Masters in Trial: Lessons from the Most-Watched Courtrooms in America

In this full-day clinic, trial lawyers will study the most-watched courtrooms in recent American legal history — from Depp v. Heard and the Alex Jones/Sandy Hook trial to the 2026 Afroman "Lemon Pound Cake" defamation verdict — to identify what separates masterful advocacy from costly mistakes. Drawing on two strong examples and two cautionary examples for each of seven trial phases (voir dire, opening statement, direct examination, cross examination of lay witnesses, cross examination of experts, closing argument, and depositions), participants will watch real courtroom footage and hear commentary from experienced trial lawyers on what worked, what failed, and why.

Attorneys at every experience level will leave with concrete, immediately applicable techniques for building authentic jury connections, structuring compelling narratives, controlling witnesses under cross, and delivering closing arguments that move juries to act.