National Trial Advocacy College
The National Trial Advocacy College is an intensive, hands-on training program designed to enhance the courtroom skills of practicing attorneys. Organized by Virginia Continuing Legal Education (Virginia CLE), the 2026 session marks a significant milestone as the program relocates to William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, after 43 years at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Participants will engage in a comprehensive curriculum that includes expert lectures, small-group training, and realistic trial simulations. Key topics covered are opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, exhibits, and closing arguments. The program culminates in a live mock trial, typically presided over by an experienced federal or state court judge, allowing attendees to apply their learned skills in a simulated courtroom setting.
Beyond the structured sessions, the College offers ample networking opportunities, including daily continental breakfasts, lunches, and a reception and dinner with the faculty. Notable speakers and faculty members include distinguished trial attorneys, judges, and legal experts who provide personalized feedback and guidance throughout the program.
This program is ideal for practicing lawyers seeking to refine their trial advocacy skills, whether they are from large firms looking for trial experience or small practices facing diverse litigation challenges. Attendees will leave the program prepared to persuade and argue any aspect of a case at any phase of the litigation.
Categories
Speakers(67)
Anne K. Walsh
Director at Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C.
Ms. Walsh focuses on FDA regulatory matters and litigation.
Brenda Rodriguez-Howdershell
Attorney at Allstate Client Legal Services
Ms. Rodriguez-Howdershell specializes in insurance defense litigation.
Brian J. Donato
Director at Hyman Phelps & McNamara, PC
Mr. Donato specializes in FDA regulatory matters and litigation.
Chidi I. James
Partner at Blankingship & Keith
Mr. James focuses on personal injury and civil litigation.
David J. Gogal
Partner at Blankingship & Keith, P.C.
Mr. Gogal focuses on civil litigation and trial advocacy.
Elliot C. Cook
Partner at Finnegan
Mr. Cook specializes in intellectual property litigation, enhancing the program's depth.
Eric Martin
Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Mr. Martin specializes in complex commercial litigation.
Geoffrey Carter
Attorney at National Labor Relations Board
Mr. Carter offers insights into labor law and administrative proceedings.
Gerald F. Ivey
Partner at Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
As Co-Director of the National Trial Advocacy College, Mr. Ivey brings extensive experience in intellectual property litigation to the program.
Hon. Alfred D. Swersky (ret.)
Retired Judge at Circuit Court of Alexandria
Judge Swersky brings his judicial experience to the faculty.
Hon. Anthony Trenga
Senior District Judge at U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Judge Trenga provides federal court insights to the program.
Hon. Arthur J. Schwab
Senior District Judge at U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Judge Schwab provides insights from his tenure on the federal bench.
Hon. Barbara J. Gaden
Judge at General District Court
Judge Gaden's experience in Virginia's general district courts adds valuable perspective.
Hon. Bernice B. Donald
Circuit Judge at U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Judge Donald's appellate experience provides participants with insights into higher court proceedings.
Hon. Camile R. McMullen
Judge at Tennessee Court of Appeals
Judge McMullen provides appellate court insights to the program.
Hon. Catherine C. Eagles
District Judge at U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
Judge Eagles contributes her federal trial court experience to the college's offerings.
Hon. Charles N. Dorsey
Judge at 23rd Judicial Circuit Court
Judge Charles N. Dorsey serves on the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court in Roanoke, VA.
Hon. Daniel E. Ortiz
Judge at Virginia Court of Appeals
Judge Ortiz offers appellate insights from Virginia's courts.
Hon. David B. Carson
Judge at 23rd Judicial Circuit Court
Judge Carson brings his experience from the Virginia state courts to the college's faculty.
Hon. David W. Lannetti
Judge at 4th Judicial Circuit Court
Judge Lannetti contributes his circuit court experience to the faculty.
Hon. Elliot C. Howsie
Judge at Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Judge Howsie offers perspectives from Pennsylvania's trial courts.
Hon. Joel C. Hoppe
Magistrate Judge at U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
Judge Hoppe's federal court experience enriches the college's curriculum.
Hon. John F. Anderson
Magistrate Judge at U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Judge Anderson has presided over numerous federal cases and contributes his judicial insights to the college's curriculum.
Hon. Karen A. Henenberg
Judge at Arlington County General District Court
Judge Henenberg offers insights from her tenure in Arlington's courts.
Hon. Liam O'Grady
Senior District Judge at U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Judge O'Grady brings years of federal judicial experience to the program.
Hon. Mark R. Hornak
Chief Judge at U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Judge Hornak provides leadership and judicial insights from his role as Chief Judge.
Hon. Mary Jane Hall
Judge at 4th Judicial Circuit Court
Judge Hall brings her circuit court experience to the program.
Hon. Michael S. Nachmanoff
District Judge at U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Judge Nachmanoff's federal court experience enhances the college's offerings.
Hon. Michael Urbanski
Chief Judge at U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
Judge Urbanski offers leadership and judicial experience from his role as Chief Judge.
Hon. Pamela Meade Sargent
Magistrate Judge at U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
Judge Sargent's federal court experience enriches the curriculum.
Hon. Paul F. Sheridan (ret.)
Retired Judge at Circuit Court of Arlington
Judge Sheridan offers perspectives from his career on the bench.
