Voir Dire Workshop: Full Program

Registration and Welcome Networking Breakfast

Welcome Remarks and Introductions

Voir Dire Goals and Pitfalls

• What you should never expect from voir dire
• Drafting effective questions
• The dangers in overselling your case in voir dire

Building Your Team and Your Rapport

• Getting your panel engaged
• Developing rapport
• Identifying potential group dynamics, early

Morning Break

Identifying Voir Dire Issues – Including by Use of Focus Groups of All Kinds

• The “usual” suspects (burden of proof, non-economic damages, etc.)
• The “surprise” issues and how to identify them

Social Media, Online Search Tools, and Questionnaire Methods Research

• Learn what types of big data are out there and which can be most impactful to your trial
• Use public and social data to spot potential conflicts of interest, or other issues, in your jury pane

Dealing with “Scary” Issues in Voir Dire

• Race, gender, immigration status, and other potentially explosive issues
• Case-specific issues that keep you up at night

The Hard Work of Planning for Voir Dire

• Preparing your questions with the goals in mind
• Protecting your honest jurors against “rehabilitation”
• Drafting effective questions

Making Your Record During Voir Dire

• Presenting your record for strikes for cause effectively
• Tools for using your peremptory strikes
• Special considerations, including Batson challenges

Active Listening During Voir Dire

Acting Techniques for Better Voir Dire Training Techniques: Voice Tone and Physical Presence

Calling Balls and Strikes—What Really Makes a Strike for Cause (Judicial Panel)

Welcome Back Breakfast

Morning Announcements

Morning Workshop Group—Mock Voir Dire With Live Panel

Mindfulness in Practice: Thinking Outside the Box

Voir Dire in Practice (demonstration)

• Tools for effective listening in voir dire
• What does effective listening really mean?
• Practicing effective listening

Afternoon Workshop Group—Mock Voir Dire with Live Panel

Understanding the Full Opportunities in Your Voir Dire

• How voir dire can set the stage for your case
• Ethical considerations in voir dire (including Batson challenges)
• Why juror demographics shouldn’t dictate your strikes

Full-Faculty Panel

Adjourn