Teaching and Training and Professionalism

Courtroom work is exhilarating and intense and requires hours of preparation. There is a unique skill set behind properly questioning witnesses, arguing points of law to the court, or persuading a jury to carefully examine the prosecution’s case. An experienced trial attorney can then mentor a younger attorney and teach them the legal ropes, but must also emphasize the concept of professionalism. In the practice of law we must always strive to emphasize ethical principles while vigorously defending our clients. Mentoring is necessary to teach a young attorney how to achieve this balance. My mentor was Jim Slater, an outstanding attorney and a true gentleman. Nobody worked harder than Jim to prepare a case, and no one was more widely respected for his behavior and his skill inside the courtroom.

Jim got me involved in the training of other attorneys. As a member (and later chair) of the Florida Public Defender’s death penalty steering committee, Jim was responsible for training attorneys to properly handle capital cases. In the early 1990’s, Jim asked me to work with him on the annual conference. I was responsible for kicking of the three-day seminar by presenting a comprehensive overview of Florida law and best practices. I found I had a natural affinity for teaching and I began to take any opportunity that was presented. Over the years, I have presented lectures or taught classes to lawyers, high school and college students, church and civic groups, and television audiences.

One of my favorite experiences was teaching Public Defender College. Law Schools train attorneys how to think about law, not how to conduct a jury trial. Public Defender Offices frequently hire young attorneys fresh out of law school. These attorneys must be trained in courtroom procedures as well as proper courtroom behavior. Popular television programs frequently glamorize flamboyant or outrageous tactics, but these are rarely successful in Florida courtrooms. In my experience, a jury can only be persuaded if they trust the source of the information. I train lawyers to be prepared, polite and to the point. A lawyer who develops a reputation for these skills will also be the most successful courtroom advocate for his or her clients.

Be sure to watch the SNN debate between Larry Eger and myself that will be broadcast this Wednesday, October 15th, at 7:00 p.m. on Comcast channel 6 in Sarasota.