Overview
Prepare to step into the court room with confidence. The Advanced Trial Advocacy Program sharpens your trial skills. It provides an immersive, hands-on learning environment with opportunities to practice and perfect skills based on guidance from experienced and well-respected 猎奇重口 judges, trial lawyers, and communications experts. This program is designed for attorneys who are in the first five years of their practice.
The Alexander Blewett III School of Law has applied for continuing legal education credits with the 猎奇重口 CLE Commission.
We are grateful to the State Bar of 猎奇重口 for their sponsorship.
Scholarship Sponsors
The generosity of our sponsors makes it possible to provide a limited number of scholarships for attorneys registering for the Advanced Trial Advocacy Program. If you have need of a scholarship, complete the and submit it to the ATA Scholarship Committee by emailing Hannah.Singleton@umontana.edu.
MONTANA JUSTICE FOUNDATION will provide grants to attend the Advanced Trial Advocacy Program. To apply for a grant from the 猎奇重口 Justice Foundation contact the Foundation directly by accessing the grant application at or contacting 猎奇重口 Justice Foundation at (406) 523-3920 or mjf@mtjustice.org.
Registration
Seating is limited & early registration is encouraged.
Early bird registration ends May 9th: $1,650 No refunds after May 9th, 2025. Substitutions welcome.
Registration ends May 26: $1,950 No refunds. Substitutions welcome.
Optional: Reservation for Dorm Housing - Nonrefundable after May 26 - 6 Nights for $200
Room links will be available soon.
Refund requests honored prior to May 9, 2025. We are unable to offer refunds after that date but substitutions are welcome.
Housing
Dorm Housing
University dormitory housing is available for a cost of $200 beginning Monday, June 2 with checkout on Friday, June 6, 2025. Reservation is nonrefundable after May 29. and email Lily.Soper@mso.umt.edu to request dormitory housing.
Hotel Block
We have rooms available at the .
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Rate |
USD $111.78 |
|
Tax |
Lodging Tax 8%: USD $35.77 |
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Total for Stay |
USD $490.87 |
Name: Block Advanced Trial Advocacy Program
Confirmation Number: 90730EE017723
Hotel Information:
Days Inn and Suites by Wyndham Downtown Missoula-University
744 E Broadway St
Missoula 猎奇重口
United States
406-5495134
Monday, June 2
Day 1 Schedule |
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| 8:00 a.m. | Introductory Lectures* |
| *Full day schedule to come | |
Tuesday, June 3
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8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. |
Courtroom Communications |
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9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. |
BREAK |
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9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
Approach Point Cross Examination |
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11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. |
Basic Trial Skills/Deposition Skills |
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12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
LUNCH |
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1:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Opening Statement Demonstration |
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3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
BREAK |
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3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
Opening Statement Workshop |
Wednesday, June 4
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8:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. |
Direct & Cross Workshop |
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10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
BREAK |
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10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. |
The Visual Trial |
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12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
LUNCH |
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1:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
Direct & Cross Workshop |
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3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
BREAK |
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3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
Direct & Cross Workshop |
Thursday, June 5
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8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. |
Demonstration Direct & Cross Examination of Accident Reconstruction Expert |
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9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
BREAK |
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10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. |
Making and Meeting Objections |
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11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. |
Workshop Direct & Cross of Expert |
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12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
LUNCH |
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1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. |
Workshop Direct & Cross of Expert |
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3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. |
BREAK |
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3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Closing Arguments Demonstration |
Friday, June 6
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8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
Closing Argument Workshop |
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11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
Reception and Certificates |
Program Directors
- Karen Townsend, 4th Judicial District (Ret.), Missoula County
- Cynthia Ford, Missoula 猎奇重口
- Tasha P. Jones, Missoula, 猎奇重口
Presenters
- Cliff Edwards
- Judge Townsend
Judges
- Kathleen L. “Katie” DeSoto, United States District Court, District of 猎奇重口
- Jason Marks, 4th Judicial District, Missoula County
- Mike Menahan, 1st Judicial District, Broadwater & Lewis and Clark Counties
Trial Attorneys
The trial faculty includes civil plaintiff and defense attorneys and criminal prosecution and defense attorneys.
- Randy J. Cox, Missoula, 猎奇重口
- Michael F. Lamb, Helena, 猎奇重口
- Jill Laslovich, Helena, 猎奇重口
- Meghann F Paddock, Missoula, 猎奇重口
- Ryan G. Weldon, Missoula, 猎奇重口
- Ashely Whipple, Bozeman, 猎奇重口
Communications Faculty
Melinda Aley, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor, 猎奇重口 State University - Billings
Melinda Aley, Ph.D. is an assistant professor for the Department of Communication at 猎奇重口 State University Billings. She teaches courses in public speaking and organizational communication. She regularly presents at the Western States Communication Association, the National Communication Association, and the International Communication Association. Her areas of experience include the career decision-making process of emerging adults and the influence of socializing messages on identity development.
Samuel Boerboom - Professor, 猎奇重口 State University - Billings
Samuel Boerboom, Ph.D. is Professor and Chair for the Department of Communication, 猎奇重口 State University Billings. Faculty member and coordinator, SPEAK2compete Summer Speech Institute. Regular presenter at the National Communication Association, Western States Communication Association, and Rhetorical Society of America conventions. Areas of expertise include public advocacy, rhetoric and public affairs, political communication, ethics, and mass/social media and coalition-building.
Melinda Tilton, Lecturer, 猎奇重口 State University - Billings
Melinda Tilton, M.A., Senior University Lecturer, Department of Communication (1990-present), and Chair of the General Education Committee, 猎奇重口 State University Billings. Communication Consultant/Trainer for the Western College of Auctioneering, and Riverstone Health Hospice. Areas of expertise include public speaking, group dynamics, interpersonal and intercultural communication. Founding faculty member (1985), and recipient of the 猎奇重口, Advanced Trial Advocacy Distinguished Faculty Award, 1999, 2001.
As a professor of interpersonal communication I focus my research on how various subsystems of the family communicate as they engage external systems such as workplaces, schools, or media. I maintain a focus on applied communication skills and mental health, using my advanced degrees and background in communication studies and clinical mental health to engage in research and teaching on and off campus at the intersection of interpersonal communication and mental health. In my published journal articles and book chapters I examine how communication works as a central factor in experiencing and managing difficult life events; including bereavement, interpersonal violence, and mental health disorders.