What Can Lawyers Learn from Actors?℠ Control in the Courtroom (Online Seminar)

A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay of the May 2015 live seminar, What Can Lawyers Learn from Actors?℠Control in the Courtroom.

A trial is a contest of competing stories—a live drama taking place in real time. The goal is to have the judge or jury absorb, process, and act on YOUR story so that the outcome is what you want—for your point of view, your case, and your client.

Through lecture, demonstration, and an opportunity to “rehearse” the techniques taught in this program, you will learn how to develop your full potential as an advocate and enhance the impact of your courtroom communications. You will gain the tools necessary to hone your own natural style, rhythm, and mannerisms, and learn how to exploit them so you maximize your expressivity—whether speaking with a client, a colleague, a judge, or a jury.

Topics include:

• Speaking Like a Person, Not a Lawyer
• Storytelling with a Beginning, Middle, and End
• Bonding Jury to Your Point of View
• Talking to One vs. Talking to Twelve
• Eye Contact: Sharing the Story with the Jury
• Controlling the Jurors’ Emotions
• The Structure and Rhetoric of Argument
• Eliminating Stage Fright
• Choosing Gestures
• Controlling Judge and Juror Focus
• Establishing Relationships
• The Use of Open-Ended Questions
• Restraint vs. Going in for the Kill

FACULTY

Alan Blumenfeld, Act of Communication / Culver City, CA

Alan Blumenfeld is a working professional actor who makes his living in film, television, and theater. For the past three decades, he has also been regarded as one of the leading trial consultants in the United States. He specializes in live communication skills based in the discipline of theatre and has been working to make attorneys and witnesses better courtroom communicators since 1977. As a teacher of working professional trial lawyers and law students, he has taught for scores of continuing legal education colleges such as NITA (since 1986), AAJ (formerly ATLA, since 1986), ABTL, ABA, DRI and CICA, as well as many dozens of private law firms and bar associations.
Mr. Blumenfeld graduated with a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and earned his MFA at the American Conservatory Theater, where he trained as a classical repertory actor.

Katherine James, Act of Communication / Culver City, CA

A trial consultant who specializes in live communication skills based in the discipline of theatre, Katherine James has been working to make attorneys and witnesses better courtroom communicators since 1977. Nationally regarded as the preeminent source for witness preparation, she has helped take over 1,000 cases to trial and helped prepare literally thousands of witnesses, including experts of every stripe. She coaches witnesses and their lawyers to reach, persuade, and activate jurors. She has taught for AAJ (formerly ATLA), ABTL, ABA, NITA, DRI, and CICA, as well as many private law firms and bar associations.
Ms. James holds a BFA from Illinois Weslyan University, where she graduated Phi Kappa Phi, Summa Cum Laude. She received her MFA at the American Conservatory Theater, where she studied as a classical theater actor.