Deposition Skills Academy

MCLE Credits: 10.5
Ethics Credits Included: 1.0

Live Zoom:	Thursday, May 20 *AND* Friday, May 21 SOLD OUT
Program Schedule for Both Days:	May 20: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. May 21: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline:	Wednesday, May 12 at 4:00 p.m.
MCLE Credit:	10.5 (Ethics: 1.0)
Live-Interactive Credit:	10.5
Registration Fee:	$599

Information
Schedule
Faculty
Locations, Dates and Fees

Information

Why Attend?

Whether you are a new lawyer or an experienced litigator still looking to improve your deposition skills, this remote, interactive program is for you!

Get hands-on training and learn essential deposition skills from an all-star faculty, including Program Director Melissa H. Katz of Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath & Judkins, PC and Deputy Program Director Kasey Hoare of Spotts Fain, PC
Practice your deposition skills in remote, interactive workshops, and receive real-time coaching from the instructors
Examine ethical issues relevant to preparing for and conducting depositions
Gain confidence that can translate into success in your legal practice
Earn 10.5 hours of MCLE credit, including an hour of Ethics
Small-firm discount! Lawyers in private practice law firms of 1-5 attorneys, including solo practitioners, may use the coupon code SMALLFIRMDEPO at checkout to take 25% off regular registration for this program

This program has sold out. Please join our wait list by contacting John Rotman at jrotman@vacle.org.

Limited to 30 participants to ensure a 5:1 participant/faculty ratio—reserve your seat today!

Live, Remote, Interactive 2-Day Program

Small-Firm Discount: Lawyers in private practice law firms of 1-5 attorneys, including solo practitioners, can save 25% on registration!

In a time when the majority of cases do not make it to trial, deposition skills are essential to your cases. Are you equipped with the right questioning techniques to get the information you need? Have you adequately prepared your witnesses for what they will experience? Do you know how to properly object to opposing counsel’s questioning? Whether you have taken many depositions or only a few, coaching throughout this program will help you increase your skills and confidence, positively impacting the outcome of your cases and your career.

Our outstanding faculty will provide you with time-tested strategies and winning techniques with an interactive, hands-on approach. Over the course of two days, you will receive essential deposition skills training and then participate in simulated depositions. You will receive immediate coaching on how to improve your skills based on the methods taught throughout this course.

The course will cover:

Techniques for preparing, taking, and defending depositions
Working with lay and expert witnesses
The use of exhibits and demonstrative aids
How to ethically prepare for and conduct depositions
Individualized guidance and advice to improve your skills

ZOOM REQUIREMENTS: You must have an Internet connection and the ability to use Zoom for this program. Please visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-System-requirements-for-Windows-macOS-and-Linux to see Zoom system requirements. A webcam is also required; you cannot dial-in without video to receive MCLE credit for this course.

After registration, you will be sent an email with more details on accessing the program and receiving program materials.

Please note: Virginia CLE^® Online Bundle credits may NOT be used to register for this program.

Discounts: This program is not eligible for general Virginia CLE^® discounts. Two discounts are available, however, for eligible registrants:

Lawyers in private practice law firms of 1-5 attorneys, including solo practitioners, may use the coupon code SMALLFIRMDEPO at checkout to take 25% off regular registration for this program.
Lawyers employed at organizations funded by the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia may use the coupon code LEGALAIDDEPO at checkout to take 80% off regular registration for this program. Use of this discount is limited to the first two registrants (first come, first served).

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation requests for a full refund will be honored until Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. Cancellation requests received between Thursday, April 29, 2021 and Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. will be charged $100. Cancellations made after Wednesday, May, 12, 2021 are not eligible for refunds.

