Mastering Voir Dire in Virginia (Online Seminar)

A pre-recorded streaming video from the February 2017 webcast, Mastering Voir Dire in Virginia.

Trials can be won or lost during jury selection, and lawyers’ skills during voir dire are critical. Conducting a proper voir dire of the jury often can make the difference.

Both expert practitioners and new attorneys will benefit from this program, which will provide an overview of Virginia’s laws governing jury voir dire and will highlight practical techniques for effective jury selection in both criminal and civil cases. Two of Virginia’s preeminent trial attorneys will discuss a model jury instruction.

FACULTY

Rhonda Quagliana, St. John, Bowling, Lawrence & Quagliana, LLP / Charlottesville
Rhonda Quagliana received both her Ph.D. and law degrees from the University of Virginia and her undergraduate degree from Tulane University. She is a partner with St. John, Bowling, Lawrence & Quagliana, LLP, a litigation and business transaction firm that represents clients in state and federal courts in a variety of matters. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Virginia School of Law where she teaches trial advocacy. Ms. Quagliana serves as a substitute judge in General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts of the Sixteenth Judicial District. She has lectured on a number of topics, including the effective use of voir dire in criminal trials, litigating death penalty cases, and the importance of pro-bono efforts by attorneys in their communities. Ms. Quagliana has authored materials on such subjects as the recovery of damages in Virginia courts and criminal procedure. Her general litigation practice includes an emphasis on complex civil and criminal cases. She represents students in a number of disciplinary matters including Title IX cases.

M. Bryan Slaughter, Michie Hamlett / Charlottesville
Bryan Slaughter concentrates his practice on complex personal injury cases. His practice areas include products liability, cases involving traumatic brain injury, serious automobile and truck accidents, premises liability, and egregious medical malpractice. Mr. Slaughter is a member of the Virginia and West Virginia state bars. He practices throughout Virginia, and has also tried cases in North Carolina, New York, and West Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1991, and the Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1997. He is a vice-president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, where he has served on the Board of Governors since 2001. Mr. Slaughter is a member of the Boyd-Graves conference, a faculty member at the National Trial Advocacy College, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has lectured and written on various topics involving products liability and personal injury law. Mr. Slaughter is particularly interested in promoting child safety awareness.