Virginia Trial Lawyers Association presents a blockbuster. October Advocacy Seminar. Masters of Advocacy

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1 Virginia Trial Lawyers Association presents a blockbuster October Advocacy Seminar Morning program - 3 CLE hours Masters of Advocacy Superb advocacy skills taught by some of Virginia s best trial lawyers Afternoon program - 3 CLE hours Winning the Triple Crown at Trial Visual strategies for trial lawyers October 3 October 17 October 29 October 31 Richmond Crowne Plaza (downtown) 555 E. Canal St, Roanoke Higher Education Center 108 N. Jefferson St., Fairfax, Hilton Garden Inn 2950 Fair Ridge Dr., Norfolk/Virginia Beach Holiday Inn 5655 Greenwich Rd., In the morning, VTLA s own Masters of Trial Advocacy will share a number of their tried and tested trial tactics, tools, strategies and arguments, developed and learned over their years of courtroom experience. You also won t want to miss an exciting ethics hour during lunch addressing the limits of zealous advocacy, delivered by a remarkable line-up of plaintiff and defense lawyers. This is open to all registrants. In the afternoon, John Romano, one of the finest trial lawyers and most gifted teachers ever to grace VTLA s seminars, joined by our own Bob Shepherd of Medivisuals, and John s son Eric, provide their unique insights into what really works visually in the courtroom and what does not! 7 MCLE hours including 1 ethics hour at lunch

2 8:30 am Registration 8:45 am Mining for Damages A presentation of some of the most effective tools for demonstrating creatively the harms and losses your clients have sustained. These tools can be used in settlement negotiations, mediation, arbitration or trial. John C. Shea, Marks & Harrison, Richmond 9:30 am Dynamic Direct Examination Direct examination is often overlooked by practitioners, but it s where a case is constructed and so it is especially crucial to obtaining a good result. Our masters will bring you up to speed on the latest direct exam techniques designed to bring your case alive for the jury. Jason W. Konvicka, Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, Richmond (Richmond); M. Bryan Slaughter, MichieHamlett, Charlottesville (Roanoke, Fairfax & Norfolk) 10:15 am Break Morning program - 3 CLE hours Masters of Advocacy Superb advocacy skills taught by some of Virginia s best trial lawyers 10:30 am Use of Analogies in Closing Argument We all know that people pride themselves on their own discoveries. Research has shown that fact finders who reach conclusions on their own will hold those conclusions much more firmly than when they are told what conclusion to reach. Our masters will show you how they use that important fact to their advantage in their cases. Lewis T. Stoneburner, Cantor, Stoneburner, Ford, Grana & Buckner, Richmond (Richmond); P. Brent Brown, Brown & Jennings, PLC, Roanoke (Roanoke); Gerald A. Schwartz, Law Offices of Gerald A. Schwartz, Alexandria (Fairfax); Derrick L. Walker, Breit, Drescher, Imprevento & Walker, PC, Virginia Beach (Norfolk) 11:15 am Post-Trial Motions A Trial Lawyers Guide You ve won your case, but it s not over. You still have to survive post-trial motions and get a judgment entered. Lose your case? Post-trial motions can be an effective tool in getting your verdict overturned. Don t miss this chance to learn the key to effective post-trial motions and pointers on preserving your record for appeal. Roger T. Creager, The Creager Law Firm, PLLC, Richmond 12:00 pm Zealous Advocacy vs. Professionalism - Sanctions Open to all Working Lunch (1 ethics CLE hour) for all attendees, generously sponsored by JMW Settlements You ve seen the headlines Lawyer sanctioned for $800,000 or $50,000 for failing to identify the factual basis for allegations Judges urged to crack down on rude lawyers Civil death penalty is OK with the Supreme Court of Virginia Lawyer reprimanded for flawed lawsuit Trial courts appear more willing to sanction lawyers for a myriad of reasons, less likely to view sanctions as the last resort. Where are the lines? Can you continue to zealously represent your clients without subjecting yourself to crushing sanctions? Richmond: Stephanie E. Grana, Cantor, Stoneburner, Ford, Grana & Buckner, Richmond and Kevin V. Logan, Sinnott, Nuckols & Logan, PC, Midlothian Roanoke: John E. Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein & Fishwick, PLC, Roanoke and Richard E. Ladd, Jr., PennStuart, Bristol, TN Fairfax: Lynne Jones Blaine, Harman, Claytor, Corrigan & Wellman, Glen Allen and Robert J. Stoney, Blankingship & Keith, PC, Fairfax Norfolk/Virginia Beach: James E. Brydges, Jr., Taylor & Walker, PC, and TBA