Schedule

COURSE SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 20

9:00	Introduction (No MCLE Credit)
9:15	Depositions: Goals and Techniques—Lay Witnesses Irving Blank, Michael Shevlin Preparing lay witnesses Types of questions to ask Questioning techniques Making and dealing with objections Taking and defending techniques
10:30	Break
10:45	Discussion of Methodology Instructors continue with instruction applying theory from lecture to real depositions examples
12:00	Lunch Recess
12:30	Hands-on Deposition Workshop—Lay Witnesses Attendees will participate in demonstrations and receive hands-on instruction in preparing and deposing lay witnesses based on the lecture and prepared written materials
2:00	Break
2:15	Hands-on Deposition Workshop—Lay Witnesses (continued) Attendees will participate in demonstrations and receive hands-on instruction in preparing and deposing lay witnesses based on the lecture and prepared written materials
3:45	Workshop Reviews (no MCLE credit) Review instruction and demonstrations from workshops
4:30	Adjourn

Friday, May 21

9:00	Depositions: Goals and Techniques—Experts and Exhibits Dawn Boyce, Kathleen Holmes Expert witnesses Preparing Experts Dealing with exhibits and demonstrative aids
10:15	Break
10:30	Hands-on Deposition Workshop—Expert Witnesses Attendees will participate in demonstrations and receive hands-on instruction in preparing and deposing expert witnesses and using exhibits based on the lecture and prepared written materials
12:00	Lunch Recess
12:30	Hands-on Deposition Workshop—Expert Witnesses (continued) Attendees will participate in demonstrations and receive hands-on instruction in preparing and deposing expert witnesses and using exhibits based on the lecture and prepared written materials
2:00	Ethical Issues in Depositions Dawn Boyce, Tom Spahn
2:15	Program Review and Closing Remarks (no MCLE credit) Review of Day 2 workshops Review of program concepts, goals, and techniques Closing remarks
3:30	Adjourn

Faculty

FACULTY:

Irving M. Blank, Blank and Marcus, LLC / Richmond
Dawn Boyce, Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath, & Judkins PC / Fairfax
Danielle D. Giroux, Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, PC / Alexandria
Julie H. Heiden, Koonz, McKinney, Johnson, & DePaolis / Fairfax
Kathleen J.L. Holmes, Holmes, Costin, Marcus, LLP / Alexandria
David L. Marks, The Law Offices of David L. Marks / Fairfax
K. Brett Marston, Gentry Locke Attorneys / Roanoke
Gary Mims, Frei, Mims, Perushek / Fairfax
Michael Shevlin, Shevlin Smith, PC / Fairfax
Thomas E. Spahn, McGuireWoods / Tysons

PROGRAM DIRECTOR:

Melissa Hogue Katz, Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath, & Judkins, PC / Fairfax

Melissa H. Katz is a principal at Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath & Judkins, PC. Her practice focuses on personal injury defense. She obtained her B.A. from the University of Virginia and J.D. from the University of Richmond. Before joining her present law firm, she clerked for the late Chief Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Ms. Katz is the Immediate Past President of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys and is presently serving on the Virginia Model Jury Instructions Committee. She is recognized by both Washington, DC and Virginia Super Lawyers and honored in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly Inaugural Class of Influential Women of Law 2019.

DEPUTY PROGRAM DIRECTOR:

Kasey Hoare, Spotts Fain, PC / Richmond

Kasey Hoare is a litigation associate attorney at Spotts Fain, PC, a mid-sized business law firm in Richmond, VA. She represents clients in commercial and business litigation in Virginia's state and federal courts. Prior to joining the firm, she had the honor of serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Beverly W. Snukals for the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond after graduating from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2017.

PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIR:

Henry N. “Harry” Ware, Jr., Spotts Fain, PC / Richmond

PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

David N. Anthony, Troutman Pepper / Richmond
David Corrigan, Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, PC / Richmond
Alexandra B. Cunningham, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP / Richmond
David J. Gogal, Blankingship & Keith / Fairfax
Stephanie Grana, Virginia State Bar President-elect / Richmond
Terrance Graves, Sands Anderson / Richmond
Kasey Hoare, Spotts Fain, PC / Richmond
John D. McGavin, Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath, & Judkins, PC / Fairfax
Thomas E. Spahn, McGuireWoods / Tysons
Edward L. Weiner, Weiner, Spivey & Miller / Fairfax

ADVISORY TEAM:

David J. Gogal, Blankingship & Keith / Fairfax
John D. McGavin, Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath, & Judkins, PC / Fairfax
John Rotman, Virginia Law Foundation / Charlottesville
Edward L. Weiner, Weiner, Spivey & Miller / Fairfax
Ray White, Virginia Law Foundation / Charlottesville