Hon. Robert J. Conrad, Jr.
District Judge at U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
Judge Conrad has a rich background in both prosecution and defense, enhancing the program's depth.
Hon. Robert S. Ballou
Magistrate Judge at U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
Judge Ballou offers participants a wealth of knowledge from his experience on the federal bench.
Hon. Russell E. Carparelli
Retired Judge at Conflict Resolutions Services
Judge Carparelli, formerly of the Colorado Court of Appeals, now focuses on mediation and arbitration services.
Hon. Stephen C. Shannon
Judge at 19th Judicial Circuit Court
Judge Shannon's circuit court experience adds depth to the program.
Hon. Thomas D. Horne
Judge at Circuit Court of Loudoun County
Judge Horne's experience in Virginia's circuit courts adds depth to the program.
J. Brian Jackson
Partner at McGuireWoods
Mr. Jackson specializes in complex commercial litigation.
James F. Neale
Partner at McGuireWoods LLP
Mr. Neale focuses on product liability and mass tort litigation.
John A. Schwab
Attorney at John A. Schwab, Esq.
Mr. Schwab focuses on criminal defense and civil litigation.
John Boneta
Attorney at John Boneta, PLLC
Mr. Boneta brings experience in criminal defense and civil litigation to the faculty.
John K. Han
Attorney at Securities and Exchange Commission
Mr. Han offers insights into securities law and enforcement.
John M. Williamson
Partner at Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
Mr. Williamson specializes in intellectual property litigation.
Kathy L. Nusslock
Partner at Amundsen Davis, LLC
Ms. Nusslock focuses on employment law and litigation.
Kenneth W. Curtis
Partner at Allred, Bacon, Halfhill & Young
Mr. Curtis focuses on civil litigation and contributes his experience to the faculty.
Kim M. Keenan
Adjunct Professor at George Washington University Law School
Ms. Keenan brings experience in civil rights and litigation to the faculty.
Laura C. Bunting
Principal at Jackson Lewis P.C.
Ms. Bunting specializes in employment law and contributes her expertise to the faculty.
Lonnie D. Nunley, III
Partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Mr. Nunley specializes in complex commercial litigation.
M. Bryan Slaughter
Partner at MichieHamlett
Mr. Slaughter specializes in personal injury and medical malpractice cases.
Mary Lynn Tate
Founder at The Tate Law Firm
Co-Director of the National Trial Advocacy College, Ms. Tate specializes in complex civil litigation and has a longstanding commitment to legal education.
Michael A. Morin
Partner at Latham & Watkins LLP
Mr. Morin specializes in patent litigation and trial advocacy.
Michael C. Zogby
Partner at Barnes & Thornburg, LLP
Mr. Zogby specializes in complex commercial litigation.
Michael R. Fontham
Partner at Stone Pigman Walther Wittman LLC
Mr. Fontham focuses on appellate litigation and complex civil cases.
Morgan E. Foster
Founder at The Pivot Process
Ms. Foster specializes in litigation consulting and trial strategy.
Patricia A. Hastings, Ph.D.
Founder at EDGE Litigation Consulting LLC
Dr. Hastings provides expertise in jury consulting and trial strategy.
Prof. James J. Duane
Professor of Law at Regent University School of Law
Professor Duane is renowned for his expertise in evidence law and trial advocacy.
R. Craig Wood
Attorney at Charlottesville, VA
Mr. Wood focuses on education law and litigation.
Robert A. Angle
Partner at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
Mr. Angle specializes in complex commercial litigation and contributes his expertise to the program.
Robert McCauley
Partner at Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
Mr. McCauley focuses on intellectual property litigation.
Roscoe C. Howard, Jr.
Partner at Barnes and Thornburg LLP
Mr. Howard focuses on white-collar defense and government investigations.
Samuel A. Stern
Attorney at Stern LLC
Mr. Stern focuses on complex civil litigation.
Stacey Steiner
Attorney at Allegheny County Public Defenders Office
Ms. Steiner specializes in criminal defense and trial advocacy.
Stephen A. Saltzburg
Wallace and Beverley Woodbury University Professor at George Washington University Law School
Co-founder and Director of the National Trial Advocacy College, Professor Saltzburg has been instrumental in shaping trial advocacy education for over four decades.
Stephen D. Brody
Partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Mr. Brody focuses on complex litigation and regulatory matters, enriching the program's offerings.
Thomas E. Spahn
Partner at McGuireWoods LLP
Mr. Spahn focuses on commercial litigation and legal ethics.
Timothy Tomasik
Partner at Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC
Mr. Tomasik specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases.
W. David Harless
Partner at Christian & Barton, LLP
Mr. Harless specializes in commercial litigation and trial practice.
William B. Dyer, III
Partner at Lee & Hayes LLP
Mr. Dyer specializes in intellectual property law and litigation.
Event Details
- Date
- August 8-12, 2026
- 5 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 Williamsburg, United States
- William & Mary Law School
- Pricing
- $3,550 - $3,800
- Audience
- Practicing lawyers seeking to enhance their trial advocacy skills.
- CLE Credits
- 38.5 CLE hours (36.5 live, 2.0 ethics) anticipated
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