Professional Development

This four-day trial advocacy course will offer thorough training in the trial skills needed to successfully present your cases to juries. The course targets prosecutors who are relatively new to Superior Court jury trials, but it may also be helpful for those already experienced in this area. This course includes hands-on exercises and substantive presentations on several trial advocacy topics, including; jury selection; effective opening statements; direct examination; cross-examination; closing arguments; using effective presentations; and other essential trial advocacy skills.

This workshop is designed to provide a forum and training opportunity for individuals assigned as District Attorney Investigators. During the round table, you will have the opportunity to share ideas, challenges, and best practices. The training portion provides information in topic areas that may be part of the DA Investigator’s duties and responsibilities.

In light of the recent changes in juvenile court, it’s crucial for prosecutors and legal assistants to be equipped with the necessary skills to serve effectively as a juvenile court prosecutor. The implementation of “Raise the Age” has significantly altered the process of handling a juvenile caseload, and this three-day course is designed to assist prosecutors and legal assistants in comprehending the mechanics and complexities of juvenile delinquency court. During the training, attendees will be assigned a case to practically apply the skills they’ve learned and work the entire juvenile court process to successfully resolve their case.

This course is held annually, however the content changes from year to year.

No matter what type of cases they handle, prosecutors are likely to encounter defendants who have mental health issues. Whether District Court or Superior Court, incapable to proceed or insane, the intersection of the criminal court system and the mental health system is both incredibly important and extremely confusing. This one-day course will help to prosecutors navigate the labyrinth of managing defendants who may be dealing with mental health issues.

This new, two-day experimental learning course unpacks child abuse cases in which jurors struggle to understand the victim’s response to abuse or the science of trauma.  Jurors say “I believe the child” but struggle to convict when faced with complex and confusing responses to abuse.  Expert witnesses in the prosecution’s case-in-chief can have a profound impact on jurors’ ability to process and interpret evidence in a light most favorable to the child victim. This course will provide insight into the types of expert witnesses that can assist the prosecution and provide strategies for presenting this testimony. Attendees will craft and deliver direct examinations of experts and receive feedback from Zero Abuse faculty.

This is a small, interactive course which requires attendance and participation both days. Seating is limited to ensure quality and interaction. After initial registration, we will notify you if you have been accepted.  You will be required to confirm your registration TWO WEEKS prior to this course. If you cannot attend for any reason, please cancel your registration as soon as you know, so that your seat can be given to someone on the waitlist.

We speak different languages but have the same goal: the truth. This training is all about communication, and provides an opportunity to understand what each discipline needs, what each can provide, and how best we can work together.