Lessons for Lawyers from the History Books

December 31st, 2023 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Central Time

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Overview

Who said CLE has to be excruciatingly boring?  Earn 6 hours of CLE credit and gain practical tips on improving your basic lawyering skills -- all in the context of intensely interesting lessons from the history books!

Professor and long-time attorney Billy Newman weaves fascinating true tales from history and then uses them to illustrate practical skills needed by every practicing lawyer.

• Learn about the true story of Tombstone heroes Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday (supplemented with great clips from the classic 1993 movie!).  Then explore how this story, including the real-life trial of Earp and Holliday, offers important lessons on some often overlooked rules of ethics for laywers.
• Venture back to the 1500's and learn how the life and trial of Sir Walter Raleigh still impact our everyday use of hearsay rules in the courtroom.
• Experience a vivid illustration of qualifying an expert witness by re-visiting the Lindbergh kidnapping trial.
• Gain valuable -- and extremely practical -- lessons in lawyering from many of our past Presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madision, Franklin Pierce, Woodrow Wilson, and Harry Truman.
• Pick up useful tips on jury communication by exploring the courtroom exploits of Clarence Darrow in the Scopes Monkey Trial.
• Learn what valuable lessons can be gleaned from the fascinating trials of the alleged Lincoln assassination co-conspirators.

Level of Instruction

Intermediate

Speakers

William R Newman of The University of Southern Mississippi

Agenda for Sunday, the 31st of December 2023

8:30 am Central Time - Webcast Begins (Please register and sign into the website at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start)

(Agenda is approximate and tentative)

8:30am - 9:30am -  Tombstone CLE:  The Trial of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday - Lessons in the Lawyer's Duty of Diligence  (includes clips from the hit movie)

9:35am - 10:00am - The Lindbergh Kidnapping Trial:  An Illustration of the Art and Law of Qualifying an Expert Witness

10:00am - 10:35am - Sir Walter Raleigh:  Gaining a Better Mastery of the Rules of Evidence

10:45am - 12:15pm -  From the Law Office to the Oval Office:  Lessons for Lawyers from Past Presidents, including time management, professional competence, and the mental health challenges of law practice

12:15pm - 1:30pm - Break 

1:30pm - 3:00pm - Clarence Darrow at the Scopes Monkey Trial, and Beyond:  Tips for Better Communicating with Jurors

3:15pm - 4:15pm - The Evolution of the Ethical Duty of Zealous Advocacy:  The Lawyers in the Lincoln Assassination Trials Provide a Textbook Example