramatic concerns every lawyer should have and dramatic skills every lawyer can learn

an advanced seminar for bar associations, law firms, and litigators who are ready to refine their dramatic skills

an advanced seminar for small groups or individual litigators who are ready to practice the actor's art in the courtroom

 

Coming from a family with a rich theatrical tradition, Judge Schudson starred in productions throughout high school and college, acted professionally, and was the managing director of the Madison Repertory Theatre.  Warned by his much more talented sons to never give up his day job, Judge Schudson transferred his theatrical experience from the stage to the classroom.  The theatre's "loss" is the lawyers' gain.

 

Individual Litigation Coaching

On an individual basis, Judge Schudson is available for consultation and coaching for specific litigation -- trial and appellate.