Fifth Annual Federal CJA Trial Skills Academy
Presented by
The Office of Defender Services Training Branch and
The California Western School of Law
April 24-29, 2013
Registration is now open for the Office of Defender Services Training Branch's Fifth Annual Federal CJA Trial Skills Academy (TSA), put on in collaboration with the California Western School of Law, where the academy takes place. It is scheduled for April 24-29, 2013. The event is a hands-on, skills practice workshop in which participants work on one of their own cases. Participants will learn a process for the development of a persuasive, fact-based theory of the case and the advocacy skills necessary to advance that theory during trial. Among other subjects, presentations, demonstrations and small group work will address brainstorming, storytelling, development of theories and themes, and all of the necessary trial advocacy skills.
The Academy is always extremely well-received, and the work done on cases brought to the Academy has contributed to a number of not guilty verdicts. A draft agenda is attached.
As with all of our programs, there is no registration fee. TSA is open to both CJA panel attorneys and federal public defender staff, with some preference given to CJA panel attorneys. Registration is available through the training page on www.fd.org. Participants are selected based upon trial experience in the last few years, so upon initial registration, all registrants are wait listed and required to supply supplemental information. Registration is open until February 13, 2013, unless otherwise indicated on fd.org. After that date, participants are selected for participation and will be notified by Thursday, February 28, 2013 whether they have been selected.
Limited financial assistance for travel costs is available to CJA panel attorneys. A financial assistance application form will be posted on fd.org by January 11, 2013, and the deadline for applying will be February 15, 2013. For substantive information about this event, please contact Lori Green at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For logistical information, please contact Jenna Shepard at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..