The ABA Litigation Section's Legal Services Advocacy Training Program is designed to offer intensive trial advocacy training, at no cost, to attorneys at clinics and legal services programs who do not typically have access to traditional continuing legal education trial skills programs.
The program was first presented at the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, and has been held annually at prestigious law schools and affiliations across the country. The two-day workshop is modeled after the National Institute for Trial Advocacy format, with emphasis on student performance, faculty critique, and video review. Some of the topics covered are the basic trial skills of developing a theme, direct and cross-examination, impeachment, introduction and use of exhibits, opening statement, and closing argument. After listening to informative lectures, students will break out into four small groups under the direction of faculty, where they will perform learned skills (while being videotaped) and then critiqued on their performance.