3 Afternoon program - 3 CLE hours Winning the Triple Crown at Trial Visual strategies for trial lawyers 12:00 pm Zealous Advocacy vs. Professionalism - Sanctions Open to all Working Lunch (1 ethics CLE hour) for all attendees, generously sponsored by JMW Settlements You ve seen the headlines Lawyer sanctioned for $800,000 or $50,000 for failing to identify the factual basis for allegations Judges urged to crack down on rude lawyers Civil death penalty is OK with the Supreme Court of Virginia Lawyer reprimanded for flawed lawsuit Trial courts appear more willing to sanction lawyers for a myriad of reasons, less likely to view sanctions as the last resort. Where are the lines? Can you continue to zealously represent your clients without subjecting yourself to crushing sanctions? Richmond: Stephanie E. Grana, Cantor, Stoneburner, Ford, Grana & Buckner, Richmond and Kevin V. Logan, Sinnott, Nuckols & Logan, PC, Midlothian Roanoke: John E. Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein & Fishwick, PLC, Roanoke and Richard E. Ladd, Jr., PennStuart, Bristol, TN Fairfax: Lynne Jones Blaine, Harman, Claytor, Corrigan & Wellman, Glen Allen and Robert J. Stoney, Blankingship & Keith, PC, Fairfax Norfolk/Virginia Beach: James E. Brydges, Jr., Taylor & Walker, PC, and TBA 1:15 pm - 4:30 pm Visual Strategies for Trial Lawyers as Simple as 1, 2, 3: (1) See the Problems, (2) Visualize the Solutions, (3) Hit Your Most Powerful Points (not just PPTs) with the Jury, a/k/a - The Art and Science of Connectionology in Mastering Persuasion Through Visual Evidence and Demonstrative Aids Presenters: Bob Shepherd, MS, CMI, FAMI, Medivisuals, Inc., Richmond, and Dallas, TX, and John Romano and Eric Romano, The Romano Law Group, West Palm Beach, FL Each attendee will be armed with an arsenal of tactics, techniques, strategies, and ideas on how to enhance the presentation and arguments through the use of smart, innovative, accurate, and truthful demonstrative aids (and demonstrations ), as well as providing each attendee with the ways and means of utilizing demonstrative evidence to overcome a multitude of obstacles and traps. Just as importantly, we will conduct an in-depth and entertaining assessment of exactly how it is that so many lawyers destroy their own case or portions of arguments and proof through the use of misguided or faulty demonstrative aids. Topics to Include: 1. Understanding what trial court judges will allow regarding demonstrative evidence, in-court demonstrations and more 2. The components of connectionology in using demonstrative evidence in the courtroom 3. Overcoming defense obstacles and traps regarding the use of demonstrative evidence and in-court presentations 4. The necessity of pre-trial motion practice regarding demonstrative evidence 5. Setting the Stage for Trial: Utilization of demonstrative aids in discovery and pre-trial hearings 6. Pros and Cons of using PowerPoint presentations during trial how jurors actually respond 7. Laying the foundation for demonstrative evidence when you have either (a) a cantankerous opposing counsel who objects to everything, or (b) a judge who is either a stickler for foundation or predicate, or (c) a judge who is from the old school versus the real old school 8. Technology in the courtroom what s hot vs. what s useless 9. Understanding the concept of Gilding the Lily 10. Trial lawyer strategic and use blunders in using and presenting demonstrative evidence there are no do overs 11. Comparative demonstrative aids in order to show each attendee how two very similar-appearing demonstrative aids tell each juror a vastly different story

4 October Advocacy 2013 Registration Form Register by filling out this form and mailing to VTLA or online at Please indicate which date you will attend: October 3 Richmond October 17 Roanoke October 29 Fairfax October 31 Norfolk/Va. Beach Name Firm Address City/State/ZIP Day Phone ( ) Fax ( ) address: Seminar Fees Please select the program(s) you will attend: Morning/Masters Afternoon/Visual Both Amount VTLA member $ 115 $ 115 $ 200 Non-member attorney Law office support staff member non-member Full-time Judge/Justice, Law School Dean, Legislator Registration includes electronic materials at no charge; you may order a photocopy instead by adding $25 (any program option) Payment Join VTLA and save on your seminar registration fee! Call us at for information. gratis Check enclosed or Bill my MasterCard VISA American Express Card # Exp. Date. Security Code Cardholder Make checks payable to VTLA and mail to: VTLA, P.O. Box 1257, Richmond, VA / NOTE: Registration fee for a member of a Legal Aid or a Public Defender program or full-time local, state or federal government employee is one-half the standard fee. Cancellation Policy: Written cancellations postmarked one week prior to the seminar will be refunded less a $25 administrative fee. No refunds will be given for any cancellations after that date, but you will be mailed materials distributed at the seminar, or you may request that your registration fee be credited toward another VTLA seminar if you notify us in writing prior to the date of the program for which you registered. On-site registration fees: Half-Day Member $ 130 / Full-Day Member $ 215 Half-Day Non-Member $ 140 / Full-Day Non-Member $ 240 On-site fees apply after noon on the day preceding the seminar

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