Advocacy Excellence: The Jury Trial (Aspen Coursebook Series)

Advocacy Excellence: The Jury Trial teaches students the art and science of 21st century trial advocacy through the eyes of two seasoned, tenacious, and successful female trial attorneys who bring over 60 years of combined experience to the text. With a sharp and practical focus on how the digital age has changed trial practice, students will gain the ability to successfully advocate in today’s smart courtrooms using electronically stored information, social media, and technology in all phases of trial. This text teaches classic courtroom skills with a modern and spirited tone, using examples from real trials and step-by-step practice guides along with insider tips about the strategy and execution techniques that wins trials.

This clear, concise, and easy-to-understand text is organized into three distinct sections:

Part I: Preparation — investigation, preliminary case analysis, developing a case theory, and merging the case theory into the actual trial

Part II: Practice — techniques and advice that provide simple steps to successful jury selection, openings, direct and cross examination, impeachment, cross of special witnesses, and summation

Part III: Strategy — navigating the courtroom, how to admit or oppose evidence at trial, objections, and the end game of jury deliberation.

Learn the law, ethics, and strategy of trial advocacy with step-by-step instructions and useful chapter ending process guides and infographics to reinforce skills.

Professors and students will benefit from:

• Question and answer examples in every chapter that teach how to ask strategic and purposeful questions during jury selection, depositions, pretrial hearings, direct examination, cross examination, impeachment, and the admitting or opposing of evidence.
• Illustrations and charts that demonstrate how to create various proof matrices, timelines, witness statement charts, transcript keys, and how to structure opening, direct, and cross examination.
• Feature text boxes that highlight practice tips, ethical issues, and other “beware” concerns for trial and provide explanations of “why this works” for certain skills taught in a new and modern manner.
• In-depth coverage of the role of social media and emojis as evidence, plus how to authenticate social media and other electronic or digital evidence at trial.
• Reference sheets designed for students to copy for continued use in both an academic, experiential setting and the first years of practice as a new trial lawyer.